Cole Palmer delivered a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea beat Wolves 3-1, keeping Liam Rosenior’s perfect Premier League run alive.
The result gave Rosenior four wins from four league matches in charge. Palmer, who had been troubled by injuries this season, produced a ruthless display that underlined Chelsea’s growing confidence under the new head coach.
Palmer struck three times in 25 minutes before half-time at Stamford Bridge. The first goal came from a 13th-minute penalty after Matt Doherty brought down Joao Pedro. Palmer then converted a second spot-kick when Joao Pedro was pushed by Yerson Mosquera. The third arrived from open play, finishing Marc Cucurella’s cutback high into the net.
That treble made Palmer the first player in Premier League history to score three first-half hat-tricks. The previous two had come against Everton and Brighton. After netting the opening penalty, Palmer celebrated by covering ears, a gesture that hinted at outside criticism. Rosenior later explained that Chelsea’s environment demanded strong focus and mental strength from key players.
| Team | Goals | Scorer | Method | Key Incident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 1-0 | Cole Palmer | Penalty | Foul by Matt Doherty on Joao Pedro |
| Chelsea | 2-0 | Cole Palmer | Penalty | Yerson Mosquera shove on Joao Pedro |
| Chelsea | 3-0 | Cole Palmer | Open play | Finish from Marc Cucurella cutback |
| Wolves | 3-1 | Wolves scorer | Open play | Consolation goal |
Rosenior stressed the importance of ignoring external opinion at a club with Chelsea’s profile. Rosenior said: “When youre at a club like this, with the huge demands and the scrutiny, which Im starting to learn myself, you have to block out the noise and you have to remember what a good player you are. I love working with him, he loves being here, and hopefully now he can really enjoy his football between now and the end of the season because it will help us on the pitch.”
The head coach revealed a tactical tweak had been used to bring out more fluency in attack. Rosenior said: “We changed the system a little bit for the first time in the first half. Some of our football was everything I wanted to see, and he was a part of it. We know what a world-class player he is. He’s played a lot of football over the past year with not much rest, but when he’s at his best, he’s unstoppable. I’m delighted to be working with him.”
The win over Wolves also meant Rosenior became only the fourth permanent Chelsea boss to win the first four Premier League matches. Attention now moved quickly to Tuesday’s home game against Leeds United. Rosenior hoped to have captain Reece James involved, after another minor setback disrupted the defender’s return from injury.
Rosenior explained that James remained close to a comeback but needed careful handling. Rosenior said: “Hes so close and he should be fit for Tuesday. Honestly, at the moment with the games that weve got, everything is day by day,” adding further detail on the situation. “Hes really, really close. Theres not a major problem at all and itd be great to have him available for Leeds on Tuesday.”
The Chelsea captain had been running on the training pitch on Friday but still felt discomfort. Rosenior said: “Its just a knock, its a pain management issue. Reece was out running [on Friday] but it just wasnt right, and its not right again. Were still in the midst of a really, really difficult period of games with the amount of games that weve got. Hopefully, he comes back fully fit, fully rested for Tuesday.”
Palmer’s display against Wolves strengthened Chelsea’s push under Rosenior, with the team now pairing results with more fluid attacking play. The potential return of Reece James for the Leeds United match could provide extra stability in defence. Chelsea’s schedule remained demanding, but confidence around the squad grew after another controlled Premier League victory.