By Samuel A. September 30, 2024
Enzo Maresca hailed Cole Palmer, saying he is the “best in the Premier League” after his record first half four goal haul in Chelsea’s 4-2 victory over Brighton, a match which had it all in the first half.
“He scored four but he also could have scored two or three more,” Chelsea boss Maresca said. “It’s important he stays hungry, ambitious and I know him from many years ago with the U23s at City and with the first team. What he is today as a boy is exactly what he was three or four years ago. Goals, assists, best player of the Premier League – this doesn’t change the way he is.”
Chelsea initially trailed in the game after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez failed to claim an aerial ball that gave Georgino Rutter his first Brighton goal just seven minutes in. Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill also had faults for unsuccessfully clearing the ball inside their own box.
Maresca’s side then responded impressively, as they ran riot against the high Brighton defence line, hitting long through balls to split the defence open on several occasions. Palmer was set up by Nicolas Jackson’s pull back for his first. He continued his perfect penalty record after Jadon Sancho was fouled, netting it to the bottom corner. Palmer completed his hat trick within 11 minutes, scoring his third with a perfect free kick from 25 yards out curled to the top right corner, to seemingly put Chelsea in control until Sanchez made another error to hand Brighton a route back into the game. Carlos Baleba pounced on the Chelsea goalkeeper’s poor pass out three minutes after Palmer’s third to raise the tension inside Stamford Bridge. Palmer then added a fourth, making history after being set up by Sancho.
Cole’s only regret will be that he did not finish the game with more goals, striking narrowly wide when through on goal around the hour. That would have seen him match the single game record in the Premier League.
Chelsea’s impressive start to the season under Maresca sees them two points off leaders Liverpool after six games, while Brighton are in eighth place after their first defeat in the league.
