Cole Palmer Hat-Trick Powers Chelsea to Fourth Straight League Win at Wolves

Chelsea made it four Premier League wins in a row under Liam Rosenior with a comfortable 3–1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, powered by a devastating first-half hat-trick from Cole Palmer.

It was a performance built on early control, relentless pressure and ruthless efficiency, allowing the Blues to respond in exactly the way Rosenior would have wanted after midweek disappointment.

Rosenior made just two changes, with Palmer and Pedro Neto returning to the starting XI as Chelsea reverted to a back four after using a three-man defence against Arsenal. Wolves started brightly and carried some threat in the opening ten minutes, but once Chelsea settled, the difference in quality became clear.

Chelsea lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with Robert Sanchez in goal behind a back four of Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella. Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos anchored midfield, while Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Neto supported Joao Pedro.

Wolves named Jose Sa in goal and handed debuts to Adam Armstrong and Angel Gomes, with Matt Doherty returning alongside Hugo Bueno, Santiago Bueno, Joao Gomes, Hwang Hee-chan, Tolu Arokodare, Yerson Mosquera and Mateus Mane.

The breakthrough arrived after 13 minutes. Joao Pedro, lively from the outset, was clipped inside the area by Doherty in a needless challenge. Referee Jarred Gillett had little hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Palmer calmly sent Sa the wrong way.

From there, Chelsea were in full control. The visitors dominated possession and created a steady flow of chances. Fernandez saw efforts blocked, Cucurella went close after bursting forward, and Joao Pedro’s movement continued to trouble Wolves. Gusto also threatened after being slipped in by Santos, only to be denied by Sa.

Pressure told again ten minutes before the break. Another extended spell of possession ended with Gusto clipping the ball into the box. Joao Pedro got goal side of Mosquera and was shoved to the ground, leaving Palmer to once again keep his nerve from twelve yards.

Wolves never recovered. Within minutes, Chelsea struck a third. A flowing move saw Neto and Fernandez combine before Cucurella found space on the left. His cut-back was met by Palmer, who rifled the ball into the roof of the net to complete his fourth Premier League hat-trick for the club a feat unmatched in Chelsea history.

With a commanding lead at half-time, the second period became about control.

Wolves pulled one back nine minutes after the restart when a corner, following a deflected effort onto the post, was turned home by Arokodare again exposing Chelsea’s vulnerability at set pieces.

Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived. Chelsea quickly reasserted control, with Santos particularly combative in midfield. Rosenior managed the game sensibly, withdrawing Palmer just after the hour to a deserved embrace from the head coach, with Alejandro Garnacho introduced.

Further changes saw Josh Acheampong, Liam Delap and Jorrel Hato enter the fray as Chelsea rotated with a busy schedule in mind.

Chelsea pushed for a fourth late on, with Neto heading wide and Delap forcing another save from Sa, but the scoreline remained unchanged.

In the end, this was job done. Chelsea were clinical when it mattered, mature when required, and growing in confidence and clarity under Rosenior. Palmer took the headlines, but the collective performance told the bigger story.