Cole Palmer scored a stunning hat-trick in the first half Chelsea 4th win in a row Premier League A game under Liam Rosenier with a 3-1 victory on the bottom side the wolf At Molineux.

Palmer returned to the Blues starting XI with a brace inside 38 minutes as the visitors ran riot in the first half, Tolu Arocadare pulled one back in an improved second half for the stragglers but it was not enough to prevent a third straight league defeat as the brink of relegation loomed.

Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League qualification rose with the win as they moved within touching distance of fourth-placed Manchester United. who beat Tottenham on the first day.

Palmer puts the wretched wolves to the sword

It was a slow start by Chelsea who struggled to get much of the ball against the relegation strugglers, though the hosts were unable to carve out any chances of note.

But after receiving the ball in the Wolves box for the first time, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Matt Doherty tripped Joao Pedro.

Palmer stepped up for the spot-kick and the England man made no mistake to slot the ball into the bottom corner to send the keeper the wrong way and put his side in front.

The goal rattled Wolves and the visitors had chances first through Mark Cucurella, then through Moises Caesdo and Enzo Fernandez who attempted an audacious Rabona finish before being called offside. Jose Sane was called into action again to tip a Malo Gesto shot after great play by Andre Santos.

The hosts only had themselves to blame when a second penalty was awarded for an unnecessary push by Yerson Mosquera on Pedro. Palmer again took over penalty duties and slotted in the second to make it two for his 50th goal for the Blues on his 100th appearance.

And the hat-trick was confirmed after just 38 minutes when Enzo slid in Cucurella, who pulled the ball back for the 23-year-old to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

The Blues began to smell blood with their chances coming in left, right and centre, with former Wolves man Pedro Neto and man-of-the-moment Palmer coming at their best who could be ugly for the Premier League’s bottom side with a real threat.

Too little, too late for Wolves in the second half

Wolves were lucky not to concede their third penalty of the day after the break when Sa dropped a leg while collecting the ball and caught Neto, with VAR controversially ruling the incident did not qualify for a second spot-kick.

But the hosts pulled one back when, after Matthias Mane had hit the post, a corner Adam Armstrong found the path of Arokodare who swept the ball home.

It was all Wolves for most of the second half, although the chances weren’t flowing, but the introduction of debutant Angel Gomes boosted the visitors, with the England international’s teasing cross finding Moscura who was only able to head it over.

Neto went very close to ending the game late on at his old stomping ground, but his diving header from Enzo’s cross went over the post and Sa could only see it off.