Premier League

NICOLAS JACKSON was spotted arguing with Chelsea team-mate Moises Caicedo as his penalty row rumbled on after the 6-0 win over Everton.Cole Palmer netted four goals – including a first-half hat-trick – as Chelsea ran riot at Stamford Bridge.Nicolas Jackson was spotted arguing with Moises Caicedo after Chelsea’s 6-0 win over EvertonJackson was still disgruntled over a penalty bust-up with Cole Palmer and Noni MaduekeCredit: Sky SportsJackson and Alfie Gilchrist were also on the score sheet as Mauricio Pochettino’s men closed the gap on the European spots.But Chelsea’s win was soured by a bizarre penalty argument on the hour mark.With the Blues 4-0 up, Palmer was fouled in Everton’s box by Abdoulaye Doucoure.As the play was allowed to continue, Noni Madueke was then brought down by James Tarkowski, forcing the ref to blow his whistle.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMadueke grabbed the ball to take the penalty, with Mauricio Pochettino previously confirming he had not selected a first-choice taker.However, farcical scenes broke out as the winger was forced to fight off Jackson from pinching the ball off him.It was then revealed that the penalty decision had actually been for the initial foul on Palmer.The hat-trick hero then took the ball from Madueke, who was reluctant to give it up.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERHowever, Jackson then steamed in again, this time attempting to take the ball off Palmer.It resulted in the England hopeful shoving his teammate away before captain Conor Gallagher calmed things down.Conor Gallagher forced to intervene as Chelsea stars locked in furious row – days after same argument in Man Utd clashPalmer was first forced to claim the ball off Noni MaduekeCredit: Sky SportsJackson had to be restrained after Palmer pushed him away tooCredit: Sky SportsPalmer slotted the spot-kick home as Jackson continued protesting.But the striker still appeared to be annoyed at full-time as he was captured on film by SunSport engaged in an argument with Chelsea midfielder Caicedo.Jackson waved his arms in protest as the two team-mates reflected on the game.Yet they went off brothers in arms as the heated conversation quickly cooled off.Palmer made sure he dispatched the penalty in styleCredit: PAJackson gave Caicedo an earful afterwards but the pair went off calmlyAfter the final whistle, Chelsea boss Pochettino called the penalty drama a “shame.”He added: “I told the players [in the dressing room] we can’t behave in this way. I told them this is the last time I will accept this type of behaviour.”They’re all involved in this situation, next time they’re all out. This is not a joke.”It’s impossible after a performance like this to see this type of behaviour.”If we want to be a great team, fighting for big things, we need to change and think more in a collective way.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I made clear to them, and now through the media, and I say to our fans and to everyone, Cole Palmer is the penalty taker. “And it’s now his choice if he wants to give the ball to another player but not in this way.”Nicolas Jackson’s career statsThose numbers in full:

