Chelsea survived a late fightback from Luton Town to end the calendar year with a narrow 3-2 win at Kenilworth Road in the Premier League.
Palmer, who returned to the side following a one-match suspension, took full advantage of a poor Luton clearance to give Mauricio Pochettino’s side an early lead in the lunchtime kickoff.
Luton’s task became much tougher when Noni Madueke thumped home Chelsea’s second goal in the closing stages of the first period.
Although Palmer netted a second to extend the visitors’ advantage, an undeterred Luton side managed to set up a nervy finish thanks to late efforts from ex-Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo.
While the Hatters are guaranteed to end 2023 in the Premier League drop zone, Chelsea remain in 10th position with 28 points to their name.
Meanwhile, Morgan Gibbs-White scored an 82nd-minute winner as Nottingham Forest recorded their first Premier League victory over Manchester United in 29 years to bring 2023 to a miserable end for Erik ten Hag’s side.
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It was United’s 14th defeat of a dreadful campaign, their most before the end of a year since 1930-31 as they lost 2-1 yesterday.
Similarly, Douglas Luiz’s late penalty took Aston Villa joint top of the Premier League with a 3-2 win over 10-man Burnley yesterday as Manchester City closed on the leaders by sweeping aside Sheffield United 2-0.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace beat Brentford 3-1 with the help of a Michael Olise double in the Premier League to snap an eight-game run without a win and ease pressure on boss Roy Hodgson.
The winger scored either side of halftime, first cancelling out Keane Lewis-Potter’s early opener with a fine volley before doubling the hosts’ lead with another good finish.
Palace leapfrog Brentford into 13th on 21 points after 20 games, while defeat for the Bees – their fifth straight loss – puts them 15th on 19 points after 19 matches.
Wolverhampton Wanderers outclassed Everton 3-0 in the Premier League to extend their unbeaten run at home to eight games with goals from Maximilian Kilman, Matheus Cunha and Craig Dawson.
The victory moved 11th-placed Wolves to 28 points from 20 matches while Everton suffered their third defeat in a row to sit one point above the relegation zone in 17th.
