Chelsea star Cole Palmer has already outdone Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard is next

Cole Palmer has already achieved a feat better than Chelsea icon Eden Hazard after his remarkable four-goal haul against Brighton. The Blues star bagged a quadruple of goals in the 4-2 victory over the Seagulls on Saturday.

Palmer scored all four of his goals in a crazy first half. The 22-year-old fired home from Nicolas Jackson’s assist before converting a penalty to put Chelsea 2-1 ahead. His hat-trick was sealed with a fabulous free-kick from 30 yards.

There was still time for more before the break, with Brighton scoring a second before Palmer restored his side’s two-goal lead. The forward managed to squeeze his effort inside Bart Verbruggen’s near post.

Palmer has only been at Chelsea for a year but has already scored more hat-tricks for the club than former winger Hazard. The Belgian struck 110 goals in 352 appearances for the West Londoners, but managed only two hat-tricks.

His goals on Saturday placed Palmer onto three hat-tricks for Chelsea. He has a host of other club legends in his sights.

Palmer is tied on a trio of hat-tricks with Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Another three goals in a game will take him above those names and seal a fine achievement, given the length of service of those former Chelsea stars.

Amusingly, Palmer was not entirely delighted with his performance against Brighton, believing he should have scored more than four goals. The England international had chances to score a fifth and sixth in the second half.

“I try to play every game the best I can,” he told Match of the Day. “I should have had five or six.

“When I missed the first chance, I was upset, but with the way they played and their high line, I felt we’d get more chances.

“The manager set up a good game plan, we knew how to attack them with first-time passes in behind. Brighton are a good team, they pass the ball well. They play similar to us. Three points are what we needed, and that is what we got.”

Chelsea’s victory extended their six-match domestic winning run, elevating Enzo Maresca’s side into fifth in the Premier League table. Palmer’s quadruple took him onto six goals for the campaign. Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland – with 10 – has more than the Blues ace.