Cole Palmer struck a first-half hat-trick, including two penalties, as Chelsea claimed a 3-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux.
Palmer was handed both spot-kicks after needless challenges on Joao Pedro. Matt Doherty brought the Brazilian down from behind for the first, before Yerson Mosquera shoved him to the ground for the second, and Palmer confidently dispatched both.
Chelsea capitalised on Wolves’ fragile state, with Marc Cucurella bursting forward from deep before Palmer finished clinically for his third goal in the 38th minute. Wolves, who had gone a month without a Premier League goal, looked short on belief and threat.
Tolu Arokodare reduced the deficit shortly after the restart as Chelsea briefly lost control, struggling to see the game out once Wolves switched to a back five. However, any momentum faded in the wet conditions as the visitors comfortably closed out the win.
The result keeps Chelsea in fifth place, moving them to within a point of fourth-placed Manchester United and four clear of sixth-placed Liverpool ahead of the Reds’ meeting with Manchester City on Sunday. The Blues have now beaten every side bar Arsenal across their last nine matches.
