Everton dent Chelsea's top-four hopes
17th March 2019
Richarlison scored for the second Premier League game running
Chelsea wasted a chance to move closer to their top-four rivals as they were made to pay by a resurgent second half display by Everton.
Maurizio Sarri's side dominated possession in the first half with Eden Hazard striking the post and Pedro wasting a chance from close range.
But their profligacy was punished four minutes after the break as Richarlison headed in following a corner for his 13th goal of the season.
And the visitors' woes increased on 71 minutes when Richarlison was brought down in the penalty box by Marcos Alonso before Gylfi Sigurdsson scored the rebound from his own spot-kick.
As a result, the visitors failed to capitalise on their game in hand, and still sit sixth in the Premier League table, a point behind Manchester United, who they would have leapfrogged had they won. Victory would also have taken them level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal.
For Everton, a first home win since 13 January was a much-needed response following last weekend's defeat at Newcastle in which Marco Silva's side lost 3-2 having led by two goals.
In that game, Jordan Pickford was an erratic presence in goal, but this time where there was no dip from Silva's side and the England goalkeeper made a remarkable save to stop Gonzalo Higuain's deflected shot shortly after the hosts went ahead.
Everton end struggles at home
Four losses in the last six home games prior to this encounter had made Goodison Park a depressing place for Toffees fans.
Owner Farhad Moshiri has spent more than £300m since he took over the club, but an inconsistent season looked set to continue in a first half where Chelsea were well on top.
Chelsea's early dominance came despite Silva using his programme notes to ask for a "fantastic" atmosphere similar to the goalless draw in the Merseyside derby two weeks ago and it was only after the break that the hosts came to life.
Andre Gomes followed his first-half shot with another rasping effort in front of the Gwladys Street End to give the home fans hope.
But Goodison erupted with delight when Richarlison headed in after Calvert-Lewin's effort was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin came close to making it 2-0 when Bernard's cross skipped over his sliding lunge but the hosts did go further ahead after 71 minutes as Sigurdsson converted after Chelsea's goalkeeper had saved his penalty.
"Barkley, Barkley, what's the score?"
Chelsea will rue this chance to put pressure on their rivals bidding to finish in the top four and secure Champions league football for next season.
They still have the backup of being able to qualify for next season's competition by winning the Europa League, and on Friday they received a favourable quarter-final draw against Slavia Prague.
But with Tottenham and Manchester United both losing in the Premier League last weekend, and neither of those two or Arsenal in action this weekend, it was an opportunity to make up ground.
They had enough chances in the first half to earn a two-goal lead as Hazard hit the post and Pedro, Higuain and Ross Barkley could not convert from close range.
When they tried to respond in the second half, they were met with stern resistance from the Everton defence who appeared to learn the lessons from their defeat at Newcastle.
Pickford made two fine saves while Yerry Mina, making his first Premier League start since 29 December, was a strong presence in defence.
Chelsea's day was summed up by former Everton midfielder Barkley, who was booed every time he touched the ball, before he was substituted after the hour.
In the closing stages, the home fans chanted: "Barkley, Barkley, what's the score?"
That treatment all seemed fair game, but the only sour note was an object thrown towards the England midfielder after seven minutes from the Gwladys Street End which, fortunately, did not hit its target.
Only Fulham worse away from home than Chelsea in 2019 - stats
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Chelsea have suffered defeat at Goodison Park without scoring a goal for the first time since September 2013, when they lost 0-1 under manager Jose Mourinho.
Everton have kept back-to-back home clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since doing so against Fulham and Crystal Palace back in September and October earlier this season.
Only Fulham (six) have lost more Premier League games away from home in 2019 than Chelsea (P5 W1 D0 L4).
Despite scoring the rebound, Gylfi Sigurdsson has now missed three of his five Premier League penalties for Everton (60%). Indeed, 2018/19 is just the second Premier League season to see two different players miss at least three penalties (Paul Pogba being the other player) after 2003/04 (Alan Shearer and Ruud van Nistelrooy).
