Cole Palmer Stars As Chelsea Beat Luton To End Dismal Year On High

Cole Palmer produced a man-of-the-match performance as Chelsea won 3-2 at Luton Town. Palmer scored two goals and also registered an assist for Noni Madueke.

Cole Palmer produced a man-of-the-match performance as Chelsea won 3-2 at Luton Town on Saturday.

Palmer scored two goals and also registered an assist for Noni Madueke as the Blues ended a dismal year on a high.

This was only Chelsea's 13th Premier League victory of 2023 - a year in which they recorded just 1.12 points per game (their lowest average in a calendar year since 1993).

But the future looked bright as Mauricio Pochettino's youthful side romped into a 3-0 lead at Kenilworth Road.

Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo pulled late goals back for Luton but Chelsea held on.

Cole Palmer pictured celebrating after scoring for Chelsea in a 3-2 away win at Luton Town :: IMAGO/Sportimage/David Klein

Palmer opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he intercepted a loose pass from Issa Kabore before arrowing a low shot past the Luton keeper from 15 yards.

The former Manchester City youngster was then involved 25 minutes later in the move that saw Madueke make it 2-0.

Madueke collected a pass from Palmer before smashing a powerful shot into the top corner of Thomas Kaminski's goal.

That goal saw Palmer become the first Premier League player this season to score and assist in four different matches.

4 - Cole Palmer has both scored and assisted in four different @premierleague games this season, more than any other player. Pivotal. #LUTCHE pic.twitter.com/SwS5i8mNI0

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2023

The 21-year-old then scored his second goal of the day in the 70th minute when he raced onto a through pass from Nicolas Jackson before calmly dancing around Kaminski and tapping home from close range.

Chelsea appeared to be cruising but Luton had the visitors hanging on by the end.

Adebayo had a goal disallowed for offside before rattling the Chelsea crossbar.

Barkley then netted a legitimate goal by heading in from an Alfie Doughty corner to score against his former club.

Carlton Morris became the second Luton player to hit the woodwork before Adebayo made it 3-2 by pouncing onto a rebound after Doughty had forced a save out of Djordje Petrovic.

But Chelsea held on to claim three points that ensured that they will go into 2024 in 10th place in the EPL table.

Highlights: Luton Town 2-3 Chelsea