Cole Palmer’s trio of goals against Wolves made history as he became the first player to achieve three first-half hat-tricks in a Premier League game, writes Tim Harrison.
His triple whammy at Molineux – two of the goals being penalties – takes the 23-year-old fans’ favourite past the 50-goal mark for the Blues, and suggests he’s bouncing back from the prolonged on-off groin strain that has restricted playing time in recent months.
He may be the player with the worst haircut in the top flight, but he’s a crucial component in Liam Rosenior’s plans. That 3-1 away win cements Chelsea’s position in the table, with the next challenge coming in the FA Cup on Friday night at Hull following the hosting of Leeds in the league in midweek.
Meanwhile Chelsea Women, reeling from the toughest two defeats of recent years, answered the doubters with a 2-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday (February 8).
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It was, said midfielder Erin Cuthbert, “a relief” after back-to-back losses to Arsenal and Man City – results which mean the WSL title is beyond them, even if cup competitions still beckon. “We regrouped,” said the pint-sized Scot. “Recent results have hurt me. I’ve not been able to sleep properly, and I feel sometimes we forget how to play football.”
Gaffer Sonia Bompastor has been given a four-year contract extension to 2030, partly to stem loose talk of her position being in peril after losing two in a row for the first time in all 182 games she has ever managed.
“I’m proud of my players being able to bounce back,” she said. “People expect Chelsea to win every game, but we are human.”
Goals from Keira Walsh and Alyssa Thompson secured the win against Spurs, but it was really Sjoeke Nusken who excelled as she made – surprisingly – her first start this season, having been used as an impact sub for six months.
