Cole Palmer makes Premier League history with four first-half goals for Chelsea

LONDON – Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer has become the first player in the Premier League's 32-year history to score four goals in the first half of the game.

The England international's flurry of goals came in 20 minutes against Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, allowing Chelsea to build a 4-2 lead by half-time.

Palmer scored in the 21st, 28th, 31st and 41st minutes.

According to Opta, which provides statistics for the Premier League, no player has ever scored so many goals before half-time in a single game.

He also scored four goals for Chelsea last season, also at home in a 6-0 win over Everton in April.

Palmer joins Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in scoring at least three goals in a game for Chelsea on three occasions in the league.

The game against Brighton was only Palmer's 39th league appearance for Chelsea after joining from Manchester City in the 2023 off-season.