Mirandes, 2020-21: 17 games, 1 goal

Villarreal, 2021-2023: 47 games, 13 goals

Chelsea, 2023-2024: 36 games, 13 goals

Senegal, 2022-2034: 13 games, 0 goals More

MAURICIO POCHETTINO can suddenly see Europe on the horizon and so can Cole Palmer.Chelsea’s brutal drubbing of hopeless Everton means they are creeping up on the Europa League places in the Premier League.Cole Palmer scored FOUR goals as Chelsea thrashed Everton 6-0Credit: GettyPalmer broke three records as he went joint-top of the Premier League goal chartsCredit: PAAnd for Palmer the chances of him joining England at this summer’s European Championship are growing by the week.England assistant manager Steve Holland was ringside at Stamford Bridge to see Palmer score three goals in barely 16 minutes.He won’t need to file a report to head coach Gareth Southgate. It’s a formidable achievement worthy of serious discussion at international level on its own.But this is the second hat-trick in successive home games for Chelsea’s prize asset and the second home game in a row he has won single-handedly.Cast your mind back to a jaw-dropping two goal turnaround in just 18 seconds that floored Manchester United here less than two weeks ago.His first three goals last night were marked by the trademark shiver celebration reflecting his ‘cold’ Palmer nickname. But this boy is red hot.The fourth goal, a 65th minute penalty was the icing on the cake for him.But not for Chelsea who managed to take the gloss of this rout.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe embarrassing scenes as Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson openly fought over who should take the spot kick stained what would have been a flawless night and shows there is still much work to be done in the camp building team spirit amongst a bunch of kids.Chilled out Palmer, the designated and deadly penalty taker at Chelsea stood emotionless, waiting for the petty squabble to finish before taking the ball and duly dispatching it into the back of the net for the ninth time this season.Chelsea’s top summer transfer targetsOne of the cheapest and latest signings of last summer’s record-breaking £1 billion spending spree, he now has 11 goals in his last six games.Next in his sights is old club Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup semi final at Wembley.How much more will it take for City boss Pep Guardiola to admit his Treble winners dropped a clanger by letting Palmer go for just £40m?The more nerdy football swots calculated even before this virtuoso performance that Chelsea would have been languishing 16th in the table without Palmer’s 18 point contribution.Palmer opened his first with a left-footed strikeCredit: RexHe followed it up minutes later with a headerCredit: ReutersAnd the rest. Without their skinny-rake jewel, there would have been mutiny in Fulham Road a long time ago.Boss Pochettino even admits Palmer has carried his team through the many bad times in his breakthrough season.He nutmegs England defenders like he did to Jarrad Branthwaite in the build up to curling home his first goal in the 13th minute.He pounces like a cat to head home loose balls when England goalkeepers like Jordan Pickford can’t hold a shot.Palmer then chipped Jordan Pickford with his right footCredit: GettyNicolas Jackson made it 4-0 to Chelsea by half-timeCredit: GettyAnd he tormented the man who will stand between the sticks for Southgate’s team in Germany by cruelly lobbing him from 35 yards to claim a ‘hokey cokey’ hat trick – putting his left foot in, his right foot in and his head in to score each goal in a different bedazzling manner.Yet to start an England game, Palmer has two caps as a sub against the might of North Macedonia and Malta before Christmas.Injury kept him on the bench for the last game of the most recent international break.If fit and in this sort of form when a draining season draws to a conclusion for Chelsea on May 19 at home to Bournemouth, there seems no way Southgate can leave him out.A bizarre penalty row broke out in the second half between Jackson, Palmer and Noni MaduekeCredit: GettyPalmer scored the spot-kick and was taken off a while laterCredit: ReutersAnd if the squads are increased from 23 to 26 players it might be easier than he thinks. There may be no need for a tough call to get him on the plane.But despite sweeping abject Everton aside long before half time, experienced Chelsea watchers still could not relax until Jackson made it four by twisting on his heels to lash home from inside the box two minutes before the break.After flooring Man United, Chelsea crumbled at Sheffield United.If they fail to beat the curse this week and cannot build on this stupendous result, they will be out of the FA Cup and bang goes the last hope of a trophy this year.Alfie Gilchrist netted Chelsea’s sixth strikeCredit: ReutersFans sang his name as Gilchrist celebrated his first Blues goalCredit: ReutersEven so, it is now one defeat in 12 games and while they could not move up a place on the back of this huge win, they have now lost just one game in the last dozen.They are ninth in the table, three points behind Man United in seventh but with a game in hand. Suddenly Pochettino can look up instead of down.READ MORE SUN STORIESEverton boss Sean Dyche did not know where to look. Prior to kick off his club appealed against its second points deduction prior.The first time, back in November. Everton embarked on a run of four wins from five. Don’t hold your breath for history repeating itself this time. More

CHELSEA were accused of nearly “imploding” during their 6-0 win over Everton when Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson astonishingly attempted to wrestle a penalty away from Cole Palmer.Regular spot kick taker Palmer, 21, who had already scored a perfect hat-trick in the first-half, was poised to bag his fourth of the game against Everton on Monday night after he was fouled in the box.Noni Madueke initially grabbed the ball as he thought he had won the penaltyCredit: GettyNicolas Jackson also wanted to take the spot kickCredit: GettyConor Gallagher pushed Jackson away after handing Palmer the penaltyCredit: PAPalmer eventually had hold of it and took full advantageCredit: AFPMadueke was brought down immediately after Palmer hit the deck, but referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot for the initial challenge on the England international.Madueke, who also tried to take a penalty from Palmer earlier this month during the Blues’ 4-3 win over Manchester United, then refused to give the ball over, before Jackson also appeared to claim he should take it.Eventually, after a length squabble, Chelsea skipper Conor Gallagher came over to diffuse the situation, taking the ball from Madueke and handing it to Palmer.Jackson then tried to rip the ball from Palmer, and when he couldn’t the Senegalese forward remonstrated with Gallagher as he made his way out of the penalty area.READ MORE ON CHELSEAPalmer sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way to put Chelsea 5-0 up, seconds after commentator Alan Smith had been left stunned by the altercation, admitting he had “never seen anything like it”.And Mauricio Pochettino was furious about the incident in his post-match interview.He told Sky Sports: “It’s a shame because we can’t behave in this way.”This is the last time I accept this behaviour. The next time they’re all out.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMadueke also tried to take a penalty off Palmer during Chelsea’s win over Manchester United”It’s not a joke, it’s impossible to have this type of behaviour. It’s so clear, I made it clear to them and to the fans that Cole Palmer is the penalty.”If Cole Palmer wants to give it to another, but not in this way. It’s very sad and I don’t want it to happen again.”Madueke was substituted just minutes after the altercation, before fans took to social media to condemn the bizarre scene.One said: “Chelsea are the only team that can implode while winning 5-0 😂🤣.”A second responded: “Grown men behaving like kids. Pathetic.”Another added: “Jackson and Madueke absolutely pathetic, both should be hooked off.”And a fourth replied: “Madueke and Jackson, get them both off the pitch.”Chelsea’s top summer transfer targetsIt clouded what was otherwise a brilliant night for Chelsea as they breezed to a straightforward victory.Palmer’s four goals move him level with Erling Haaland as the joint-top scorer in the Premier League this season on 20.READ MORE SUN STORIESChelsea, now unbeaten in eight league matches, have moved to within three points of sixth-place Newcastle and still have one game in hand.They now turn their attention towards the FA Cup as they face the daunting task of taking on holders Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday. More

