In a thrilling encounter at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea took an early lead with Conor Gallagher finding the net before Palmer converted a penalty, putting them 2-0 up within the first 19 minutes.
However, Manchester United fought back strongly, with Alejandro Garnacho scoring on both sides of a Bruno Fernandes header, flipping the scoreline in their favor.
But Palmer wasn’t finished yet. With the clock ticking into added time, he calmly slotted home another penalty in the 100th minute, leveling the score. And in a twist of fate, he secured the win for Chelsea just moments later, sealing a remarkable comeback.
Despite the loss, Manchester United remains sixth in the Premier League table, trailing Tottenham Hotspur by nine points. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s victory propels them to 10th place, only five points behind United with a game in hand.
Among the spectators at Stamford Bridge was Manchester United’s minority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who witnessed his team’s downfall at the hands of Chelsea.
Malo Gusto was deemed fit to start for Chelsea, alleviating concerns of a hamstring injury sustained in the previous match against Burnley. However, Ben Chilwell was notably absent from the Blues’ lineup.
Manchester United’s lineup saw Marcus Rashford relegated to the bench, allowing Antony to feature in the starting XI at Stamford Bridge.
The visitors initiated the action with a promising opportunity in the opening minute, as a swift move down the right flank culminated in Antony’s shot towards goal, but it was thwarted by a block.
Chelsea seized the early advantage in the fourth minute when Conor Gallagher found the back of the net from close range after Gusto’s cross took a fortuitous deflection into his path. Despite Andre Onana’s presence in the Manchester United goal, the ball slipped underneath him, leaving room for speculation about his positioning.
Antony attempted to level the score in the eighth minute with a curling effort towards Chelsea’s goal, but Djordje Petrovic, the Chelsea goalkeeper, was equal to the task, denying the visitors. Moments later, Mykhaylo Mudryk’s shot for Chelsea was deflected just wide, highlighting vulnerabilities in both teams’ defenses.
In the 15th minute, Marc Cucurella attempted a shot for Chelsea but sent it over the crossbar. Moments later, Alejandro Garnacho tried a spectacular volley for Manchester United from a Kobbie Mainoo cross, but his effort missed the target by a significant margin.
Chelsea was awarded a penalty in the 18th minute when Antony fouled Cucurella inside the box. Cole Palmer stepped up and confidently converted, doubling Chelsea’s lead at Stamford Bridge.
Mykhaylo Mudryk came close for Chelsea in the 28th minute, finding the side-netting after a swift break. Diogo Dalot’s effort for Manchester United was deflected over the crossbar, while Kobbie Mainoo tested Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic with a powerful strike from distance.
Manchester United pulled a goal back in the 34th minute when a poor pass from Moises Caicedo allowed Garnacho to score under pressure from Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile.
Andre Onana made a crucial save to deny Enzo Fernandez in the 38th minute. Just a minute later, Manchester United remarkably leveled the score as Bruno Fernandes headed home an excellent cross from Dalot at the far post.
Conor Gallagher had an attempt off target for Chelsea in the 43rd minute before hitting the post shortly after. The first half ended 2-2 after five additional minutes of stoppage time.
In the first half at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United suffered another defensive setback as Raphael Varane felt discomfort in his hip and did not return for the second half. Jonny Evans came on to replace him.
Early in the second half, Harry Maguire fired a shot over the Chelsea crossbar. Evans made a crucial block to deny a strike from Enzo Fernandez at the other end, as both teams struggled to maintain possession.
Andre Onana made a vital save to deny Nicolas Jackson in the 53rd minute, while Bruno Fernandes sent a shot over the crossbar shortly after in a period of intense action.
Rasmus Hojlund had a promising opportunity to score for Manchester United in the 57th minute, but his effort was thwarted by a timely challenge from Axel Disasi, who had initially lost possession. Casemiro then headed over the crossbar from close range following the resulting corner.
Onana continued to showcase his skills by keeping out a shot from Cole Palmer in the 59th minute. Marcus Rashford and Willy Kambwala were introduced for Manchester United in the 66th minute, with Evans, who picked up another injury, and Hojlund making way.
Manchester United seized the lead in the 67th minute when Garnacho expertly headed Antony’s pinpoint delivery into the net, marking the much-debated forward’s first assist of the season.
Andre Onana demonstrated his prowess by parrying away a powerful free-kick from Palmer in the 74th minute, while Disasi missed a header over the Manchester United crossbar from the ensuing corner.
In the 78th minute, Alfie Gilchrist missed a golden opportunity for Chelsea with a free header inside the Manchester United box, as the home side pressed for an equalizer.
The stadium erupted in boos as Mason Mount entered the fray for Manchester United in the 85th minute, replacing the two-goal hero Garnacho, who had put in a stellar performance.
Chelsea dominated the latter stages, with Noni Madueke testing Onana, and Chelsea’s substitute won a penalty in the seventh minute of added time after a challenge from Dalot. Palmer confidently converted the spot-kick to level the score at 3-3.
In the 11th minute of added time, Palmer sealed victory for Chelsea with a deflected effort, completing his hat-trick and igniting celebrations at Stamford Bridge.
Both teams will resume league action on Sunday, with Chelsea facing a trip to relegation-threatened Sheffield United, while Manchester United will host title-contenders Liverpool at Old Trafford.
