Chelsea continued their impressive momentum in the Premier League this afternoon, securing a 3-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux.
The headlines belonged entirely to Cole Palmer, who netted a sensational first-half hat-trick to etch his name further into the club’s history books.
Under Liam Rosenior, the Blues have now secured four consecutive league wins. While a second-half lapse allowed Tolu Arokodare to pull one back for the hosts, Chelsea’s early clinical edge proved insurmountable. Here is how the players rated in today’s contest.
Robert Sanchez: 6
A relatively quiet afternoon for the keeper, who was largely a spectator during Chelsea’s dominant first half. He could do little about Arokodare’s close-range finish following a corner but remained composed with his distribution.
Malo Gusto: 6
Gusto provided his usual energy down the right flank but lacked his typical precision in the final third. He had one effort tipped away by José Sá and was part of a defensive lapse during the corner that led to the Wolves goal.
Wesley Fofana: 7
The most impressive of the starting defenders, Fofana was alert to Wolves’ early pressure and snuffed out several dangerous transitions. He looked physically dominant and composed until his substitution late in the game.
Trevoh Chalobah: 6
Chalobah put in a workmanlike performance, though he survived a late scare following a heavy clash of heads with Yerson Mosquera. He was reliable in the air but, like his partners, will be frustrated at losing the clean sheet.
Marc Cucurella: 6
The Spaniard provided the assist for Palmer’s third goal with a trademark cutback, but he had a difficult second half. He picked up a booking for a cynical challenge and struggled at times to contain Wolves’ late resurgence.
Moises Caicedo: 7
A midfield engine once again, Caicedo dictated the tempo and was instrumental in winning the ball back quickly. His high rating reflects his work rate and ability to shield a backline that came under increased pressure after the break.
Andrey Santos: 7
Santos looked comfortable alongside Caicedo, showing great maturity in possession. He was tidy in his passing and helped control the middle of the park before being forced off with an injury in the 83rd minute.
Cole Palmer: 9
Simply world-class. Palmer secured his hat-trick in just 38 minutes—becoming the first player in Premier League history to record three first-half trebles. After burying two clinical penalties, he finished a flowing team move to secure the match ball.
Enzo Fernandez: 6
It was a leggy performance from the captain, who struggled to exert his usual influence. While he was involved in the build-up to the third goal, his fatigue was evident, likely due to a heavy recent workload and an ongoing knee issue.
Pedro Neto: 6
Facing his former club, Neto failed to provide the spark many expected. He was largely peripheral on the wing and missed a late opportunity to add a fourth, firing wide under pressure. His current dip in form remains a concern.
Joao Pedro: 7
Though he didn’t score, the Brazilian was pivotal to the result. He won both penalties that Palmer converted, drawing fouls through his clever movement and quick feet. He was a constant thorn in the side of the Wolves defense.
Substitutes
Alejandro Garnacho (on for Palmer 61’): 6.3
Replacing the star of the show is never easy, and Garnacho struggled to get into the game. His defensive tracking was criticized as Wolves grew into the match during the final half-hour.
Josh Acheampong (on for Gusto 75’): 6.8
The youngster looked composed in his brief cameo, helping to stabilize the right side as Chelsea focused on seeing out the two-goal lead.
Liam Delap (on for Joao Pedro 75’): 6.5
Delap provided a physical presence up front late on but had very little service as Chelsea retreated into a defensive shell to protect their lead.
Jorrel Hato (on for Santos 84’): 6.7
Hato was brought on to shore up the midfield following Santos’ injury and did a professional job in the closing stages and seven minutes of added time.