Chelsea enjoyed something they have not experienced in a long time, a multiple-goal win and a clean sheet, as it faced Everton on Monday, April 15, as Chelsea forward Cole Palmer put four past the hapless Merseyside club.
The game was filled with mistakes from Everton’s defensive players and goalkeeper, as Palmer not only had a hattrick, but a perfect hattrick (goals with the left foot, the right foot, and the head), before the 30-minute mark.
The game saw Thiago Silva start again for Chelsea, alongside Conor Gallagher, Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson. Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi were out injured.
Sean Dyche’s men had many of their starters as well, with James Tarkowski, Jordan Pickford, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Amadou Onana, and Dwight McNeil all starting for the away side.
Palmer opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a superb strike, pounced on a rebound in the 18th minute to make it 2-0, and completed his hattrick in the 29th minute when Everton keeper Pickford made a needless error.
Jackson made things worse for the Toffees in the 44th minute sneaking one in at the near post to make it 4-0. Palmer then converted a penalty in the 64th minute, banging in his fourth of the night.
Substitute Alife Gilchrist slammed home his first Chelsea career goal and the Blues sixth of the night in the 90th minute, making it 6-0.
This result leaves both clubs where they were before the match started, but Chelsea is now three points behind sixth place, with a game-in-hand. This will enable Mauricio Pochettino’s men to climb into sixth place if they win that game-in-hand.
