Cole Palmer etched his name into Premier League history on Saturday by scoring a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea cruised to a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Arsenal extended their lead at the summit to nine points with a commanding 3-0 win over Sunderland in a dramatic Gameweek 25.
Palmer converted two penalties in the 13th and 35th minutes before adding a third from open play just three minutes later, with Marc Cucurella providing the assist at Molineux. The England international became the first player in Premier League history to record three separate first-half hat-tricks, cementing his status as one of the most lethal attackers in English football. Tolu Arokodare pulled one back for Wolves in the second half, but the damage was already done as Chelsea claimed their fourth consecutive league win.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal reinforced their title credentials with a professional display against promoted Sunderland. Martin Zubimendi broke the deadlock just before halftime, before Viktor Gyokeres sealed the victory with two late goals, including one deep into stoppage time. The Gunners now sit on 56 points, maintaining a commanding nine-point advantage over Manchester City.
Manchester United continued their impressive run of form with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, where Cristian Romero received a red card in the 29th minute for a reckless challenge. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring before Bruno Fernandes doubled the lead late on for a fourth straight win. Meanwhile, Brentford produced a stunning 3-2 comeback at Newcastle, with Dango Ouattara scoring the 85th-minute winner to end a 91-year wait for victory at St James Park.
Elsewhere, Crysencio Summerville set West Ham on their way to a 2-0 triumph at Burnley, with Valentin Castellanos netting his first Premier League goal. Everton extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 2-1 win at Fulham, while Bournemouth and Aston Villa shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Leeds United opened the gameweek on Friday with a crucial 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.
On Sunday, Ismaila Sarr struck in the 61st minute to give Crystal Palace a 1-0 win at Brighton, ending their nine-game winless streak. In the headline fixture, Manchester City mounted a dramatic late comeback to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield, with Erling Haaland converting a stoppage-time penalty to keep the defending champions firmly in the title race.
With 13 games remaining, Arsenal's nine-point cushion provides a significant buffer, though Manchester City's resilience at Anfield serves as a reminder that the title race is far from over. Chelsea's surge has propelled them into fifth place, while the bottom of the table sees Burnley, Crystal Palace, and Sunderland locked in an increasingly tense battle for survival.
Comments