Cole Palmer with his signature celebration
Cole Palmer delivered a sensational first-half performance, scoring a hat-trick to power Chelsea to victory over Wolves and strengthen their push for a top-four Premier League finish.
Two of Palmer’s goals came from the penalty spot after Joao Pedro was brought down on both occasions. The midfielder showed composure with his first attempt, placing it neatly into the bottom corner, before confidently sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with his second spot-kick.
He completed his hat-trick in the 38th minute, bursting forward to finish from a pass by Marc Cucurella after Wolves’ defence failed to cope with the pressure.
The treble also saw Palmer set a new league milestone, becoming the first player in Premier League history to record three hat-tricks all scored in the first half of matches.
Wolves responded with greater urgency after the break and nearly reduced the deficit when Mateus Mane struck the woodwork. They eventually found a goal when Arokodare converted from close range following a corner kick.
Despite the hosts’ improved second-half display, Chelsea maintained control and prevented any further comeback for the remainder of the contest.
The result marks Chelsea’s fourth straight win under manager Rosenior and keeps them firmly in the race for Champions League qualification. They sit fifth in the standings, just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United.