Everton returned to Hill Dickinson after a cruel late defeat against league leaders Arsenal. David Moyes’s men hadn’t managed back-to-back home wins all season as they continued their search for that magic formula in front of the Toffees faithful.
An 1878s-organised coach welcome, mixed with perfect weather and a convenient kick-off time, ensured the atmosphere was ‘brilliant’ and ‘more like Goodison’, according to Moyes after the game, and instantly projected energy onto the players as Beto led the charge from the off, relentlessly closing down the Chelsea back line. That hunger to win the ball high nearly led to an early opening goal. Robert Sanchez nonchalantly dwelled on the ball and the number 9 pounced, attempting to poke it into the empty net, only for Moises Caicedo to spare his ‘keeper’s blushes.
Liam Rosenior watched on as his team controlled possession, however without any substance. Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Caicedo all moved the ball around nicely, but Everton’s defence stood firm, and the attackers were never too far away to support their back line.
James Garner received an ovation before kick-off after his name was read out following his recent maiden England call-up, and the midfielder showed why it was deserved. After a solid defensive display during the first 30 minutes, he executed an inch-perfect through ball towards Beto. Receiving the ball from Dewsbury-Hall just inside the Chelsea half, he cut through the defence with his pass, and Beto pounced, expertly chipping Sanchez for the first goal of the game.
Chelsea attempted to respond but ran out of ideas in the attacking third, desperately trying to work out how to breach the wall of royal blue ahead of them. Rosenior’s men won a handful of corners and looked like that might be their only hope. Moments after the goal, Pedro Neto whipped in a corner towards Jordan Pickford. In a sea of bodies, he was only able to palm it towards Fernandez, who was waiting to strike home from the penalty spot. However, Pickford miraculously recovered and palmed away the effort before celebrating in front of the South Stand. It felt like a sliding doors moment—it was about to be Everton’s day.
Chelsea continued to probe for the rest of the half, but to no avail. Rosenior made his move for the second half by bringing on Alejandro Garnacho, while Moyes was happy for his eleven to continue the good work.
Fernandez was denied again around the hour mark, as his curling effort was acrobatically saved by Pickford. Joao Pedro was sneaking in, but the Everton goalkeeper bravely tipped the precise strike around the post.
Less than a minute later, Idrissa Gana Gueye intercepted a loose pass from substitute Andrey Santos, reaching the ball before Fernandez and Cucurella. With Chelsea’s defence all over the place, the Senegalese midfielder drove into space and fed Beto down the right side of the box. The forward struck the ball on the turn and somehow found a way through Sanchez and over the line. Beto had his second in front of guest appearance Yakubu and delivered a performance the Everton icon would be proud of. Team-mates flooded towards him, clearly pleased for a man who always gives his all to the cause.
The stadium was bouncing. The clock ticked on and Everton looked poised for three points and a clean sheet. Illiman Ndiaye added a third on 76 minutes after a goal kick reached Beto, who out-jumped his defender to nod it down to the winger. Ndiaye stood his man up inside the box before guiding the ball towards the top corner.
Merlin Rohl, Tim Iroegbunam and Thierno Barry (who was introduced to a sprinkle of ‘boos’ after the incident at Arsenal) were all called upon to help see the game out and replace tired legs. By then, the game was done, as Chelsea huffed and puffed—namely Palmer and Estevao—but the away side were out-run and out-fought all afternoon.
The result meant Everton ended the day 8th, only three points behind Liverpool, and two behind today’s opponents. With Moyes having spoken about European ambitions all year, these performances will go a long way towards reaching that goal.
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