‘Different gravy’: Leon Bailey and Ian Maatsen blown away by Chelsea star's performance v Brighton

There has been a lot of noise around Chelsea this summer and most of it has been pretty negative.

Yet, when you watch Enzo Maresca’s side, thanks to Cole Palmer, put four goals past a Brighton team who were unbeaten heading into Saturday’s game, then you learn to never listen to the outside noise.

You could argue that Chelsea have made a better start than their own manager imagined because, after six Premier League matches, they are sitting fourth and have only lost once – and that defeat was against the champions.

Yes, there has been a lot of noise around Chelsea’s spending, not just this summer, but for the last few seasons.

But, as of this current moment, Palmer is looking like one of the buys of the century and he is walking through Premier League teams like a knife through butter.

From his ice-cool penalties to his pin-point free-kicks, the former Manchester City man has it all in his locker and he could argue that he is the best player in the Premier League right now.

To score four goals in a Premier League game is pretty crazy, but not even Erling Haaland could match what Chelsea’s new hero did against Brighton.

Palmer became the first man to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match, forget about Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero and Haaland, none of them could do it. 

What’s even crazier is that he could and should have had more, but he spurned a one-v-one chance.

Yes, the defending from both sides, for the goals that were scored and the chances conceded, were pretty diabolical, but you have to put away what is in front of you.

Either way, Palmer’s latest display saw him lauded and applauded on Instagram, including by Leon Bailey and Ian Maatsen.

Cole Palmer scores four goals for Chelsea against Brighton

Bailey told Palmer in the comments section of his IG post that he is ‘different gravy’, whilst Maatsen, who left Chelsea for Aston Villa in the summer, added ‘top’.

Ezri Konsa sent fire emojis to his England teammate and Chelsea legend John Terry posted a cold-faced emoji, with four footballs.

Chelsea Premier League title challenge?

It needs to be noted that Chelsea ended the previous campaign pretty strongly, but then changed manager which left a lot of things up in the air.

But one thing didn’t change is that a large proportion of the players are the same, so you wonder if they are ready to challenge for the Premier League title.

READ MORE: Chelsea waiting for green light from Man City amid talks over £50m-a-year deal

Of course, the first objective is to return to the Champions League, but if they continue to run with this form, then the question of are they in a title battle will continue to be asked.

Manchester City dropped points at Newcastle United on Saturday and they have just lost Rodri for the rest of the season, so things could be different this term.