The ridiculous stats to suggest Cole Palmer is Player of the Year over Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and William Saliba

Chelsea star Cole Palmer is having a hell of a season – and there are some jaw-dropping stats to back it up.

His tally of four goals against Everton on Monday night was just his latest incredible performance since signing for Chelsea from Manchester City last summer for £45million.

At the time, a few eyebrows were certainly raised at such a high fee for a player who had made 19 Premier League appearances.

But the 21-year-old could be the signing of the summer – and there’s even a strong case for him being nominated for PFA Player of the Year this season ahead of superstars like top-performing striker Erling Haaland, Arsenal colossus William Saliba and Liverpool hero Mohamed Salah, who will all be in the conversation for the top prize.

GOAL MACHINE

In 27 Premier League matches, Palmer has scored 20 goals and assisted nine, making a total of 29 goal contributions.

No player has scored more than him in the league, currently tied with his former Manchester City teammate Haaland.

There is a very good chance that Palmer will win the Golden Boot this season, which would see him become the first midfielder to do so – a feat that even players like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard or Yaya Touré have not achieved. not completed.

But as well as the Golden Boot, Palmer is also one assist away, tied for the lead for playmaker of the year with nine assists, one behind Ollie Watkins, Kieran Trippier and Pascal Gross.

No player has scored more goals than Palmer this season either, while his nine penalty goals are also a Premier League high.

Some players might see themselves as having a good chance of winning the PFA Player of the Year award, notably Saliba, who has arguably been the best defender this season, with Arsenal having conceded the fewest goals (26).

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Salah has 17 goals and nine assists for Liverpool, who are in the title race with City, whose main man Haaland has scored 20 and assisted five.

And Aston Villa cannot be ignored, where Watkins has been a revelation, scoring 19 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League.

TEAM PLAYER

But Palmer is still out in front in terms of all goal contributions, which is all the more impressive when you consider that Chelsea have had a nightmare season sitting ninth in the table.

For the Blues, the England international is the first player to score 20 or more goals in the Premier League since Eden Hazard in the 2018/19 season.

And he is also the first player to do so in his first campaign with the Blues since Diego Costa in 2014/15.

IN A LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

At 21 years and 345 days, Palmer became the fifth youngest player in Premier League history to score four or more goals in a single match.

It also saw him become the first Chelsea player to do so since Frank Lampard in March 2010 against Aston Villa.

When the Blues sold Kai Havertz to Arsenal last summer, Palmer was seen as a long-term replacement – but he has already scored more league goals (20) than the 24-year-old did for Chelsea (19) in 64 fewer games.

Palmer is also closing in on Toure’s record for most penalties scored without missing one, having scored nine while the City legend bagged 11 during his time at the Etihad.

He also went one better than Chelsea legend Didier Drogba on Monday night when he scored against Everton, making it seven consecutive home games at Stamford Bridge where he got on the scoresheet.

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After scoring with his right foot, left foot and header on Monday night, Palmer scored the Premier League’s first ‘perfect hat-trick’, securing his third of the evening on 29 minutes.

However, Sadio Mané wins the award for the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history for his hat-trick against Villa in 2015 in 2 minutes 56 seconds, so Palmer still has some chances of breaking that record.

It’s safe to say, though, that Palmer is having quite the season – and all in his first year at Chelsea and as a first-team regular.

This made him one of the favorites to win not only the PFA Young Player of the Year award, but also the PFA Player of the Year, a feat that only Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Andy Gray have achieved .