Chelsea defeated Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon to snap their three-game winless run in the Premier League.
Both sides were evenly poised in the first 15 minutes of the game as former Blue Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was forced off with a hamstring injury on his return to Stamford Bridge.
Iliman Ndiaye had the game’s first real chance minutes later after his deflected strike fell straight into the gloves of Robert Sanchez.
In the 21st minute, Cole Palmer broke the deadlock after Malo Gusto found him beautifully, and the Englishman finished past Jordan Pickford into the near post for his first goal at Stamford Bridge since August.
Moments later, Alejandro Garnacho could have doubled the host’s advantage after Carly Alcarez’s loose back pass was spotted by the Argentine, but he blasted his effort wide after rounding Pickford.
The visitors threatened to draw level on two occasions. First, James Tarkowski’s header from James Garner’s set-piece went just wide at the far post.
Minutes later, Jake O’Brien’s cutback pass was miscued by Ndiaye, and the Senegalese missed the target.
Five minutes before the break, the Toffees almost got the equaliser after Idrissa Gueye’s low cross flashed across the Blues’ six-yard box, but no Everton attacker was there to pounce on the pass.
Moments later, Sanchez denied Jack Grealish’s effort with his shoulder.
On the stroke of halftime, Malo Gusto doubled the host’s advantage after Pedro Neto skipped past his marker and drilled in a cutback pass for the Frenchman to score his second professional goal.
The Blues resumed the break on a strong foot as Enzo Fernandez played in a deep cross to the far post, but Garnacho couldn’t guide his effort on target.
Neto was the next to get his sights on goal, but he blasted his effort well over the bar.
The Toffees continued to look for a breakthrough, and Grealish was presented with a golden chance at the far post, but he couldn’t guide his effort on target from close range.
Reece James saw his goal-bound free kick tipped over the bar by Pickford to keep Everton in the game.
Moments later, Ndiaye thought he had pulled one back for the visitors, but his low shot struck the base of the post, leaving Sanchez rooted to the ground before bouncing off to preserve the Blues’ two-goal advantage.
Trevoh Chalobah’s goal-saving block on Alcarez was the visitors’ last attempt on goal, and Chelsea secured all three points to move into the top four in the Premier League standings.