In a compelling clash at Stamford Bridge during round 16 of the Premier League, Chelsea emerged victorious against Everton, winning 2-0. Cole Palmer opened the scoring for the Blues at the 20th minute of the first half, while Malo Gusto sealed the win just before halftime at the 45-minute mark.
Late in the match, Iliman Ndiaye posed a threat to Chelsea’s clean sheet with a shot in the 86th minute, but his effort hit the post, and Everton was unable to get on the scoresheet.
Malo Gusto was named the Player of the Match, showcasing an impressive performance by scoring a goal and completing four tackles. Trevoh Chalobah also stood out defensively, clearing a remarkable six dangerous balls to maintain Chelsea’s lead.
Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, employed a 4-5-1 formation with Robert Sánchez guarding the goal. The defensive line included Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, and Marc Cucurella; the midfield featured Reece James, Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, and Alejandro Garnacho; while João Pedro led the attack.
On the other side, Everton’s manager David Moyes opted for a similar 4-5-1 setup, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Their defense consisted of Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, and Vitaliy Mykolenko; the midfield was made up of James Garner, Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Jack Grealish; Thierno Barry was positioned up front.
The match was officiated by referee Thomas Bramall.
Chelsea’s next fixture will be an away game against Newcastle United, while Everton will be hosting Arsenal in their upcoming match.
With this win, Chelsea now holds 28 points, placing them in fourth position in the league table, while Everton remains at 24 points, sitting eighth.
Substitutions for Chelsea
56’ 2T – Cole Palmer was substituted for Andrey Santos
64’ 2T – Alejandro Garnacho made way for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
80’ 2T – João Pedro was replaced by Estêvão Willian
Booking for Chelsea
30’ 2T – Wesley Fofana (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for Everton
14’ 1T – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was substituted by Carlos Alcaraz
67’ 2T – Thierno Barry was replaced by Beto
83’ 2T – Jack Grealish went off for Tyler Dibling and James Garner was substituted by Tim Iroegbunam