Midfielder Palmer scored four goals including a hat-trick inside the opening half-hour as Chelsea maintained their push for a European berth and left a ragged Everton still hovering above the relegation zone.
Palmer clipped in his first after 13 minutes, headed a second after 18 then cleverly chipped in a third after intercepting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s clearance.
Nicolas Jackson made it 4-0 just before half time, then Palmer, who got a hat-trick in the 4-3 home win over Manchester United on April 4, converted a penalty after 64 minutes having had to wrestle the ball from bickering team mates.
That took him alongside Haaland with 20 league goals, while his tally of 23 in all competitions makes him the first Chelsea player to reach the 20-mark since Eden Hazard in 2018-19.
Chelsea were in total command and young substitute Alfie Gilchrist smashed home their sixth in the final minute moments after coming on.
The Blues remain ninth on 47 points with games in hand on all the teams above them, while Everton stay 16th on 27, two places and two points above the relegation zone.
Reuters
