Cole Palmer slams 'idiot' fans as Chelsea star forces Sky apology after Liverpool win

swore and then branded fans on social media as 'idiots' after tearing apart Liverpool in Chelsea's 3-1 win over the champions. The attacker , having suffered a drastic dip in form since the turn of the year.

Palmer's clever turn and pass sparked the move from which Enzo Fernandez scored in the third minute. His mazy run and cross prompted Virgil van Dijk into a panicky clearance which struck Jarell Quansah before finding the back of his own net. The England international then rounded off a superb display by coolly rolling home a 96th-minute penalty. Chelsea's victory puts them in fifth in the Premier League, the final spot to earn Champions League qualification for next season.

Quizzed on his recent woes on the pitch, Palmer insisted that he ignored 'idiots' on social media. The 22-year-old told Sky Sports: "I just felt normal. Obviously s*** happens, I went three months without scoring but it just gives me more fight and motivation to do more for myself and for the team.

"Social media nowadays is full of idiots, the trolls and whatever. I don't pay any attention to that. I've scored today and I'm happy but it's only one and I've got to keep improving and try and reach new levels."

Sky also apologised for Palmer's bad language. When the broadcast flicked back to the studio, presenter Kelly Cates said: "A Player of the Match performance from Cole Palmer. We have to apologise again there for the swearing."

Pressed whether he found his poor form difficult to comprehend, Palmer responded: "[That would be the same] for anyone. Not getting chances. You're letting your team down, at the end of the day. I feel like I'm mentally strong anyway.

"Whatever people say, it don't bother me. I've had it my whole life, growing up. I don't care. I feel pride in helping the team. If I'm not doing that, I'm not happy.

"Today, I felt like myself. I felt confident and I was trying things, first-time passes, playing forwards... just playing free."

Palmer was handed the Player of the Match award by team-mate Moises Caicedo, although interviewer Patrick Davison hinted that the former Manchester City star believed his colleague should have won it instead. Palmer joked: "Well I'm happy now... I'll take it!"

Chelsea are three points ahead of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, whose own drop off now sees them as outsiders for the Champions League. Forest have a game in hand, though, and head to Crystal Palace tomorrow night.