LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Pedro Neto of Chelsea is put under pressure by Vitaliy Mykolenko of Everton during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on December 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Pedro Neto of Chelsea is put under pressure by Vitalii Mykolenko of Everton during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on December 13, 2025
Everton’s long wait for a Premier League win at Stamford Bridge goes into a 32nd year following what proved to be a routine victory for Chelsea. Despite going into the game on the back of four wins from their previous five matches, David Moyes’ men were handed an early blow when the in-form and Cole Palmer fired the hosts in front on 21 minutes.
The visitors arguably had the better opportunities in the first half but were undone by the Londoners’ ruthless finishing as Malo Gusto doubled their lead in first half stoppage time.
And despite a determined showing after the break, with striking the post in his last game before he and Idrissa Gueye head to the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, there was no way back.
And here is how we rated the players...
Jordan Pickford 5
He had a soft hand for Malo Gusto’s second and will have been disappointed with how Cole Palmer was able to slip through his team-mates for the opener and while he and Tarkowski were alert to a Garnacho chance, some of his kicking was off.
Jake O’Brien 6
Alejandro Garnacho kept him on his toes – and also caught him with a wild challenge when he followed through – he was the better of Everton’s two full-backs and got forward on several occasions early on while the game was still goalless.
Vitalii Mykolenko 4
Got taken to the cleaners by Pedro Neto in the build-up to the second as the Chelsea winger burst past him and he wasn’t alert enough to track Cole Palmer’s run for the opener as and Gueye were left in his wake.
James Tarkowski 6
Couldn’t cut out Malo Gusto for the second goal, despite his desperate attempt, he did just enough to put off Garnacho after Alcaraz’s horror back pass, while having an opportunity himself at the other end with a back post header from Garner’s delivery that went wide.
Michael Keane 6
A solid enough all-round display, even if he could pass the ball out of defence like he’d like, but Chelsea were able to find that little pocket of space to his left to break the deadlock.
Idrissa Gueye 5
Back from suspension for a single game before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, he found himself at the scene of the crime twice as he was the other side of Cole Palmer when the Chelsea ace got between him and Mykolenko to score and then making a desperate attempt to block Malo Gusto for the second, he appeared rusty after his self-inflicted lay-off.
James Garner 6
With Dewsbury-Hall going off injured early on and Gueye not looking fully up to speed, he had to do a lot in the middle while also offering a threat delivering set-pieces on what was a tough day at the office.
Iliman Ndiaye 7
Hit the post late on, he produced a few decent moves, including a left-foot shot too close to Robert Sanchez just before Chelsea went ahead, he appeared determined to sign off before AFCON with a bright display, but things did not quite drop for him with the hosts’ danger men ultimately sharper with their clinical finishing.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall n/a
Returning to Chelsea in the form of his life, he suffered heartbreak just 15 minutes into the contest as he was forced off through injury.
Jack Grealish 6
Found himself on the periphery of the action but still had a hat-trick of decent opportunities to score and probably should have done better with a chance late in the first half before seeing a header tipped over the bar by Robert Sanchez after the break and then fired wide from Alcaraz’s pass.
Thierno Barry 6
Buoyed by his first goal in the previous game, he put in another shift up front but chances were few and far between with a first half close-range opportunity just eluding him as he couldn’t get a touch.
SUBS
Charly Alcaraz (on 15 for Dewsbury-Hall) 5
Will have been disappointed to have been dropped from the starting line-up but having been brought on early, he almost gifted Chelsea a second goal with wild back pass that Garnacho intercepted, before settling in to pick out Grealish for his second half opportunity.
Beto (on 68 for Barry) 6
Put himself about late on but couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Tyler Dibling (on 84 for Grealish)
Late cameo ahead of a potentially greater role over the coming month.
Tim Iroegbunam (on 84 for Garner)
Ditto.