Chelsea finally defeated Everton 2-0 at home in the recent Premier League game on December 13, 2025, which put an end to a disastrous four-game winless streak for the Blues across all competitions. Cole Palmer made his anticipated return for Chelsea after being sidelined for a long time due to an injury.
Moreover, he beautifully capped off the night by scoring the first goal of the game with a clinical finish in the 21st minute from a sensational pass from Malo Gusto. Gusto himself then scored the next goal just before half-time, by latching on to a low cross from Pedro Neto in the 45th minute to make it 2-0.
Everton did have their moments to make the breakthrough. Jack Grealish received a golden opportunity, and Iliman Ndiaye also hit the post late in the second half. However, the Toffees were not able to break Enzo Maresca’s team’s defence and get on the scoresheet.
Chelsea got back into the top four in the Premier League standings at the end of the match. The manager was also happy with the performance of the team, especially because of the clean sheet, and also talked about how Palmer’s return influenced the fate of the game. The victory will come as a sigh of relief for the Blues, who have had a horrible run since the 3-0 win against FC Barcelona in the Champions League.
Chelsea Player Ratings vs Everton:
Robert Sánchez (7/10): He was really quick off his line and alert when needed. Sánchez did enough to keep Everton quiet and showed more assurance than earlier in the campaign.
Malo Gusto (8/10): He was a constant outlet down the flank. Gusto displayed his energy with the end product and capped his afternoon with a smart finish.
Wesley Fofana (7/10): He was strong in duels and quick to clear danger. Fofana gave Everton very little encouragement in the first half.
Trevoh Chalobah (7/10): He timed his recovery tackles perfectly and worked well alongside Fofana in a pairing that looked settled again.
Marc Cucurella (6/10): Cucurella was solid without being spectacular; he rarely put a foot wrong but remained in Gusto’s shadow.
Reece James (7/10): He was less influential on the ball than usual, yet his work rate and leadership still stood out.
Enzo Fernández (6/10): His deeper positioning reduced his attacking impact, even if he kept things ticking over.
Cole Palmer (8/10): Palmer was lively and decisive. His pace and finish made the difference before he exited early.
Chelsea
Cole Palmer finally makes his comeback
Pedro Neto (7/10): Direct and quick, his burst of pace unsettled the defence and played a part in a decisive moment.
João Pedro (5/10): Struggled for rhythm and confidence as another low-key performance passed without impact.
Alejandro Garnacho (6/10): Found space easily but lacked composure in front of goal.
Substitutes:
Andrey Santos (6/10) – Kept things simple and tidy in midfield.
Jamie Gittens (6.5/10) – Offered a sharper spark off the bench with a few positive dribbles.
Estevao (5/10) – Failed to make much impression in his brief appearance.