Football

COLE PALMER does not yet have the silverware to match modern-day Chelsea legends – but he has become Stamford Bridge royalty in record speed.The 22-year-old capped his 60th Blues appearance with a goal, an assist and a man of the match performance in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa yesterday.Cole Palmer is fast becoming a Chelsea legendCredit: GettyHe is closing in on a Chelsea record set by icon Jimmy Floyd HasselbainkCredit: PA:Press AssociationIt was Palmer’s 33rd strike and 21st assist since his £40million move from Manchester City at the start of last season.In his debut year in West London, the England star scored 22 goals and it put him behind only Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts.And he has carried his fine form into this season, netting eight goals in 13 games.The attacking midfielder’s eye for a goal means he can only be compared to strikers.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLPalmer’s stunning curler to wrap up victory against Villa was his 30th goal in the Prem for the Blues.In just 46 appearances, only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has reached the milestone quicker for Chelsea (41 games).The stunning stat means he has got to 30 goals in two matches less than Diego Costa and 21 fewer than Didier Drogba.Both of those iconic strikers fired the Blues to the title in their first season at the club.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSPalmer has little belief he will achieve the same in his second term, scowling and shutting down a reporter that asked him about their title chances.When it comes to goals and assists in a calendar year, the No20 needs just three more to set a new club record.Cole Palmer scowls at reporter’s question as fans hail Chelsea star’s interviews as ‘one of a kind’ Palmer has registered 34 with six Prem games remaining in 2024.Hasselbaink, who did the business in 2001, holds the record on 36. Since Palmer made his debut for Chelsea in a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in September 2023, he has been involved in 47 goals, which is more than any other player.Despite only playing against some teams twice, has now scored against every Premier League team he has faced except Liverpool and Leicester.And it has seen him and Joao Felix get high praise from Enzo Maresca, who said: “Cole and Joao is the reason why people pay for tickets; to watch that type of player.”Cole can see things, like Joao, that the rest cannot see. It doesn’t mean the rest are not good but they are different from the rest.”Chelsea ratings vs Aston Villa as Cole Palmer adds to his ridiculous Stamford Bridge tallyCHELSEA moved to joint-second in the Premier League table with a resounding 3-0 win over Aston Villa.Goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer saw the Blues make light work of their opponents at Stamford Bridge.Here, SunSport’s Katherine Walsh delivers her Chelsea player ratings…Robert Sanchez – 6Kept Ollie Watkins at bay on two occasions in the first-half, which was welcome after questions were raised over his place as first-choice goalkeeper.Moises Caicedo – 6Rare start from right-back in the absence of Reece James, but was solid in an inverted role as Chelsea grew in confidence.Steps into challenges nicely at just the right time, and is becoming a dependable figure for the Blues.Wesley Fofana – 4Some uncomfortable moments for Fofana amid his battles with Watkins.Was subbed off inside the hour mark after seemingly twisting his ankle as he treaded on the ball while tussling the Villa frontman.Levi Colwill – 6Would have been lower before he cleared Ross Barkley’s blistering header over the bar from a corner.Went down easy when defending Watkins in the second-half, could’ve cost his side some chances against better opposition.Marc Cucurella – 7Chelsea’s most creative full-back won the ball high-up to set up Jackon’s opener.Put the defensive work in aswell after having Jaden Philogene’s number the whole game.Romeo Lavia – 6Another impressive midfield performance from the Belgian, who shows prowess beyond his years on and off the ball.Seems the perfect pivot partner for Fernandez when Caicedo isn’t in the middle, and people need to start talking about how Manchester City let him go for peanuts.Enzo Fernandez (c) – 7His best goal in a Chelsea shirt this calender year with a slick volley past his Argentina team-mate Emi Martinez from the edge of the box.The Chelsea captain set himself up after playing a lovely one-two with Palmer and was involved creatively throughout.Pedro Neto – 6Didn’t get on the ball enough compared to his fellow forward team-mates.Lovely drop of the shoulder after Fofana was subbed off but a pretty quiet afternoon in comparison to Chelsea’s other attackers.Cole Palmer – 8Out of form? Nonsense. He’d been on the edges of it at times. But made one and scored an absolute screamer. You cannot keep a good man down.Only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has netted 30 goals at Stamford Bridge in fewer games.Linked up well with Sancho and Fernandez and assisted the Argentine’s volley. The England star was a constant threat while charging at Robin Olsen’s goal in the second-half.Jadon Sancho – 6Full of confidence and a constant threat in a high wing-back role this afternoon.Could’ve won his side a penalty but stayed on his feet inside 30 minutes.Still not quite there in the final third, though, as he was replaced by Madueke midway through the second half.Nicolas Jackson – 7A poacher’s finish opened the scoring inside seven minutes – his eighth in the league this season.A wonderful goal saw him get his foot round to volley in off the post with his weaker peg after Cucurella’s cross awkwardly deflected off Matty Cash.Tangled with Martinez, who was replaced by Olsen at half-time.SUBSBenoit Badiashile (60’ for Fofana) – 6Nothing too dramatic from the towering centre-back after replacing the injured Fofana.Noni Madueke (70’ for Sancho) – 4Booked for simulation in the final five minutes. Unnecessary.Christopher Nkunku (70′ for Jackson) – 5Great cross for what should’ve been Chelsea’s third as Palmer and Madueke got mixed up in the 77th minute.Joao Felix – (86′ for Palmer) – 3Missed a sitter at the death after Madueke’s shot was kept out. Also booked within three minutes of coming on for a lunge on Tielemans. More

