Cole Palmer ‘off the charts’ and manager ‘stinky’ – Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy’s winners and losers

There was late drama and big results at the top and bottom of the table in Saturday’s Premier League action, but it was all about one man.

Cole Palmer’s virtuoso performance The first half of Chelsea’s win over Brighton saw him score a staggering four goals.

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The England star scored all of Chelsea’s goals in a 4–2 win at Stamford Bridge, with his first three goals coming in a span of ten minutes.

And how could Palmer’s former club Manchester City have done with his creativity as Pep Guardiola’s men dropped more points with a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in the lunchtime kick-off.

That allowed rivals Arsenal, who last weekend handed the champions a first home defeat in the league since November 2022, to gain more lead over them – although the Gunners almost fouled their lines.

Mikel Arteta’s side raced into a 2-0 lead against a depleted Leicester at the Emirates Stadium and needed a Wilfried Ndidi own goal in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to save an embarrassing result, before Kai Havertz scored. By doing this they were ahead by 4. -2 wins.

Liverpool, who finished the day top of the table, came out hard on Saturday evening to earn a 2-1 win over struggling Wolves.

At the other end of the table, things are looking better for the Reds’ Merseyside rivals with Everton as they picked up their first win of the season by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Goodison Park.

In contrast, Nottingham Forest suffered their first defeat of the season with a 1–0 defeat to Fulham, while Brentford and West Ham played out a disappointing 1–1 draw at the GTech Community Stadium.

There was plenty of motivation throughout west London as Palmer put the Seagulls to the sword, with talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy meowing as they picked their winners and losers from Saturday’s action.

winners

cole palmer

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Former Chelsea player Cundy began: “There’s only one place to start for me. I was at Stamford Bridge. I’m in the game for Chelsea TV. Cole Palmer.

“This guy. The joke. Is off the charts.”

Palmer now has three Premier League hat-tricks (all for Chelsea), bringing him level with club legends Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

Cundy added: “And you’re talking about Chelsea’s greatest ever goalscorer in Frank Lampard. Yes. And Chelsea.

“And probably Chelsea’s best number nine. I know a lot of people say Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink or maybe Gianfranco Zola. Yes, or maybe Peter Osgood.

“But the best number nine is obviously Chelsea’s Drogba. That’s why he has more hat tricks.”

O’Hara responded: “You know what I love about him? He’s absolutely bullshit. I know that. He doesn’t care, right?”

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Cundy concluded: “At Man City, he might not have got the chance. So we’re looking at a player at Stamford Bridge in a Chelsea shirt who has been given a chance. He’s the main man.

“He had to get ahead of Phil Foden. He had Bernardo Silva in front of him. He wouldn’t be this player at City right now because he wouldn’t have got the chance. That’s the simple truth.”

mads hermansen

The Leicester goalkeeper was on the losing side but his heroics before Arsenal’s lucky third goal made him a winner in the eyes of O’Hara and Cundy.

O’Hara said: “I mean, he conceded four goals but his performance was absolutely brilliant.”

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Dwight McNeil

Defeated at half time, it looked like it was going to be one of those all-too-familiar days as Everton found themselves 1-0 down at the Eagles’ home ground through a goal from Marc Guhi.

But early in the second half, McNeil said enough was enough and almost single-handedly snatched the game from Oliver Glasner’s team.

A superb curling effort from distance gave Everton an equalizer in the 47th minute, and then on 54th McNeil expertly controlled a cross from the right and beat Dean Henderson to give Sean Dyche’s side a valuable three points.

Cundy said: “It’s a big win for Everton… Aren’t they a funny club?”

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lost

robert sanchez

O’Hara believes Chelsea, who have now won four of their six league games should be considered title contenders,

However, the former Tottenham midfielder admitted that goalkeeper Sanchez is a weak position in the Blues ranks that needs attention.

Sanchez was culpable for both of Brighton’s goals as he failed to punch the ball past Georginio Rutter with seven minutes to go. The Spaniard gave the ball away before Carlos Baleba scored Brighton’s second goal of the afternoon.

Cundy continued: “Do you know what? Again, goalkeepers are being asked to play the ball out of the back. He takes two ricks, two goals. That’s what happens when goalkeepers throw the ball away .

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“He gives them the first. He looks like Superman. A challenge he can’t win. The second, gives the ball into the box.

“We were cruising on stage 3-1. Let’s bring it back to 3-2. Obviously, it’s like, where’s Cole Palmer?

“We need another goal. Give us another goal, Cole. And he does. Yes, Sanchez… choose the pass, choose the pass, make the right decision.”

Oliver Langford (referee)

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With some time away from the Premier League, there was considerable controversy at the lunchtime kick-off of the Championship as Norwich claimed a 3–2 victory at Derby County.

Just before half-time, Borja Sainz put the Canaries ahead with a powerful finish, however. the goal should not have stood,

Assist provider Josh Sargent crossed the ball to Sainz down the stretch, but replays showed the ball clearly went past the byline before the American put it back into play.

This was not noticed by either referee Langford or his assistants, causing the derby to boil over.

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But Kandi suggested that the man in the middle shouldn’t bear responsibility for this mistake.

Kandi said: “Excuse me, can I say something here? Where’s his assistant?

“He’s got to help the ref. Help him.”

Jermaine Pennant said: “Linesman. What’s it called? Lines-man. Because he covers the lines.”

oliver glassner

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Not a good day for Olivers, with Palace boss Glasner coming under pressure after his side’s defeat on Merseyside.

In a season that promised a lot for the south Londoners, they are still looking for their first win after three draws and three defeats.

A Palace fan demanded Glasner be given the chop on the gameday phone-in.

O’Hara responded: “He was having a little trouble at the beginning. He lost today. Is he still under pressure?”

Pennant said: “Crystal Palace were my secret team, the way they finished last season… now I’ve changed my mind.”