Chelsea’s Cole Palmer scored four first-half goals, including a stunning long-range free-kick and a penalty, in a breathless 4-2 Premier League win over Brighton on Saturday.

Goalkeeping errors on both sides, high defensive lines and quick counter-attacks contributed to a tense encounter with Brighton striker Georginio Rutter putting the visitors ahead in the seventh minute, before 22-year-old Palmer’s 11-minute hat-trick.

Carlos Baleba pulled a goal back for Brighton in the 32nd minute after a second error from former Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez, before Palmer made it four shortly before half-time after a perfectly weighted assist from Jadon Sancho.

The rampant Palmer, who also hit the post in the first half, became the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match and should have added a fifth in the second half but laid the ball wide with only goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to beat.

The result moved Chelsea to third in the table and ended Brighton’s unbeaten start to the season.