(Corrects Palmer’s first name in first paragraph)
By Mitch Phillips
LONDON (Reuters) -Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer hit three goals in the first 30 minutes of his side’s Premier League match against Everton on Monday to claim his second successive hat-trick at Stamford Bridge.
He got the first after 13 minutes when he nutmegged Jared Branthwaite, played a one-two with Nicolas Jackson and instantly clipped in a shot from the edge of the box beyond the diving Jordan Pickford.
Five minutes later more intricate passing – albeit alongside some tentative Everton defending – set up the second as Pickford parried a Jackson shot straight to the feet of Palmer who knocked it into the empty net.
Pickford also gifted Chelsea their third after 29 minutes but it was an entirely different situation as Palmer intercepted his clearance 30 metres out and, with his weaker foot, chipped brilliantly over the retreating goalkeeper.
It was Palmer’s second Stamford Bridge hat-trick in successive games after he scored three goals, including two in stoppage time, in a 4-3 win over Manchester United on April 4.
Palmer now has 22 goals this season and becomes the first Chelsea player to reach the 20-mark since Eden Hazard in 2018/19.
Jackson was also on target after 44 minutes as Chelsea were leading the match 4-0 at halftime.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ken Ferris)
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