CHELSEA were accused of “imploding” during their 6-0 win over Everton when Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson astonishingly attempted to wrestle a penalty away from Cole Palmer.
Regular spot kick taker Palmer, 21, who had already scored a perfect hat-trick in the first-half, was poised to bag his fourth of the game against Everton on Monday night after he was fouled in the box.
Noni Madueke initially grabbed the ball as he thought he had won the penaltyGetty
Nicolas Jackson also wanted to take the spot kickGetty
Conor Gallagher pushed Jackson away after handing Palmer the penaltyPA
Palmer eventually had hold of it and took full advantageAFP
Madueke was brought down immediately after Palmer went down, but referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot for the initial challenge on the England international.
Madueke, who also tried to take a penalty from Palmer earlier this month during the Blues’ 4-3 win over Manchester United, then refused to give the ball over, before Jackson also claimed he should be taking it.
Eventually, after a length squabble, Chelsea skipper Conor Gallagher came over to diffuse the situation, taking the ball from Madueke and handing it to Palmer.
Jackson then tried to rip the ball from Palmer, and when he could not do so the Senegalese forward remonstrated with Gallagher as he made his way out of the penalty area.
Palmer sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way to put Chelsea 5-0 up, seconds after commentator Alan Smith had been left stunned by the altercation, admitting he had “never seen anything like it”.
Madueke was substituted just minutes later, before fans took to social media to condemn the bizarre scene.
One said: “Chelsea are the only team that can implode while winning 5-0 .”
A second responded: “Grown men behaving like kids. Pathetic.”
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Madueke also tried to take a penalty off Palmer during Chelsea’s win over Manchester United
Another added: “Jackson and Madueke absolutely pathetic, both should be hooked off.”
And a fourth replied: “Madueke and Jackson, get them both off the pitch.”
It clouded what was otherwise a brilliant night for Chelsea as they breezed to a straightforward victory.
Palmer’s four goals move him level with Erling Haaland as the joint-top scorer in the Premier League this season on 20.
Chelsea, now unbeaten in eight league matches, have moved to within three points of sixth-place Newcastle and still have one game in hand.
They now turn their attention towards the FA Cup as they face the daunting task of taking on holders Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
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