Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer has set an incredible Premier League record during the first half of Saturday's encounter with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Picking up where he left off last season, the 22-year-old went into the showdown with the Seagulls having already recorded two goals and four assists in the opening five league games of 2024-25.
However, the England international took his contributions in the final third to new heights at Stamford Bridge by scoring four goals in the opening 45 minutes, becoming the first player in Premier League history to do so.
The Blues had been trailing 1-0 when Palmer netted his first effort in the 21st minute, confidently slotting home having been teed up by Nicolas Jackson.
His second came from the penalty spot - his 10th converted spot kick in a row since making the move from Manchester City last summer.
4 - Cole Palmer is the first player in Premier League history to score four goals before half-time in a single match. Cold. #CHEBHA pic.twitter.com/7dNiM1Ndd7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 28, 2024
While the second came from 12 yards, Palmer's hat-trick clinching strike came from in excess of 25 yards out as he magnificently curled a free kick into the top corner of Bart Verbruggen's net.
Jadon Sancho would supply the fourth, threading a through-ball into the path of the advancing Palmer who drove the ball inside the near post from 10 yards out.
There were just 10 minutes between Palmer's first and third goals, while it took him all of 20 minutes to score his four strikes.
© Imago
Palmer has done this before...
Back in April, Palmer achieved the same feat in the 6-0 drubbing of Everton, with that haul being put together either side of half time and taking 51 minutes in total.
Furthermore, Palmer now has three Premier League hat-tricks since April 4, his first coming at home to Manchester United 11 days before the Everton feat.
Only five players in Premier League history have managed to net five times in the same match, with no player ever scoring six.
He also now has 43 Premier League goal or assist contributions since the start of last season, four more than Man City forward Erling Haaland.
Darren Plant
