Cole Palmer's top five Chelsea goals out of his half century
Cole Palmer scored his 50th Premier League goal at the weekend, coming against Manchester United in a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, making it the fifth time that he has scored against the Red Devils in his seven meetings against them.
Palmer reached the milestone in just 105 Premier League appearances, making him Chelsea’s third-fastest player to do so. Only Diego Costa (85 games) and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (84) achieved it quicker, while Didier Drogba and Eidur Gudjohnsen also feature behind him.
What's impressive about Palmer reaching this milestone in such pristine company is that the four around him are all strikers, and Palmer predominantly plays out on the wing or just behind the striker, so he would typically be starved for clear-cut chances at goal.
To put it in perspective, Chelsea greats who played in similar positions to Palmer, such as Frank Lampard and Eden Hazard, were all miles behind Palmer in games played before they reached 50 Premier League goals. Lampard reached it in 184 games, and Hazard in 155.
What the 24-year-old has over those others is that they typically had an out-and-out goalscorer, whereas Palmer has been the main man at Stamford Bridge since he joined the club in 2023. So let's take a look at Palmer's best five goals in the Blue of Chelsea.
5. Everton (H), 2024
In what was a disappointing season for Chelsea, Palmer was one of their shining lights, and in doing so thrashed relegation-battling Everton 6-0 at Stamford Bridge, completing his hat-trick in the first half, chipping the ball over Jordan Pickford from way outside the penalty box, before getting a fourth midway through the second half.
However, the headline from the game would be about Palmer's fourth. After Chelsea won a penalty, he, Noni Madueke, and Nicolas Jackson all disputed who would take it.
4. Tottenham (A), 2024
Although the goal against Everton was probably better technically, the moment against Spurs overtakes it on this list. Palmer helped Chelsea come back from an early 2-0 deficit to win 4-3; Palmer had the cheek to panenka Vicario in the Spurs' goal in front of Chelsea's travelling fans.
3. Aston Villa (H), 2024
Chelsea extended Aston Villa's winless run to eight after goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer finished off the Villans, cutting in from the right, shifting the ball onto his left foot and curling it into the top corner from the edge of the box.
2. Paris Saint-Germain (N), 2025
When Chelsea bought Cole Palmer in 2023, their aim was for him to be a big game player, and they definitely saw that when they took on the reigning Champions League winners, PSG, but on that day in New Jersey, Chelsea owned the Parisians, beating them 3-0, with Palmer on the scoresheet twice, before new signing Joao Pedro got involved.
The pick of his bunch was his second, and whilst both goals were similar in their own way, to make it 2-0, Palmer cut inside before dummying a defender, then stroking the ball into the corner from the edge of the box.
1. Brighton (H), 2024
In another game for Chelsea in which Palmer scored four goals, this time against Brighton, the Englishman became the first player to score four first-half goals in the Premier League, and perhaps the best of the four was the one to complete his hat-trick, curling in a beautiful free-kick from 25 yards out into the top corner.
Today's best reads
Chelsea become the third club to reach unwanted Premier League milestone
Chelsea vs Manchester United: Player ratings from comfortable victory
Why Cole Palmer will be available for next Premier League game against Manchester United
Chelsea vs Manchester United: Premier League preview, predictions, team news and TV info
Cole Palmer joins illustrious list of Chelsea icons by reaching 50 Premier League goals
