Palmer dismisses social media 'idiots' after ending goal drought in Chelsea win

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer dismissed his critics on social media as “idiots” and “trolls” after scoring his first goal since January in the 3-1 win over Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

The England international converted a penalty in stoppage time to end an 18-game scoring drought in all competitions, stretching back to Jan. 14.

“Obviously I went, what, three months without scoring, but it just gives me more fight and motivation to do well, not just for myself but for my team,” Palmer said after the game.

“Social media nowadays is full of idiots, basically. The trolls and whatever. I don’t pay any attention to that. To score today, I’m happy, but it’s only one and I’ve got to keep improving and try to reach new levels.”

Palmer said it hurt him to have been getting chances and not scoring during his scoreless run.

“You’re letting your team down at the end of the day,” he said. “Personally, I feel like I am mentally strong anyway. Whatever people say doesn’t bother me. I’ve had it all my life growing up, so I don’t really care.

“But I feel pride helping the team and if I’m not doing that, obviously I’m not happy.”

Palmer netted 22 Premier League goals last season — his first with Chelsea after a move from Manchester City — to be second on the scoring list behind City's Erling Haaland.

He has 15 goals now in this campaign.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, left, and Chelsea's Cole Palmer compete for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Chelsea's Cole Palmer, second from right, celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal from the penalty spot during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Chelsea's Moises Caicedo, bottom, and Cole Palmer celebrate at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Chelsea's Cole Palmer, center, passes the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Liverpool's Curtis Jones, bottom, challenges Chelsea's Cole Palmer during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York was arrested over the weekend in Ohio and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools.

Court records show that York initially was charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. York was charged with possessing criminal tools for using his phone to respond to an undercover online prostitution advertisement, according to prosecutors.

York was arrested Sunday morning at a mobile home community in East Palestine, Ohio, near where he was born and raised in Youngstown. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond. He was sentenced to one day in jail for both offenses to be served concurrently and was credited with one day served when he pleaded no contest Monday morning. He also was fined $1,150.

Records also show that York had his cellphone returned to him and that $160 that was seized was to be given to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the plea agreement. York also completed on online course.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said most of these prostitution cases typically end in plea agreements.

“Each case is looked at individually and for specific facts of the conduct, what evidence the police provide, and input from the arresting officer,” he said in an email. “You also have to factor in criminal history of the defendant, and whether or not they have committed these types of offenses in the past, and importantly, what the judges will allow.”

The NFL issued a statement saying the league was aware of the arrest and would review it under the personal conduct policy. Owners are subject to possible fines or suspensions for violating the personal conduct policy. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was investigated but not punished by the league after he was arrested in Florida in 2019 for allegedly paying for sex with a woman at a massage parlor. The charge was later dropped after a court ruled that police violated the rights of Kraft and the other customers when they secretly installed video cameras inside massage rooms at the spa.

The team said it would not have any comment on the situation.

“As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time,” the team said in a statement.

York took over day-to-day control of the 49ers from his parents in 2008. He became the team's principal owner in 2024. After some initial struggles under York's leadership, the team has been a consistent contender since hiring coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in 2017.

The Niners have made the Super Bowl three times under York's leadership, losing in the 2012 season under coach Jim Harbaugh and the 2019 and '23 seasons under Shanahan and Lynch.

York also oversaw the building of Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The team moved from San Francisco to the new stadium in 2014. The stadium has hosted two Super Bowls, a World Cup and a College Football Playoff title game.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

FILE - San Francisco 49ers team owner Jed York speaks at a news conference in San Francisco, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)