Goals: 21. Cole Palmer, 45. Malo Gusto
Everton lost 0:2 at Stamford Bridge in the 16th round of the English top flight, Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto scored for the home side. The win means Chelsea are now unbeaten in their last 31 home Premier League head-to-head matches – their longest unbeaten run against a single opponent in the league’s history.
Those hoping for some Saturday afternoon football entertainment may have regretted their decision to watch this match in the first few minutes of the game. An early injury to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, on his first return to the ground of his former club Chelsea, eventually forced him to substitute and certainly did not add to the pace of the match. But when the game settled down, Chelsea took the reins. The Blues have been sorely missing Palmer since his injury, but this time the recently recovered player got himself on the scoresheet when he ran onto a pinpoint pass from Gust, coolly finishing to score his first goal since September.
Alejandro Garnacho had the home team’s second goal on the boot shortly after, when his technical shot narrowly missed the goal. James Tarkowski missed a good chance to get Everton back in the game when he headed wide of the back post after a corner. That missed opportunity proved crucial as Chelsea extended their lead before the break. After assisting on the first goal, Gusto also made his mark in stoppage time when he finished off a lightning counterattack at the front post.
Garnacho was a constant threat for Everton as he created two chances early in the second half – first his shot narrowly missed the back post and then he shot over the bar. Palmer only played part of the second half when he was replaced by Andrey Santos, but Everton couldn’t capitalize on any opportunities, couldn’t find a way into the game and hopes of a turnaround remained wishful thinking.
Despite all the efforts of David Moyes, who resorted to attacking substitutions, his team failed to get back into the match. Chelsea eliminated their opponents all over the pitch and their lead was not in danger, so they calmly cruised to the three points that strengthened their ambitions for a top four finish.
