Jamie Carragher considered Chelsea's in-fighting over a penalty against Everton 'daft', with Dele Alli suggesting the Blues' players were showing their age with the dispute.
Chelsea led Dele's Everton team 4-0 shortly after the hour mark, with Cole Palmer bagging a first-half hat-trick and Nicolas Jackson scoring one of his own, when referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot. Palmer had taken and scored the Blues' last four league penalties, including a last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United, but he wasn't the first to lay claim to the ball this time.
Jackson appeared keen to take and add to his first-half effort, while Noni Madueke grabbed the ball himself. Eventually, though, captain Conor Gallagher stepped in and ensured Palmer would take.
The Blues' top scorer beat Everton keeper Jordan Pickford from 12 yards, moving level with Erling Haaland at the top of the Premier League goal charts in the process. After the game, though, the in-fighting had clearly provided a distraction.
"It’s daft," Sky Sports pundit Carragher began. "I mean come on lads. Pochettino is going to get asked about this after the game. You have just won the game 6-0, the best result of the season, a great night for everyone, and now Cole Palmer gets up off the floor."
Monday Night Football guest Dele wondered aloud whether the youth of the group may have been a factor, with Gallagher the oldest of the quartet involved at 24. "This is them showing their age," the former Tottenham midfielder said.
"I’m not there at the training ground every day so I don’t know who is their designated penalty taker, but as far as I’m aware, in that last big game when the pressure was on, I didn’t see them all fighting to take it then. It’s alright when it’s 4-0 and you want to get on the scoresheet, but if you want to get on the scoresheet as a striker, don’t try and do it when it is an unpressurised situation."
What did you make of the Chelsea players' behaviour? Have your say in the comments section
Chelsea went on to add a sixth through Alfie Gilchrist's first Premier League goal and now sit three points adrift of Europa League qualification with a game in hand. However, manager Mauricio Pochettino made his feelings on the penalty drama very clear after the game, warning there would be repercussions if it happened again, and said he had "made it clear" Palmer was the designated taker.
"It is a shame. I was telling the players when we arrived from the pitch," the Argentine said. "We had a meeting with all the staff also and we explained and were talking. For me it is a shame because we cannot behave in this way and I can only apologise.
"I told them that this is the last time that I accept this type of behaviour. Next time those involved in a situation like this are all out. This is not a joke.
"It’s impossible after a performance like this to have this type of behaviour that shows that we are in a process and we will learn a lot. We are a great team fighting for big things. We need to change and think more in a collective way."
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