Cole Palmer 'off the charts' and manager 'having a stinker' – Jamie O'Hara and Jason Cundy's winners and losers

Yesterday at 06:43 PM

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

Cole Palmer’s virtuoso performance saw him score a staggering FOUR goals in the first half of Chelsea’s victory over Brighton.

The England star scored all of Chelsea’s goals in their 4-2 triumph at Stamford Bridge, with his first three coming in a blistering ten-minute period.

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

This allowed rivals Arsenal, who almost inflicted a first home defeat in the league since November 2022 on the champions last weekend, to gain more ground on them – although the Gunners almost fluffed their lines.

Mikel Arteta’s men surrendered a 2-0 lead to lowly Leicester at the Emirates Stadium and needed a Wilfred Ndidi own goal in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to spare them from an embarrassing result, with Kai Havertz scoring later on to give them a 4-2 win.

Liverpool, who finish the day top of the table, made hard work of their Saturday evening outing as they edged to a 2-1 win at struggling Wolves.

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

In contrast, Nottingham Forest suffered their first defeat of the season with a 1-0 loss to Fulham, while Brentford and West Ham played out an uninspiring 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Across west London there was plenty of inspiration as Palmer putting the Seagulls to the sword had talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy purring when picking their winners and losers from Saturday’s action.

Winners

Cole Palmer

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

“This boy. Joke. Is off the charts.”

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

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

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

“But the best number nine obviously is Chelsea’s Drogba. So he’s got more hat tricks.”

O’Hara responded: “You know what I love about him? He’s just absolutely bovril. I know. He don’t care, does he?”

Cundy concluded: “At Man City, he wouldn’t have got the chance. So we’re seeing a player at Stamford Bridge in Chelsea shirt that’s been given a chance. He’s the main guy.

“He had to get past Phil Foden. He had Bernardo Silva in front of him. He would not have been this player right here, right now at City, 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 fortunate third goal make him a winner in the eyes of O’Hara and Cundy.

O’Hara said: “I mean, he conceded four but had an absolute worldy performance.”

Dwight McNeil

Booed off at half time, it seemed like it was one of those very familiar days as Everton found themselves 1-0 down at home to the Eagles through Marc Guehi’s goal.

But right at the start of the second half, McNeil said enough is enough and almost single-handedly wrestled the game back off Oliver Glasner’s men.

A stunning curling effort from distance got Everton level on 47 minutes, and then on 54 minutes McNeil expertly controlled a cross from the right before beating Dean Henderson to give Sean Dyche’s side a precious three points.

Cundy said: “That’s a massive win for Everton… aren’t they a funny club?”

Losers

Robert Sanchez

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

However, the former Tottenham midfielder admitted there is a weak spot in the Blues ranks that need to be addressed in goalkeeper Sanchez.

Sanchez was culpable in both of Brighton’s goals as he failed to punch the ball away before Georginio Rutter nodded the away side in front on seven minutes. The Spaniard then gave the ball away before Carlos Baleba got Brighton’s second of the afternoon.

Cundy added: “Do you know what? Again, goalkeepers being asked to play the ball at the back. He makes two ricks, two goals. That’s what happens when goalkeepers give the ball away.

“He gives them the first one. He’s come out looking like Superman. A challenge he can’t win. The second one, giving the ball away into the box.

“We were cruising at stage 3-1. Brings 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. Yeah, Sanchez… the selection of pass, choice of pass, make the right decision.”

Oliver Langford (referee)

Away from the Premier League briefly, there was a huge bit of controversy in the Championship’s lunchtime kick-off as Norwich claimed a 3-2 win at Derby County.

Just before half time, Borja Sainz fired the Canaries in front with an emphatic finish, however, the goal shouldn’t have stood.

Assist provider Josh Sargeant crossed the ball to Sainz on the stretch but replays show the ball clearly went beyond the byline before the American hooked it back into play.

It wasn’t noticed by referee Langford, nor his assistants, leaving Derby seething.

But Cundy suggested that the man in the middle shouldn’t necessarily shoulder the responsibility for this blunder.

Cundy said: “Sorry, can I just say something here? Where’s his assistant?

“He’s meant to assist the referee. Assist him.”

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

Oliver Glasner

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

In a season that promised so much for the south Londoners, they are still searching for their first win having drawn and lost three each.

A Palace fan called the GameDay Phone-In demanding Glasner to get the chop.

O’Hara responded: “He’s having a bit of a stinker, at the start. He got beat today. Is he under pressure just yet?”

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