Chelsea floor out a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Everton in a tempestuous encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium, denying the hosts an opportunity to go unbeaten of their first seven video games of a Premier League season for under the second time.
The Toffees would have relished the prospect of returning house to face Chelsea, whose current journeys to the blue facet of Merseyside have not often gone to plan.
Chances have been few and much between within the opening exchanges, however Harrison Armstrong’s uncompromising sort out on Josh Acheampong appeared to energise the hosts.
Thierno Barry had their first clear-cut probability when he might solely direct his header straight at Emiliano Martinez from Jack Grealish’s cross, earlier than the latter virtually broke the impasse himself when his eye-catching strike bounced down into the bottom and compelled Martinez to parry the ball over the bar.
There was actually no love misplaced between the 2 groups, as James Tarkowski unnecessarily barged down Moises Caicedo in an off-the-ball incident, which prompted a relatively heated alternate with Morgan Rogers and Jordan Henderson.
Barry had one other probability to draw first blood for Everton following some effective work by Vitali Mykolenko down the left, and Martinez was readily available to make one other comfy save.
The Blues have been displaying none of their normal attacking risk till the end of the half, as Caicedo’s beautiful volley cannoned off the crossbar earlier than Jordan Pickford tipped Pedro Neto’s strike over the bar.
That was an indication of issues to come, as Xabi Alonso’s facet took the lead inside the primary minute after the restart.
Rogers and Jorrel Hato linked up brilliantly down the left-hand facet, as the Dutchman teed up Neto to hearth house a close-range shot, which squeezed underneath Pickford’s outstretched arm.
Chelsea have been actually beginning to discover their move, with Cole Palmer seeing his tried chip simply clear the goal.
All was seemingly going to plan for the guests till Martinez was stretchered off after a hefty collision with Jarrad Branthwaite from an incoming set-piece, and Mike Penders was launched for his Premier League debut, changing into the youngest goalkeeper to play within the competitors for Chelsea.
There was nonetheless time for Alonso’s males to rubber-stamp the three factors when the Portuguese confirmed glorious composure to slot in a left-footed end after Henderson’s preliminary free-kick acquired caught up in Everton’s wall.
This end result ensured Chelsea ended a nine-month run of twenty-two league video games with out a clear sheet in what was their longest absence of shut-outs since August 1961, as they moved up to fourth within the desk.
Meanwhile, this primary defeat of the season for David Moyes’ facet sees them drop down a spot to sixth forward of the three pm kick-offs.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
