Palmer's back-to-back Bridge hat-tricks lead talking points ahead of Chelsea's date with destiny
Chelsea 6-0 Everton
Chelsea made mince-meat of a shambolic Everton side as Cole Palmer ran riot.
A 'perfect hat-trick' inside the opening half an hour - left foot, header, right foot - was further evidence of his outstanding quality. Nicolas Jackson also helped himself to a goal, during a first-half blitz.
Palmer converted a penalty after the break to make it four for the night and 20 in the Premier League - taking him level with Erling Haaland. Alfie Gilchrist came off the bench to gleeflully smash in his first goal for the Blues.
No prizes for guessing the big talking points as Saturday's FA Cup semi-final showdown with Manchester City comes into view.
Palmer and Noni show Chelsea have the tools to get the better of Man City
Cole Palmer has already proved many times that he is the man for the occasion. He thrives in the biggest matches. The hat-trick against Man United in the Blues' last home match included two ice-cool spot-kicks - the second one under immense pressure.
And he did the same to the club that gave him away in the summer for a last-minute equaliser in that famous 4-4 draw at the Bridge. Undoubtedly he can wreck City's treble hopes and ask questions once more about the wisdom of City offloading such a talent.
A hat-trick in the opening half an hour buried the contest against relegation-threatened Everton and their points-deducted outfit. His finish after a one-two with Jackson - after a cheeky nutmegging of England defender Jarrad Branthwaite - was supremely calm and he poached a second, nodding in from close range after Jackson had seen his shot parried by Jordan Pickford.
In between, he missed a sitter. This is a man forever hunting goals and he will punish errors ruthlessly as he did when Pickford presented him with a gift for the third, passing the ball directly to him when he was miles out of goal to offer up a simple lobbed finish. No penalties needed for a treble this time, although he did score one with his customary aplomb after the break.
Almost as pleasing for Mauricio Pochettino is the improving form of Noni Madueke. Fleet-footed and blessed with good close control, he is a worry for defenders and causes panic in opposition ranks. Overshadowed he may have been by the limelight-stealing Palmer, but he has the weapons to unlock defences. Mykhailo Mudryk is also getting better and the Blues' attack is undoubtedly carrying greater potency these days.
What on earth were Chelsea players doing fighting to take a penalty when Palmer was on the field?
When Chelsea were awarded a spot-kick on the hour, a desperate row ensued with both Madueke and Jackson seemingly intent on taking it and tussling over the ball. It was unseemly to say the least and not very professional.
Palmer is a perfect penalty taker and the man who deserves to be entrusted with the task. It needed an intervention from skipper Conor Gallagher to put an end to the madness.
Whatever the circumstances, Everton can't win for Toffees at the Bridge
It's a nailed-on three points for the Blues pretty much every season. The Blues will be hoping Sean Dyche's team do not go down because they can guarantee a nice home win most of the time.
OK, that's not strictly fair because the past two seasons, the meetings at the Bridge ended in draws and a fair number of those have interrupted the steady flow of home wins. But the reality is you have to go back 30 years to find the last Everton victory at the Bridge.
After today, it is 35 league and cup games in west London without an away win for the Merseysiders. This result was merely carrying on one of the top flight's most enduring traditions, in other words.
Europe via a league placing still not impossible
No team that fails to get the better of a 10-man Burnley or rock bottom Sheffield United ought to be in the conversation about Europe, yet somehow they are. The defeat to Liverpool at Wembley apart, the Blues have now not lost any of the other 12 games since a home reverse to Wolves in February.
The next few fixtures are very demanding. Arsenal and Villa away, Spurs at home. But they are, if anything, a better prospect against the better teams.
Chelsea are ninth, three points behind Newcastle and Man United with a game in hand. United occupy seventh place, which is currently likely to be good enough for the Europa Conference - the third tier of European competition. The Magpies are sixth on goal difference and that could be enough for a Europa League place.
