Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Chelsea5 - 0West Ham

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 May 2024, 15:59
Cole Palmer has matched Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's record of achieving 30 goal contributions in his first season at the club.

The 22-year-old opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge over the weekend, finding the net just 15 minutes into the game before Conor Gallagher and Noni Madueke extended their advantage to 3-0 before the interval.

Nicolas Jackson scored twice in the second half, securing an important victory for the Blues, who are still battling to secure European qualification.

Despite a challenging season for Chelsea, Palmer has emerged as a standout performer and has consistently delivered goals and assists for Mauricio Pochettino's side this term.

Palmer matches longstanding debut season record for Chelsea

Palmer's goal against the Hammers was his 21st in the Premier League this season, and with nine assists to his name, he has now become just the second player in Chelsea's history to achieve 30 goal contributions in their debut season for the club.

The first player to achieve this feat was Hasselbaink, who recorded 23 goals and seven assists during the 2000-01 campaign.

With three games remaining in the season, Palmer is set to surpass this longstanding record.

In addition, the 22-year-old has now equaled the records of two of Chelsea's greatest goal-scorers of the modern era, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

Lampard and Drogba share the record for the most Premier League home goals in a single season for Chelsea, with 16 each. Drogba was the first to achieve the feat during the 2006-07 season, followed by Lampard in 2009-10.

Palmer eyeing up one more record on final day of the season

While Palmer's strike against West Ham brought him level with the Chelsea legends' records, he now has only the upcoming clash against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season to potentially claim the record for himself.

He joined the Blues from Manchester City in a transfer deal valued at £45m and has now become only the third player in Premier League history to achieve 30 or more goal involvements in a single season while aged 21 or younger, following in the footsteps of Robbie Fowler in 1994-95 and 1995-96, and Chris Sutton in 1993-94.

The comprehensive 5-0 victory over the Irons propelled Chelsea to seventh place in the Premier League table, but they will be overtaken by Manchester United if the Red Devils avoid defeat against Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Given Palmer's form this season, along with the potential signing of Victor Osimhen from Napoli in the summer and Christopher Nkunku's expected to return to full fitness, the Blues could be a formidable force next season.

Top News

19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Manchester United have reportedly learnt the release clause of RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko ahead of the summer window. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Incoming Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is reportedly interested in bringing Benfica's Antonio Silva to Anfield over the summer. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mjallby AIF's pursuit of Allsvenskan leaders Malmo will continue on Tuesday evening, when they head to struggling IFK Goteborg. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Copenhagen will be bidding to return to winning ways in the Danish Superliga when they make the trip to Aarhus on Tuesday evening for their penultimate match of the campaign. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta vs. Heerenveen (Sunday, 1.30pm) Sparta Rotterdam will play their final match at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel for the 2023-24 Eredivisie season this Sunday afternoon when they play host to a stuttering Heerenveen. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Toulouse vs. Brest (Sunday, 8.00pm) Brest still have a chance to automatically qualify for the Champions League group stage next season when they conclude the Ligue 1 campaign against Toulouse on Sunday at Stadium de Toulouse. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sassuolo vs. Cagliari (Sunday, 11.30am) Running out of time to save their Serie A status, Sassuolo face a crucial six-pointer on Sunday, when they host relegation rivals Cagliari. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletic Bilbao vs. Sevilla (Sunday, 6.00pm) Sevilla will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they travel to San Mames for Sunday's La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao. 19 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal vs. Everton (Sunday, 4.00pm) A glistening Premier League trophy will be ready and waiting at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, where victory for Arsenal over Everton could propel the Gunners to top-flight supremacy. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's Mason Greenwood is now the subject of interest from a Champions League finalist ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly joined Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign a highly-rated Championship head coach amid doubts over Mauricio Pochettino's future. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly struck a verbal agreement to sign a highly-rated Brazilian teenager for the summer of 2025. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Monday, Croatia Under-17s will kick off the European Under-17 Championship against Austria Under-17s at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tournament hosts Cyprus Under-17s will face Czech Republic Under-17s in Monday's European Under-17 Championship clash. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will once again be without the services of two key players for Sunday's La Liga clash against Villarreal. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that "the good times will come" for the Red Devils, with the Dutchman again hailing the club's fans for their support this season. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round nine of the Norwegian Eliteserien sees struggling Kristiansund hosting high-flying SK Brann at the Nordmore Stadium on Monday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk San Lorenzo can extend their winning run at Estadio Pedro Bidegain to three matches in all competitions when they host Lanus on Monday. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly keen on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and could activate a secret release clause of €70m (£60m) in his contract at Anfield. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serbia Under-17s will kick off the Under-17 European Championship in Monday's clash with Ukraine Under-17s in Paralimni. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has admitted that he has struggled to adapt to playing in the middle of the team's defence. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Monday, Denmark Under-17s will begin their European Under-17 Championship campaign against Wales Under-17s at the Dasaki Stadium in Achna, Cyprus. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to make it 10 La Liga wins in a row when they head to European-chasing Villarreal on Sunday night. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in Spain's top flight when they welcome Rayo Vallecano to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday evening. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica are reportedly unlikely to allow Manchester United-linked Joao Neves to leave the club during this summer's transfer window unless his full €100m (£86m) release clause is met. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bruno Fernandes is reportedly demanding a new and improved contract at Manchester United in order to commit his future to the club. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Eder Militao is in his thinking when it comes to a starting role for the Champions League final. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women have won their fifth successive Women's Super League title in Emma Hayes's final season in charge thanks to a 6-0 crushing of Manchester United Women at Old Trafford. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has insisted that "nothing has changed" regarding his future amid claims that he could leave the Catalan giants at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.