Fourmidable Cole

PALMER'S SUBLIME QUARTET

- Alan Smith

COLE PALMER became the first player in Premier League history to score four first-half goals - only for Chelsea's defensive skittishness to ensure he could never rest easy.

The England star cashed in on Brighton's spectacular naivety off the ball with two counter-attacks, a penalty and a spectacular long-range free-kick in just 20 minutes.

And he was also denied by the upright and a tight offside call as both Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler watched their teams abandon all sense of defensive responsibility in favour of all-out attack.

The away side's approach was encapsulated by a moment nearing the interval when their 10 outfield players were in the final third searching for another goal.