Chelsea recorded their fourth win in a row in all competitions by beating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 on Saturday.
There was no contest for the man of the match award as Cole Palmer stole the show by scoring four goals, all inside the first half.
After the game, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca called Palmer the ‘best player of the Premier League’.
Both of Brighton’s goals also came before half-time, with Georginio Rutter and Carlos Baleba getting on the scoresheet.
KIERAN GILL took his notebook to Stamford Bridge and he jotted down four observations for Mail Sport.
Manager Enzo Maresca pictured applauding during his Chelsea team’s 4-2 win over Brighton
Keown was spot on
Martin Keown wrote in his Saturday column that Brighton had to beware their high defensive line because if anybody could exploit that space in behind, it was Chelsea.
How right he was. Over and over, passes were played into that area for Cole Palmer and Co to collect.
Fabian Hurzeler is clearly a talented coach, having gone unbeaten until this trip to Stamford Bridge.
But Chelsea showed Brighton’s upcoming opponents how you can beat the 31-year-old’s system here.
Everyone else now has the blueprint to victory, and their next opposition Tottenham are blessed with fast forwards who would love the chance to stretch their legs like Chelsea’s did.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler saw his system malfunction at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
Palmer reacts to Brighton chants
Brighton fans came armed with a repertoire of chants aimed at their old flames, still having not forgiven Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo and Robert Sanchez for dumping them for Chelsea.
‘Sanchez again, ole ole,’ they sang when he committed his second error to concede again.
But Palmer took those barbs personally as evidenced by his celebrations.
He shushed them. He performed his ‘cold’ celebration in their direction. He told them to know their place.
The lesson here is never make Palmer angry. You won’t like him when he’s angry.
Cole Palmer, scorer of four goals, shushed Brighton’s away fans after completing his hat-trick
Big opportunity for £20m summer signing
Filip Jorgensen will get his chance to impress in goal this Thursday when Chelsea plan on rotating their goalkeepers for the Conference League visit of Gent.
After the mistakes made by Sanchez, the 22-year-old must be relishing that opportunity to show why he should be preferred in the Premier League, having joined for £20million from Villarreal in the summer.
Former Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made multiple mistakes against his old team
Maresca shows off Chelsea’s strength in depth
Chelsea’s strength in depth was shown by how Enzo Maresca made five substitutes but Joao Felix remained unused.
What others may ridicule as an excess of riches, the Blues feel like they are primed for success, and club insiders feel a top-four finish is a realistic target.
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