COLE PALMER broke THREE records with an incredible first-half hat-trick in Chelsea’s 6-0 win against Everton.The former Manchester City kid needed less than 30 minutes to net a perfect treble against the woeful Toffees at Stamford Bridge, marking his second home hat-trick in as many games after starring in the 4-3 win over Man United.Cole Palmer’s first-half hat-trick against Everton saw him break two Chelsea recordsCredit: GettyPalmer bagged his first, a left footer, after just 13 minutesCredit: RexPalmer, who added a fourth goal from the spot on the hour mark, got his first for Chelsea after just 13 minutes as he wrestled the ball from Jarrad Branthwaite before curling home past Jordan Pickford with his left foot.The England ace then found the net with his head five minutes later as he pounced on Myhkailo Mudryk’s deflected shot.And with 29 minutes on the clock, Palmer produced his best of the three.The playmaker intercepted a loose ball from Pickford well outside the box.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAs the goalie scrambled to run back to his net, Palmer quickly launched a powerful chip with his right foot that sent the ball over Pickford’s head before nestling into the goal.Palmer’s incredible showing delighted Stamford Bridge’s supporters, as well as boss Mauricio Pochettino who punched the air with each strike.However, his goals held deeper significance on Monday night as they took his season tally to 23.That’s because they also helped Palmer break three records at his new club.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERFirstly, Palmer became the first-ever Chelsea player to score in seven straight games.The second record saw him become the first Chelsea player to score over 20 goals in all competitions since Eden Hazard in the 2018/2019 season.Conor Gallagher forced to intervene as Chelsea stars locked in furious row – days after same argument in Man Utd clashPalmer’s second came in the 18th minute as he headed homeCredit: ReutersThe ace then chipped Jordan Pickford in the 29th minute with his right footCredit: GettyAnd for the third record, Palmer became the first Chelsea player since Diego Costa in the 2014/15 season to score 20 goals or more in all competitions in his debut campaign.Fans went wild for his amazing accomplishment.One said: “At this rate Palmer is winning the Golden Boot.”Another declared: “Bro is on a roll.”One noted: “Perfect hat-trick, what a player.”Another added: “What a special player.”Eden Hazard was the last Chelsea player to hit over 20 goals in all competitionsCredit: GettyDiego Costa was the last Chelsea player to net 20 goals or more in his debut seasonCredit: Getty – ContributorChelsea’s evening didn’t end with Palmer’s goals as Nicolas Jackson made it 4-0 just before the break.The striker picked Marc Cucurella’s cross out of the air with his left leg before pivoting and finding the net with his right.Chelsea continued to dominate throughout the second half.And Palmer won a penalty on the hour mark after being fouled by Abdoulaye Doucoure.However, farcical scenes followed as Noni Madueke, Jackson and Palmer had a sensational bust-up over who was taking the spot-kick.Captain Conor Gallagher was forced to get involved as he ripped the ball from Jackson, sending the striker mad.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut Palmer made sure he was not going to mess up as he netted the penalty for his fourth goal of the night.And there were cheers all round as Cobham ace Alfie Gilchrist powered home Chelsea’s sixth goal in the 90th minute.Nicolas Jackson, who scored Chelsea’s fourth, was left fuming as Palmer got take a penaltyCredit: AFPHe slotted home to make it 23 goals for the season before Alfie Gilchrist netted Chelsea’s sixthCredit: Getty More