Cole Palmer equals Frank Lampard & Didier Drogba record as Chelsea thrash West Ham

Cole Palmer has now scored 21 Premier League goals in his first season for Chelsea (Photo: Getty)

Cole Palmer’s outstanding debut season for Chelsea continued on Sunday as he equalled yet more records during the 5-0 win against West Ham.

The England international opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge after just 15 minutes before Conor Gallagher and Noni Madueke also found the back of the net before half-time.

Nicolas Jackson bagged a brace after the break in what was a huge win for Chelsea as they look to qualify for Europe.

While it’s been a difficult season for the Blues, Palmer has been their shining light, with his many goals and assists often carrying Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

His goal against West Ham was his 21st in the Premier League and combined with nine assists he has now become only the second player to record 30 goal contributions in their debut season for Chelsea.

The first was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who managed 32 (23 goals and nine assists) in the 2000/01 campaign, and with three games still remaining Palmer could well break this long-standing record.

Moreover, the 21-year-old has also matched the heroics of Chelsea’s two greatest ever goalscorers of the modern era – Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard are two of Chelsea’s greatest ever goalscorers (Photo: Getty)

They hold the record for the most Premier League home goals in a season for Chelsea with 16, Drogba achieving this first in 2006/07, before Lampard in 2009/10.

Palmer’s strike against the Irons matched this feat, but he now only has the clash against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season to claim the record for himself.

The 5-0 win has moved Chelsea up to seventh in the table – enough to qualify for the Conference League – but Manchester United will displace them providing they don’t lose to Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Furthermore, as it stands the Blues are now just two points off Newcastle in sixth and six off Tottenham in fifth, meaning there is still a good chance they could sneak into the Europa League places instead.

Speaking about their chances of European qualification, Madueke told BBC Match of the Day: ‘The chips fall how they are meant to fall.

‘We will do our best to finish as high as possible to try and qualify for Europe. We know what we can do now and next season we can put everything into it.

‘When you play for one of the biggest clubs in the world you have to be in Europe. It has been disappointing this season but we have to go and get it next season.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis

Sign upPrivacy PolicyThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Never miss a beat throughout the season or transfer window with weekly Chelsea news updates, exclusives and analysis. Sign up to Metro.co.uk’s Club Metro newsletter