Chelsea players’ argument ‘a bit over the top’ – Palmer

Cole Palmer admitted an argument among his Chelsea team-mates during the 6-0 thrashing of Everton was “a bit over the top” – and boss Mauricio Pochettino was none too pleased about the bizarre incident.

The brilliant Palmer scored four of the goals, with his fourth coming from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Abdoulaye Doucouré.

Despite Palmer being the designated taker, having scored eight out of eight previously for Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke both aggressively vied to take it and were furious when captain Conor Gallagher intervened and insisted Palmer be given the task.

They even continued to protest after Palmer calmly converted.

Palmer told Sky Sports: “Other players wanted to take it, which is understandable. But I’m the penalty taker and I wanted to take it, so I took it.

“I think we’re just showing that everybody wants to take responsibility. Maybe it was a bit over the top, the argument, but everyone just wants to win and help.

“It was nothing major – we were just laughing and joking about it. The gaffer’s told us now.”

Pochettino, meanwhile, told the players that any repeat of the incident would lead to them being axed.

“Next time they’re out. It’s not a joke,” Pochettino said.

“It’s impossible to behave like this. It will not happen again.”

Palmer got a hat-trick in the space of 16 first-half minutes to put Chelsea in control, Nicolas Jackson got the fourth, Palmer’s penalty midway through the second half made it five and Alfie Gilchrist scored in stoppage time to complete the rout.

Palmer’s goals made it back-to-back hat-tricks at Stamford Bridge for the 21-year-old, 11 goals in his past six matches and 23 for the season.

It also made Palmer the first Chelsea player to score more than 20 goals in a campaign since Eden Hazard in 2018-19 – and the first-ever Blues player to score in seven successive Premier League matches at the Bridge.