Palmer scores 4 first-half goals for Chelsea as Newcastle holds City

28/09/2024

LONDON, Sept 28, (AP): Chelsea knew it was getting a talented player by signing Cole Palmer from Manchester City last year. But maybe not this good. Palmer created some history on Saturday when he became the first player to score four goals in the first half of an English Premier League match. His flurry of strikes came in Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Brighton, further strengthening the belief that the London team will be a force this season after spending more than $1 billion on players over the past two years.

Palmer was one of the expensive signings - he cost at least 40 million pounds ($50.7 million) - but that looks a bargain now. His 22 league goals last season were second only to Man City’s Erling Haaland and included a four-goal haul against Everton, and he is already up to six goals in this campaign in just six games.

Palmer is also a regular in England’s squad, scoring the team’s goal in the 2-1 loss to Spain in the European Championship final in July how did City could have done with having Palmer a few hours earlier on Saturday when the champion drew at Newcastle 1-1 to drop points for the second straight weekend. Haaland was kept scoreless in a league game for the first time this season and stayed on 10 goals. Josko Gvardiol netted for City instead.

Arsenal took advantage of its big rival’s slip-up by beating Leicester 4-2 thanks to two stoppage-time strikes, by Leandro Trossard - his second goal - and Kai Havertz. Arsenal joined first-place City on 14 points. Brentford became the first Premier League team to score in three straight games in the first minute, but couldn’t hold on after Bryan Mbeumo’s striker and drew with West Ham 1-1. Everton gained its first win of the season in beating Crystal Palace 2-1 and Fulham won at Nottingham Forest 1-0, with Mexico striker Raul Jimenez scoring in a third straight game.