Cole Palmer’s prolific goalscoring run left Everton in tatters in the Premier League matchday 32 clash at Stamford Bridge.
The formerly Manchester City rejected star, who has turned a chief cornerstone at Chelsea, raised the bar of his performance to new levels as the Blues romped to a 6-0 mauling of Everton.
He proved unstoppable against the Toffees as he aced his 27th Premier League appearance for Chelsea, scoring a perfect hat-trick in 16 minutes.
Palmer went on to add to the tally in the second half, making it an incredible four-goal haul – his first in the Premier League since his big break.
However, Palmer’s fourth goal, which came through a spot kick, was marred with an eyesore that got tongues wagging. His teammates Nicolas Jackson, who also got his name on the scoresheet, and Noni Madueke were seen struggling to take the penalty from Palmer before the English youngster wrestled it from them and converted it.
The scene sparked reactions with pundits questioning whether Chelsea don’t have an assigned penalty-taker but Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has cleared the air while fuming on Jackson and Madueke
Speaking after the game, Pochettino revealed Cole Palmer is the designated penalty-taker for the team, hence the penalty tussle was a shocker as well.
The Argentine scolded Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, warning they would be dropped if they repeated the recalcitrant behavior.
“First of all, I want to tell you to make clear that they know, the players know, the staff know, the club know that the taker on penalties is Cole Palmer,’ Pochettino said, having previously resisted publicly naming a designated taker. ‘It is a shame.
”We cannot send this type of image. It is a shame and I want to apologise to football people and our fans because that is unacceptable
“I told them this is the last time I accept this type of behaviour,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘They’re all, involved in this situation, all out next time.
Cole Palmer, who was at the center of the saga, seemed to take a rather lighter assessment of the incident, saying everyone just wanted to take responsibility although it seemed to have gone over the top.
‘Other players wanted to take it, which was understandable. I am the penalty taker and wanted to take it.
‘We’re just trying to show everyone that we want to take responsibility. Maybe it was over the top, the argument. We were laughing and joking about it,” he said.
Away from the drawback of the penalty saga that seemed to overshadow another Chelsea masterclass, Palmer, who is in the form of his life, recorded one of his best performances so far this season.
His four-goal haul in the game has seen him tied up with Erling Haaland with 20 goals in the Premier League’s Golden Boot race.