Chelsea's Eden Hazard has now failed to score in each of his seven Premier League games at Goodison Park; his most appearances at a single away venue without finding the net in the competition.
Richarlison has scored 12 goals in the Premier League this season; only three players have netted more in the competition in their first season at Everton (15 - Kanchelskis, Yakubu and Lukaku).
Everton's Jordan Pickford (25y 10d) became the fifth youngest English goalkeeper to make 100 Premier League appearances after Scott Carson, Joe Hart, Ian Walker and Paul Robinson.
After the international break, Everton travel to West Ham on Saturday 30 March while Chelsea face Cardiff City a day later.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Everton
1Pickford
23Coleman
4Keane
13Mina
12Digne
17Gueye
8André GomesBooked at 59minsSubstituted forSchneiderlinat 68'minutes
30Richarlison
10G SigurdssonSubstituted forDaviesat 86'minutes
20BernardSubstituted forWalcottat 78'minutes
29Calvert-Lewin
3Baines
11Walcott
14Tosun
18Schneiderlin
22Stekelenburg
26Davies
31Lookman
Chelsea
1Arrizabalaga
28Azpilicueta
2RüdigerBooked at 61mins
30David Luiz
3AlonsoBooked at 36mins
7Kanté
5JorginhoSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 74'minutes
8BarkleySubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 65'minutes
11Pedro
9HiguaínSubstituted forGiroudat 66'minutes
10E Hazard
12Loftus-Cheek
13Caballero
17Kovacic
18Giroud
20Hudson-Odoi
22Willian
27Christensen
Referee:
Anthony Taylor
Attendance:
39,356
Match Stats
Home TeamEvertonAway TeamChelsea
Possession
Home33%
Away67%
Shots
Home15
Away16
Shots on Target
Home8
Away5
Corners
Home3
Away4
Fouls
Home17
Away9
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Everton 2, Chelsea 0.Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Everton 2, Chelsea 0.
Posted at 90'+5'
David Luiz (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 90'+5'
Foul by Tom Davies (Everton).Posted at 90'+4'
Attempt blocked. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by David Luiz with a headed pass.Posted at 90'+3'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Idrissa Gueye.Posted at 90'+1'
César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).Posted at 89'
Hand ball by Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea).SubstitutionPosted at 86'
Substitution, Everton. Tom Davies replaces Gylfi Sigurdsson.Posted at 86'
Offside, Everton. Seamus Coleman tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.Posted at 82'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Jordan Pickford.Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.Posted at 80'
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.Posted at 80'
Foul by Richarlison (Everton).Posted at 80'
Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Everton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gylfi Sigurdsson with a through ball.SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Everton. Theo Walcott replaces Bernard.Posted at 77'
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.Posted at 77'
Foul by Richarlison (Everton).Posted at 76'
Attempt blocked. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi.Posted at 76'
Attempt saved. Seamus Coleman (Everton) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.Posted at 76'
Attempt blocked. Richarlison (Everton) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Seamus Coleman.SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Chelsea. Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Jorginho.
Goal!Posted at 72'
Goal! Everton 2, Chelsea 0. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal following a set piece situation.Posted at 72'
Penalty saved! Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.Posted at 71'
Penalty conceded by Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) after a foul in the penalty area.Posted at 71'
Penalty Everton. Richarlison draws a foul in the penalty area.Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Idrissa Gueye (Everton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, Everton. Morgan Schneiderlin replaces André Gomes.Posted at 68'
Pedro (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 68'
Foul by Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton).Posted at 66'
Attempt missed. Richarlison (Everton) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.SubstitutionPosted at 66'
Substitution, Chelsea. Olivier Giroud replaces Gonzalo Higuaín.SubstitutionPosted at 65'
Substitution, Chelsea. Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces Ross Barkley because of an injury.Posted at 64'
Attempt blocked. Ross Barkley (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eden Hazard.Posted at 62'
César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 62'
Foul by André Gomes (Everton).BookingPosted at 61'
Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.Posted at 60'
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).Posted at 60'
Bernard (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Source: bbc.com