Football

Cole Palmer etched his name into the annals of English Premier League history on Saturday, September 28, 2024, becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a match. His remarkable feat propelled Chelsea to a 4-2 victory over Brighton, further solidifying the London club's status as a title contender after investing heavily in the transfer market.Palmer, a product of Chelsea's youth academy, has emerged as a key figure for the Blues this season. His 22 league goals last season placed him second only to Manchester City's Erling Haaland, and he has already netted six times in just six games this campaign. His impressive form has also earned him a regular spot in the England squad, where he scored the team's lone goal in the 2-1 loss to Spain in the European Championship final in July.On Saturday, Palmer showcased his exceptional talent against Brighton. He opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a clinical finish, and added three more goals in quick succession before the half-time whistle. His goalscoring spree sent shockwaves through the Premier League, and left Brighton reeling.Despite Palmer's heroics, Chelsea's victory was not without its challenges. Manchester City, the reigning champions, dropped points for the second consecutive weekend after drawing 1-1 at Newcastle. Erling Haaland, who has been in prolific form this season, was kept scoreless for the first time in the league, leaving him on 10 goals.Arsenal took advantage of City's slip-up by beating Leicester 4-2 thanks to two stoppage-time strikes from Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz. The Gunners joined City on 14 points at the top of the table.Brentford became the first Premier League team to score inside the first minute in three straight games, but couldn't hold on after Bryan Mbeumo's opener and drew with West Ham 1-1. Everton gained its first win of the season by beating Crystal Palace 2-1, while Fulham won at Nottingham Forest 1-0, with Mexico striker Raul Jimenez scoring in a third straight game.

Chelsea secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a late winner from substitute Christopher Nkunku.The Blues endured a challenging first half, with Bournemouth hitting the woodwork twice and Robert Sanchez saving a penalty from Evanilson. However, Chelsea's depth proved crucial in the second half.Jadon Sancho, who joined Chelsea from Manchester United on deadline day, made an impressive debut as a half-time substitute. His incisive pass found Nkunku, who slotted home the winning goal in the 86th minute.The match was marred by a record-breaking 14 yellow cards, surpassing the previous high of 12. Despite the fractious nature of the game, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised his team's resilience."You cannot come here and win without getting your shirt dirty," said Maresca. "We had to battle through our lack of cohesion, but we showed great character."Sancho expressed his delight at making his Chelsea debut. "It's amazing to make my debut for Chelsea," he said. "I've been working hard for this moment, and I'm just happy that I got my chance."Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola lamented his team's missed opportunities. "We had more everything, more shots, more corners," he said. "But at the end, what really matters is to score, and they did it at the end."Chelsea's victory lifts them to seventh in the Premier League standings with seven points from four games. Bournemouth, meanwhile, remains winless after four matches.

Chelsea's Palmer Omitted from Conference League Squad Amidst Player Overload ConcernsChelsea has excluded Cole Palmer from its UEFA Conference League squad to manage his workload in a season that could extend into mid-July. The decision aligns with concerns raised by the global footballers' union FIFPro about the excessive demands placed on players due to expanding tournaments.Palmer, who scored in England's Euro 2024 final defeat, has withdrawn from the England squad for upcoming Nations League matches. FIFPro has urged football governing bodies to prioritize player welfare by implementing minimum rest periods and potentially limiting the number of games played.Chelsea's decision also considers the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, which will run from June 15 to July 13. The Blues will face Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah, Heidenheim, Astana, and Shamrock Rovers in the group stage of the Conference League.Palmer's exclusion highlights the growing recognition of the need for player rest. The Professional Footballers' Association has pointed to the impressive form of Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who both benefited from summer breaks from international duty.Chelsea's decision to manage Palmer's minutes is a proactive measure to prevent burnout and ensure his availability for the crucial latter stages of the season. Should Enzo Maresca's side progress in the Conference League, Palmer could be added to the squad.

Chelsea's inconsistent start to the season continued with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, while Newcastle United secured a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, despite a significant summer overhaul, have managed only one win in their first three league matches. After a disappointing loss to Manchester City in the opening weekend, Chelsea bounced back with a 6-2 triumph at Wolves. However, their UEFA Conference League campaign began with a 2-1 defeat to Servette on Thursday.Despite the inconsistent results, Maresca remains confident in his team's progress. The arrival of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United was the final piece in Chelsea's summer rebuild, and the winger was introduced to the crowd before the Palace match.Chelsea took the lead in the 25th minute when Nicolas Jackson converted a pass from Cole Palmer. However, Palace refused to be disheartened and equalized in the 53rd minute through a superb curling finish from Eberechi Eze.At St James' Park, Newcastle took the lead in spectacular fashion when Harvey Barnes unleashed a sublime volley into the far corner. Tottenham equalized through an own goal by Dan Burn, but Newcastle regained the lead in the 78th minute when Alexander Isak tapped in a pass from Joelinton.Newcastle's second win in three league games condemned Tottenham to their first defeat of the season. The north London derby against Arsenal awaits Tottenham after the international break.Meanwhile, Liverpool will travel to Old Trafford for a highly anticipated clash with Manchester United on Sunday. Reds boss Arne Slot will experience his first taste of the bitter rivalry with United, while Erik ten Hag faces pressure after United's defeat at Brighton last weekend.

