Sub-zero Palmer: The stats behind the Premier League’s Newest Record Breaker

When Cole Palmer joined Chelsea, they were a floundering side, having just finished 12th and employing a scattergun recruitment strategy in the transfer market of summer 2023. When they announced that he had signed on the dotted line, many said he would simply be another talented but overpriced player who would flatter to deceive in Chelsea blue.

How wrong those doubters were.

After what can only be described as a world class thirteen month period with the Blue’s, in which Palmer has made the best Premier League defenders look amateur, he somehow outshone every one of his already remarkable achievements on Saturday.

In Chelsea’s 4-2 win against Brighton, Palmer created history by becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a game in the Premier League era, and he did so in his typically effortless style. Let's take a look at some of the numbers behind his outstanding display.

Cole Palmer vs Brighton

Before comparing his performance against some of the Premier Leagues finest examples, it would be wrong to ignore what actually happened when Brighton traveled to Chelsea.

The Blue’s actually found themselves behind after just seven minutes, after a miscommunication between former Brighton pair Levi Colwill and Moises Caicedo sent the ball rocketing into the air, allowing Georginio Rutter to bravely beat Robert Sanchez in the air and nod into the corner.

It seems that Cole Palmer took that goal personally, as from here on out, he was running the show. 19 minutes in, he struck the post when one on one with Bart Verbruggen in goal, and a minute later had a goal ruled out for a clear offside.

However, he made no mistake in the 21st minute, calmly slotting away from a Nicloas Jackson square ball following Adam Webster’s shocking backpass.

Cole Palmer vs Brighton

The Enemy pic.twitter.com/BvsvPJSvdj

— ۟ (@BSTComps) September 28, 2024

Six minutes later, Palmer doubled his tally from the penalty spot, and in the process improved his spot kick record for Chelsea in the Premier league to 10/10. His nickname is Cold Palmer for a reason …

And then came the hat-trick goal. Winger Noni Madueke drew a foul from Lewis Dunk 30 yards from goal, and Palmer stood over the ball alongside Malo Gusto. As a Chelsea fan myself, I had no real expectation from that range, it simply seemed too far out to threaten Verbruggen.

Palmer stepped up, wrapped his laces around the underside of the ball, and sent it flying over the wall. Then it started dipping and swerving, slowly curling away from the goalkeeper towards the top corner. Verbruggen, at full stretch managed to get a single fingertip to the ball, but only succeeded in pushing it further into the top corner, a goal worthy of any hat trick.

In what was a surreal half of football, Brighton pulled one back through Carlos Baleba three minutes later following another Robert Sanchez error to once again worry the Stamford Bridge faithful. Once again though, Palmer took matters into his own hands.

Brighton misplaced the ball while passing out from the back, giving the ball away to Enzo Fernandez, who shifted it to the seemingly re-born Jadon Sancho. Palmer arced an inch perfect run in behind to meet Sancho’s equally precise ball, and hammered it into the near corner, leaving the Brighton keeper very little chance, and claiming his fourth in the process.

Alan Shearer on Cole Palmer vs Brighton:

🗣️ "I think his first half was two goals Disallowed, hit the post, and four goals. Oh my god, it's like ridiculous. What a talent, absolutely outstanding. They should have a fifth one in the second half."

{The Rest is Football Podcast} pic.twitter.com/prlmtQFWMD

— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) September 30, 2024

Palmer had scored four goals in a precise time of 19 minutes and 57 seconds, and had totally embarrassed Brighton’s strategy of employing an unusually high line. While his goalscoring escapades were now over, he continued to control the game to his pace, and delighted the fans with outrageous passes and dazzling dribbles in the second half.

It was his third hat-trick in the six months, and his second four-goal haul in five, truly remarkable numbers for one still so young and relatively inexperienced. Let's take a look at some of the astonishing figures behind his extraordinary display.

Palmer’s Record-Breaking Numbers

• Palmer’s 19 minute 57 second four goal haul against Brighton was the second fastest of its kind in PL history, trailing only to Jermaine Defoe’s four against Wigan in 2009.

Cole Palmer vs Brighton:

7 shots (most)
4 goals (most)
4 chances created (most)
2 big chances created (most)

The coldest performance of the season 🥶 pic.twitter.com/VLrDQ2VBss

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 28, 2024

• Became the ninth player to score four goals in two or more games, placing himself alongside icons such as Frank Lampard, Sergio Aguero, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen.
• Joined a very small group of players to score four goals in one half overall, with Defoe, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Sergio Aguero (x2) achieving that feat in the second half of their historic performances.
• Is the leading goal assist contributor in the Premier League since the start of the 2023/24 season, with 28 goals and 15 assists.
• His four goals move him alongside Erling Haaland at the joint top of the goal contribution leaderboard. While Haaland relies solely on goals, and has 10 for the season, Palmer has six goals and four assists this season.

What does the Future Hold for Cole Palmer?

After a performance as brilliant as his display against Brighton, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City must once again be cursing themselves for letting him go. Selling him for £40 million last summer may have seemed like a decent price at the time, but in his current form, he would likely only be moved on for a sum four times that.

Cole Palmer to Chelsea, here we go! Agreement in principle reached with Manchester City on £40m deal plus £5m add-ons 🚨🔵 #CFC

Exclusive news revealed earlier today then quick resolution between clubs and green light from Palmer.

Medical tests to be booked soon. pic.twitter.com/7SvIqgYyKL

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2023

However, what Guardiola will be most irritated about is the lack of a buy-back clause in their deal with Chelsea. Chelsea themselves are familiar with such a clause, inserting one in Tino Livramento’s transfer to Southampton in the summer of 2021.

The buy-back clause allows the parent club the opportunity to re-purchase the player for a reasonable sum of money should that player make serious development at his new team. With Palmer in his current form, City will be regretting that particular oversight.

With such sustained good form, it is a given that other clubs will show interest in him. However, Chelsea don’t appear too worried about this particular little snag. They extended Palmer’s already lengthy contract at the club by a further two years in August, a deal that will remarkably keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2033.

So it seems that Chelsea have a seemingly endless tap of Cole Palmer magic to feed from for the foreseeable future. The question now is whether he will be given the same number of opportunities on the international stage with England.

At Euro 2024, then England manager Gareth Southgate opted to leave Palmer on the bench in favor of playing Phil Foden on the left and Bukayo Saka on the right.

Despite this, Palmer’s cameos off the bench were more than impressive, as he assisted Olle Watkins’ late winner vs the Netherlands, and scored the stunning equalizer to give England hope in the final against Spain.

Cold Palmer Vs Spain 🔥
As cold as possible 🥶pic.twitter.com/pQCDMkXAm6

— Chris Sweetman (@ChrisSweetman6) August 8, 2024

Outshining both Foden and Saka in the league this season, it seems it is only a matter of time until Palmer becomes the focal point of Lee Carsely’s plans. His form simply cannot be ignored, and would be a serious misjudgement to limit him to half hour stints off the bench.

Whether Carsley is given the role of permanent coach or not, Palmer has to be considered in the starting eleven, and it is just a matter of deciding which quality player needs to make way for him.

While his international future is still undecided, watching him in the Premier League is a never-ending pleasure. Labeled as the best player in the League by Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, it currently seems very difficult to disagree with.