JOSHUA ZIRKZEE’S Manchester United career looked to be over before it had even begun.News that he arrived a stone overweight and was not even wanted by previous manager Erik ten Hag was backed up by his performances.Joshua Zirkzee praised his team-mates after he got back amongst the goals versus EvertonCredit: RexA goal on his debut against Fulham promised much but a drought of 17 games without one delivered little.Even on Sunday, the groans started to grow with his every touch.Then the 23-year-old Dutchman came to life and showed perhaps why the Ineos team at United decided £36.5million might be a good investment.Two goals of his own and a superb turn and lay-off to help in Marcus Rashford’s second put him among the contenders for man of the match as Manchester United ran out 4-0 winners over relegation-threatened Everton.READ MORE ON MAN UTDZirkzee was understandably delighted with his afternoon’s work, saying: “Obviously the longer it takes before you get back on the scoresheet the more frustrating it gets.”But I have some great team-mates who always keep my head up as well when I’m not keeping it up.“They helped me a lot during that time so they were happy for me.”Zirkzee played in a front three with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes but tends to drop back a little.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe arrived not as a straight-out number nine but as someone who operates partly as a ten because he likes to get involved in the build-up play.He said: “I felt comfortable today in the role I was in. Of course, the goal helps as well for a striker.”Eagle-eyed Man Utd fans spot moment Mason Mount proved he would be Ruben Amorim’s favourite – before he’d even playedRashford is certainly enjoying the new 3-4-3 formation and looked revived on Sunday.Amorim said the 27-year-old has to “want it” if he is going to get back to the sort of form that saw him post career-best figures of 30 goals two seasons ago, and he certainly looked like he wanted it against Everton.He is clearly enjoying the new tactics and ideas under Amorim.Rashford said: “It is encouraging and fun for us to try something new.”We feel like we can get a lot stronger in this formation as well but also for other teams we have not played this system before.“No one knows what to expect really from us and it puts us in the perfect position. We can change a lot and set up different for different teams.”Marcus Rashford is enjoying working under Ruben AmorimCredit: GettyThe atmosphere inside Old Trafford suggests the fans are happy with what the new boss is doing, too.Rashford said: “It is exciting and I don’t want to get carried away, but the energy is what we want from Old Trafford.”It was a second consecutive win for United and marked seven goals in four days following the 3-2 defeat of Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League in midweek.The problems in front of goal look to have gone too with each of Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund getting a pair a piece in the last two games.I felt comfortable today in the role I was in. Of course, the goal helps as well for a striker.Joshua ZirkzeeRashford also scored inside 80 seconds in Amorim’s opening game, a 1-1 draw at Ipswich.For Zirkzee the return to form after struggles this season under Ten Hag shows the strength of character that lies within the squad.He said: “Hard times create strong people and strong people bond. I think that’s what’s happening now.“The most important thing is that we keep going.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHowever, the next test will be far tougher than Sunday’s, with a trip to second place Arsenal on Wednesday night.They will face the Gunners without fit again Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez both of whom picked up their fifth bookings of the season on Sunday and so will be suspended for one game.Man Utd ratings vs Everton as Zirkzee answers his critics in style… but one midfielder strugglesRUBEN AMORIM celebrated his first Premier League game at Old Trafford with a stunning 4-0 victory over Everton.Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee shook off questions over their recent form with two each at a thrilled Old Trafford – as the Red Devils won a Prem game by four goals or more since the opening day of the 2021-22 season.Here’s how SunSport’s Ken Lawrence rated the Red Devils…ANDRE ONANA – 6Called into action early and showed growing his growing composure as No 1.NOUSSAIR MAZROUI – 6Has rapidly become one of the United faithful’s favourites doing himself no harm again.MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6Stretched at first by bustling Beto but beginning to look like he’s settling down in a back three.LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 6Once again looking like the master and commander of the United rearguard.AMAD DIALLO – 8Went from wasteful to the plundering terror of centre backs Branthwaite and Tarkowski.KOBBIE MAINOO – 6Quiet, calm, controlled, no panic, no loss of possession, no problem for the midfielder.CASEMIRO – 5Looked like his lack of pace might be a problem again in central midfield but ground it out.DIOGO DALOT – 6Enjoying life in his new left-side forward role and didn’t really put a foot wrong.JOSHUA ZIRKZEE – 8Transformed himself from headless chicken to tripling his whole United tally with two clinical strikes.MARCUS RASHFORD – 9Ruben Amorim has gone out of his way to big up the front man and he’s responding in style.BRUNO FERNANDES – 6Wasteful for a while but got his head down to have a real influence by the end.SUBSLUKE SHAW (Mazraoui 56) – 5Comfortably easing himself back.HARRY MAGUIRE (de Ligt 56) – 5Looked happy to be out there.ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (Fernandes 66) – 5Got bustling off the bench.MANUEL UGARTE (Casemiro 66) – 5Will be wanting more minutes than this.MASON MOUNT (Mainoo 80) – 5Sharp and up for it. 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