Chelsea's transfer deadline day was a whirlwind of activity, with the club reportedly securing a loan deal for Jadon Sancho from Manchester United and Raheem Sterling departing for Arsenal on a similar arrangement.Sancho's move to Stamford Bridge comes after a disappointing spell at Old Trafford, where he has struggled to justify his hefty price tag. The winger is expected to join the Blues on a loan with an obligation to make the move permanent next season for a fee of £25 million ($33 million).Meanwhile, Sterling's departure marks the end of a two-year spell at Chelsea. The England international, who joined from Manchester City for £50 million, has been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Enzo Maresca. He will now reunite with former City boss Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, adding an extra attacking dimension to the Gunners' squad.Chelsea's attempts to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen proved unsuccessful, while Saudi club Al-Ahli also expressed interest in the Nigerian but ultimately opted for England international Ivan Toney. Brentford received a reported £40 million fee for Toney's services.Manchester United, on the other hand, completed a €50 million move for Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. Ugarte becomes the Red Devils' fifth major signing of the window, joining Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee. However, United suffered a blow with the departure of Scott McTominay to Napoli.Arsenal also added goalkeeper Neto on a season-long loan from Bournemouth, while Manchester City opted against making any deadline-day signings. Newcastle, despite their financial backing, were unable to add any major players due to financial sustainability rules.Other notable moves included Crystal Palace signing Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal, Wolves bolstering their squad with Andre and Sam Johnstone, and Nottingham Forest bringing in James Ward-Prowse and Morato.

Chelsea have bolstered their attacking options with the signing of Portuguese forward Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid on a seven-year deal. The Premier League club confirmed the transfer on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.Financial details were not disclosed, but English media reported that Chelsea paid around 46 million pounds ($59.95 million) to secure the 24-year-old's return to Stamford Bridge. Felix had previously spent a six-month loan spell at Chelsea in the 2022-23 season, scoring four goals in 20 appearances. He also had a loan stint at Barcelona last campaign, where he netted 10 goals in 44 games.Atletico Madrid had signed Felix from Benfica in 2019 for a club-record fee of 126 million euros ($140 million). He scored 34 goals in 131 matches for the Spanish club and helped them win the LaLiga title in 2021."It's a chance for me to find a home," Felix told Chelsea's website. "After two loans, Chelsea and Barca, I needed to stay permanently in one place. There's no better place for me to be than Chelsea. I see a perfect place to shine.""I felt really good when I was here, despite the results we had. I'm really happy to be back," he added.Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised Felix's versatility. "The good thing about Joao is that he can play in different positions. He can play inside, he can play as a (number) nine, he can play outside," Maresca told reporters.Chelsea will face Swiss side Servette in the Europa Conference League playoff stage on Thursday before visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Sunday.

Erling Haaland's 91st goal for Manchester City marked his 100th appearance for the club, propelling the defending champions to a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in their Premier League opener. The Norwegian striker's clinical finish in the 18th minute gave City the early advantage, while Mateo Kovacic's strike in the 84th sealed the win.Chelsea, under new manager Enzo Maresca, showed promise early on but struggled to find the back of the net. Nicolas Jackson's goal was ruled out for offside, and he later missed a close-range volley. Despite heavy summer spending, Chelsea's lack of a clinical center-forward was evident.However, there were positive signs for Maresca. Romeo Lavia impressed in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, while Pedro Neto made a lively debut off the bench. Neto nearly scored with his first touch, but it was Kovacic who doubled City's lead with a well-taken shot.In the early game, Brentford secured a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. The Bees took the lead through Yoane Wissa in the 18th minute, but Palace equalized through Eberechi Eze in the 64th. Bryan Mbeumo's goal in the 84th minute proved to be the winner for Brentford.

The Premier League 2024-25 season kicks off with a highly anticipated clash between Chelsea and defending champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Both teams will be eager to start their campaigns with a victory, but Chelsea face an uphill battle against a formidable City side.Chelsea have not tasted success in their last six Premier League encounters with Manchester City, drawing twice and losing four times since their 2-1 away win in May 2021. However, the Blues have a strong record in their opening matches, having accumulated 67 points, second only to Manchester United's 21 wins.Manchester City, on the other hand, have won their Premier League opener in 12 of the last 13 seasons, with the exception of a 0-1 defeat at Tottenham in 2021-22. They will be without Oscar Bobb and Rodri for the match, while Chelsea will miss Conor Gallagher, whose future remains uncertain.In terms of head-to-head records, Chelsea hold a slight edge with 69 wins compared to City's 65. Their last two Premier League meetings ended in draws.Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed concerns about the size of his squad, while Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the challenge of defending their title."We have to conquer it again, because they are not going to give us the Premier League for the 24/25 season," Guardiola said. "We have to live with that, but I know what we have to do. Point by point must be won."The match will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network in India and streamed on Hotstar.

Manchester City's summer tour of the United States culminated in a dominant 4-2 victory over Chelsea in a pre-season friendly at Columbus, Ohio. Erling Haaland, the Norwegian sensation, stole the show with a blistering hat-trick, including two goals in the opening five minutes.Haaland, donning the captain's armband, showcased his world-class abilities from the outset. Just 54 seconds into the match, he converted a penalty kick to give City an early lead. Moments later, he doubled the advantage with a thunderous right-footed strike after a Chelsea giveaway.City's dominance continued in the second half. Oscar Bobb extended the lead in the 55th minute, cutting inside from the right wing and firing a precise shot past the goalkeeper. Haaland completed his hat-trick a mere 25 seconds later, capitalizing on a turnover in Chelsea territory and flicking a left-footed shot into the net.Chelsea managed to pull two goals back through Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke, but it proved too little too late. The match served as a tantalizing preview of the 2024-25 Premier League season, with Manchester City set to face Chelsea on the opening day.Meanwhile, in another pre-season clash in South Carolina, Liverpool blanked Manchester United 3-0. Fabio Carvalho opened the scoring for the Reds, followed by goals from Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas.