In a madcap showdown on Thursday, Chelsea stunned Manchester United with a last-gasp comeback, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory at Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer emerged as the hero of the night, clinching a hat-trick and turning the game on its head when it seemed the Reds were on course for an unlikely triumph.
Chelsea’s top scorer, Palmer, proved instrumental with two crucial goals deep into added time, rescuing the Blues from the brink of a 3-2 defeat at home. Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s coach, hailed Palmer’s impact, stating, “The impact is amazing… Today he showed the mentality and the quality.”
Trailing 2-0 early on, Manchester United staged a remarkable turnaround with goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes, taking the lead to 3-2. However, Chelsea refused to surrender. As the match approached its conclusion, Diogo Dalot’s foul on Noni Madueke resulted in a penalty, expertly converted by Palmer to level the score at 3-3. Just moments later, Palmer’s powerful shot deflected off Scott McTominay and found the net, clinching victory for Chelsea in dramatic fashion.
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s coach, lamented his team’s errors, stating, “Manchester United dominated the game but we made individual errors that cost us the game.” The defeat leaves United in sixth place, still chasing qualification for the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Liverpool reclaimed the Premier League lead with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Sheffield United. Despite a lacklustre performance, Liverpool secured the win courtesy of Alexis Mac Allister’s thunderbolt and Cody Gakpo’s late header.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We had to dig very deep, but that is normal… Macca’s goal was the complete game changer.” The victory keeps Liverpool at the top of the table, with the title race intensifying.
As the Premier League action continues, Chelsea’s thrilling comeback and Liverpool’s resilient win highlight the unpredictable nature of English football, leaving fans eagerly anticipating more twists and turns in the race for the title.
