- Cole Palmer put in a classic performance against Brighton with four goals
- His teammates were back to their old antics with another match ball message
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A Chelsea star mocked Cole Palmer by writing a brutal message on his match ball despite the star scoring four goals against Brighton.
Palmer scored four goals in the first half of the 4-2 win, including a stunning 30-yard free kick that left fans purring at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The 22-year-old became the first Premier League player to score four goals before half-time and Mail Sport awarded him a 9.5 rating for his “simply extraordinary” performance.
He already has three hat-tricks in the Premier League (as many as club legends Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink) and his Chelsea teammates are up to their old tricks with their match ball.
Last season, a mystery man wrote “shitty player” on his ball after scoring a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Manchester United in April.
Romeo Lavia brutally mocked Cole Palmer by writing “you’re a central player anyway” after scoring four goals against Brighton.
Palmer dazzled fans by becoming the first Premier League star to score four before half-time.
The 22-year-old scored a stunning free kick from 30 meters as the pick of the group.
And this time Romeo Lavia was the agent of the mischief, writing: “You’re an average player anyway.”
Lavia tagged Palmer while posting a photo of his graffiti on Instagram, saying, “There you go CP.”
His work sparked a wave of reactions on social media.
‘I love pranks between teammates! Keep it light and fun!’ wrote one on X, formerly Twitter.
“Only a true friend can get away with this,” said another.
“Boys will be boys,” said one.
Some saw truth in Lavia’s message. ‘Palmer is really an average player. He never appears in important games,” says one fan.
‘He knows the truth. Goals aside,’ said another.
Those who doubt it might do well to check the scoring and assist charts, with Palmer in second place after scoring six and assisting four goals this campaign. He also has 43 goals and assists in the Premier League since the start of last season, the most for any player.
Lavia was called into action as Chelsea continued their good start under Enzo Maresca.
Some fans were amused by Lavia’s written message while others took it seriously.
He had the opportunity to improve his numbers further on Saturday, with an incredible first-time pass over the defense to Nicolas Jackson, a particular demonstration of his talent.
Coach Enzo Maresca greeted him at the full moment.
“I just told Cole that he scored four, but he could have scored two or three more. It’s important that he continues to have hunger and ambition,” he said.
‘I have known Cole for many years. I had him for a whole season at City and then in the first team. The best thing about him is how he is today as a child, exactly how he was two or three years ago.
‘So, goals and assists, the best player in the Premier League; This does not change his way of being. He is a simple, humble guy, and for me this is the most important thing.
‘He is a top-level player. And the important thing about the above, nowadays in football, young players change very quickly. They score a goal and they think they are already… Cole has scored many goals, many assists, he is a top player but he has never changed. This is the most important thing.’
After losing 2-0 to Manchester City in the first game of the season, Chelsea have rediscovered their rhythm under Maresca.
Since then, they have won four and drawn one of their Premier League matches and look more lethal, beating Wolves six and scoring five against Barrow in the Carabao Cup.