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Brighton logo
Premier League | Gameweek 34
May 15, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
The American Express Community Stadium
Chelsea logo

Brighton
1 - 2
Chelsea

Welbeck (90+7')
Dunk (29'), Verbruggen (81')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Palmer (34'), Nkunku (64')
Sterling (77'), Caicedo (79')
James (88')

Cole Palmer equals Chelsea Premier League record in Brighton & Hove Albion win

Palmer equals Chelsea Premier League record in Brighton win
© Reuters
Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer equals a club Premier League record with his opening goal in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer equalled a club record in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

The England international opened the scoring in the 34th minute when he met Marc Cucurella's driven cross to steer his header past the outstretched Bart Verbruggen.

Palmer's strike gave Chelsea a narrow half-time lead, before Christopher Nkunku scored his third Premier League goal of the season to double the visitors' advantage.

The Blues were forced to overcome some late adversity in the form of a Reece James red card and a Danny Welbeck strike, but they managed to hold on to claim a fourth consecutive victory for the first time since October 2022.

As a result of their fine form, Mauricio Pochettino's side are now in sixth place and on the brink of securing Europa League qualification.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer scores against Brighton & Hove Albion on May 15, 2024© Reuters

Palmer equal goalscoring record

In the process of giving Chelsea a crucial lead, Palmer equalled Chelsea's Premier League record for the most openers scored by a player in a single campaign.

The headed effort represented the ninth time that he had opened the scoring in the top flight this season, moving him level with three Chelsea greats.

Gianfranco Zola scored nine openers in 1998-99, while Didier Drogba achieved the feat in 2006-07 on his way to claiming the Golden Boot with 20 goals.

Before Palmer, Eden Hazard was the most recent Chelsea player to equal the record when he broke the deadlock on nine occasions during the 2014-15 Premier League season.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring against West Ham United on May 5, 2024© Reuters

Palmer enjoying productive first season at Stamford Bridge

Palmer has now scored 22 goals in 33 top-flight appearances since joining Chelsea from Manchester City last summer.

As a result, he is sitting in second place in the Premier League scoring charts, with two goals more than third-placed Alexander Isak and five goals adrift of the league's leading scorer Erling Haaland.

Only two Chelsea players have ever scored more goals in a single Premier League campaign – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Drogba.

Hasselbaink registered 23 goals in both 2000-01 and 2001-02, while Drogba racked up 29 goals to fire Chelsea to the 2009-10 Premier League title.

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How you voted: Brighton vs Chelsea

Brighton & Hove Albion
14.1%
Draw
13.0%
Chelsea
72.9%
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City97202091123
2Liverpool97111751222
3Arsenal95311710718
4Aston Villa95311611518
5Chelsea95221911817
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton94411612416
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest9441117416
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs94141810813
9Brentford94141818013
10Fulham93331212012
11Bournemouth93331111012
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9333910-112
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham93241316-311
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd9324811-311
15Leicester CityLeicester92341317-49
16Everton92341016-69
17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich9045920-114
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132
20Southampton9018619-131


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