Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata frustrated after being denied 'perfect day' in Crystal Palace win

REUTERS
Joe Krishnan5 November 2018

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata admits he was disappointed not to score a hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace but is satisfied with his improvement in recent weeks.

The Spaniard looked back to his best form against the Eagles, opening the scoring with a smart two-touch finish before firing a low half-volley past Wayne Hennessey from a tight angle to hand the hosts the lead.

But Morata could've taken home the match ball in stoppage time when he faced Hennessey one-on-one, before chipping into the goalkeepers' hands to deny him a hat-trick.

It means the 26-year-old has now scored four goals in his last four Premier League appearances having scored two in his previous 20, and the Spaniard is backing himself to continue finding the net.

No way through: Hennessey denies Morata late on
AFP/Getty Images

"I can score a hat-trick, and for me that would be the perfect day. But we take the three points.

"It can be more [goals]. I'm improving and I want to help my team so I keep working."

The result means that Chelsea remain unbeaten under Maurizio Sarri with 13 wins in 16 games under the Italian coach and the Blues are now second, with just two points separating themselves from champions Manchester City.

Morata insisted that despite City's dominant form, which saw them beat Southampton 6-1 earlier on Sunday, he and his team-mates will compete with them all in the way for the title.

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Crystal Palace 04-11-2018

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"We will fight until the end of the Premier League," he added. "We played well today."

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