Cole Palmer hat-trick steers Chelsea to win at Wolves

A few minutes after the final whistle most of Chelsea’s players had headed for the tunnel, but Cole Palmer remained at the halfway line until he retrieved the match ball. Enveloped in his space-grey puffer coat, he celebrated a 25-minute first-half hat-trick that was completed on 38 minutes and effectively put the game beyond Wolves; by the time he was substituted on the hour it was 3-1, Wolves pulling one back nine minutes into the second half when Tolu Arokodare converted from a corner.

Wolves had been the better side early on until Matt Doherty conceded a penalty on 12 minutes after bumping João Pedro and referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot. Palmer sent José Sá the wrong way from the first penalty and later converted a second spot-kick after Yerson Mosquera shoved João Pedro.

His third arrived from a crisp team move that began with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, with Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella creating the chance before Palmer lashed a first-time finish into the roof of the net.