Chelsea's 2-0 home win over Everton saw them climb into fourth place in the Premier League table. Everton had played relatively well in the opening 20 minutes, but wouldn't have been happy with how Cole Palmer was allowed to race onto a threaded through ball from Malo Gusto and lash past Jordan Pickford. Gusto continued his good form when he got on the end of a Pedro Neto cross to double Chelsea's lead on the stroke of half-time.
Everton looked a little flat in the second-half. Confusingly, the visitors chose more often than not to not get the ball wide. Frustratingly for David Moyes, Everton did not ask enough questions of Chelsea, who had a relatively easy ride in the second-half. With the visitors never really looking like they could mount any kind of comeback. Iliman Ndiaye hit the post in the last two minutes, but it was too little too late.
Chelsea v Everton Match Statistics
Chelsea
58%
16
5
4
2
1
Match Highlights
Chelsea Player Ratings
Cole PalmerGK: Robert Sanchez - 6.5/10
Largely untested as Everton laboured and Chelsea had far more cutting edge, but did make a crucial interception at 1-0.
RB: Malo Gusto - 7.5/10
Sent a perfectly weighted ball through to Cole Palmer in the lead up to Chelsea taking the lead, before getting on the scoresheet himself.
CB: Wesley Fofana - 6.5/10
Had to be vigilant tracking the runs of Barry, but the home side's two first-half goals took any sting out of the game.
CB: Trevoh Chalobah - 7.5/10
Like his centre-half partner Fofana, Chalobah had a largely untroubled afternoon. Always looked to have time.
LB: Marc Cucurella - 6.5/10
Played in his usual exuberant manner with plenty of energy and intent.
CM: Reece James - 6.5/10
Solid if not spectacular from the Chelsea captain, but always looked composed on the ball.
CM: Enzo Fernandez - 7.5/10
Once again, the Argentine made a series of intelligent runs and some great touches on the ball.
RW: Pedro Neto - 7/10
Was on hand to get the assist for Gusto's goal. Again, looked dangerous when he was on the ball.
AM: Cole Palmer - 8/10
Made no mistake when put through by Gusto, to once again show how important he is to this Chelsea side. Some great touches.
LW: Alejandro Garnacho - 3/10
Some nice touches but was guilty of missing three great chances in front of goal. Simply not an acceptable performance.
CF: Joao Pedro - 6/10
Linked up the play relatively well, but as involved in the game as much as he would have liked.
SUB: Andrey Santos - 5/10
Came on for Palmer with 30 minutes to go, but wasn't able to have any significant impact.
SUB: Jamie Gittens - 5/10
Brought on for the ineffective Garnacho, with the wind seemingly out of Everton's sails. Got in some good crosses.
SUB: Estevao - 6/10
Brought on for the last 10 minutes, much to the delight of the home fans.
Everton Player Ratings
Carlos Alcaraz
GK: Jordan Pickford - 6.5/10
Played in that famously animated nature
RB: Jake O'Brien - 6/10
Battled and toiled throughout, but it was a busy afternoon for the full-back.
CB: James Tarkowski - 6.5/10
Made a great first-half run that saw him have Everton's best opportunity of the first-half.
CB: Michael Keane - 6.5/10
Had to use his experience to keep Everton in the game as Cole Palmer looked to light up the afternoon.
LB: Vitaliy Mykolenko - 5/10
Tried to overlap and get forward but rarely able to get the ball, let alone get the ball in the box.
CM: James Garner - 6.5/10
Saw plenty of the ball, especially in the first half, but he wasn't able to take advantage of his opportunities.
CM: Idrissa Gueye - 6/10
Had his hands full trying to quell the amount of attacking options Chelsea have at their disposal.
RW: Iliman Ndiaye - 4/10
Looked off of it in a contest where the Toffees needed everything they could muster from their attacking players.
AM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 5/10
Got a warm reception from the home fans after having to come off after 15 minutes with what looked like a pulled hamstring.
LW: Jack Grealish - 5/10
Didn't put in the kind of performance he would have hoped with England manager Thomas Tuchel watching on. Missed a very good chance in the second-half.
CF: Thierno Barry - 5/10
Had the ball stolen off his toe from Robert Sanchez, but as many might expect, at Stamford Bridge, the striker didn't get an awful lot of opportunities.
SUB: Carlos Alcaraz - 6/10
Brought on far earlier than he would have expected, replacing the injured Dewsbury-Hall after the quarter of an hour mark.
SUB: Beto - 5/10
A cameo performance of very little significance.
SUB: Tyler Dibling - 5/10
Brought on late with the game all but over.
SUB: Timothy Iroegbunam - 5/10
Given six minutes and able to do very little.