“I should have had five or six!” - Cole Palmer makes huge admission after 4-goal haul in Chelsea win over Brighton

Cole Palmer stole the show at Stamford Bridge with a dazzling performance as Chelsea cruised to a 4-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion on September 28. He became the first player in Premier League history to score four times before half-time. He was quick to admit after the match that he could have added more to his tally.

“I should have had five or six!” the forward said (via Fabrizio Romano).

Despite hitting the post with his first chance, Palmer noted that Brighton’s high defensive line presented Chelsea with more opportunities.

“When I missed the first chance, I was upset, but with the way they played and their high line, I felt we would get more chances,” he averred.

Cole Palmer’s hat-trick, completed within a period of just 10 minutes, was the highlight of Chelsea’s fourth consecutive league win.

The hosts went behind early after a mistake by goalkeeper Robert Sánchez allowed Georginio Rutter to score in the seventh minute. However, the Blues responded brilliantly, with Palmer leading the charge.

After an initial strike hit the post and another was ruled offside, the England international finally got on the scoresheet. Nicolas Jackson capitalized on a defensive error from Brighton’s Adam Webster to set up Palmer in the 21st minute.

His second goal came from the penalty spot in the 28th minute following a foul on Jadon Sancho. His third was a stunning free-kick that left Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen with no chance in the 31st minute.

Brighton’s defense struggled to cope with Chelsea’s blistering pace, and their high defensive line was repeatedly punished. They pulled one back through Carlos Baleba in the 38th minute but they never found their rhythm. The fourth goal for Palmer came in the 41st minute, and it eventually turned into the final nail in the coffin.

The London giants, with Cole Palmer at the heart of everything, moved into the Premier League's top four. Their performances have sparked optimism that Enzo Maresca may have found a winning formula.

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"Just messing about" - Cole Palmer on his stunning free-kick in Chelsea's statement victory over Brighton

Just over 25 yards out, Cole Palmer grazed the leather orb with his boots. It dinked over the wall and whistled into the top corner after kissing Brighton shot-stopper Bart Verbruggen's gloves.

However, after scoring the beauty of a freekick in Chelsea's 4-2 victory, Palmer was asked on Sky Sports if he had been practicing his set pieces.

“Nah, not really, just messing about,” delivered the midfielder with a casual shrug.

Furthermore, he was questioned if this had been the best performance of his career after his four-goal haul. Palmer’s responded with a simple “Maybe.”

Cole Palmer's calm, composed demeanor has been one of his many standout qualities. It's a testament to the fact that his saga with the Blue is still in its initial chapters.