An insipid encounter exploded into life in the final few moments of Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge. Antonio Rudiger gave the hosts the lead with a looping header in the first-half before Everton rallied in the second-half. A period of prolonged pressure from the Toffees seemed to be leading towards a goal, and it did, as Willian curled in a sublime effort off the post.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin bundled in a late goal to get Chelsea hearts thumping, but there was not time for another goal as the Blues hung on to make it to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Although Everton did improve in the second 45, they left themselves too much to do against Antonio Conte’s side.
The defeat means that Everton continue their run of awful results, with the post-Ronald Koeman era beginning in defeat. Chelsea meanwhile made it two wins from two as they continued their winning run.
From the game, what five things did we learn?
Antonio Conte gets the win he needs
Pressure had been mounting on Antonio Conte following Chelsea’s 3-3 draw with Roma in the Champions League. This, coupled with defeats to Crystal Palace and Manchester City had put the Blues on the brink of an apparent crisis. However, their 4-2 win over Watford on Saturday got them back to winning ways in very dramatic fashion.
While some critics may cite that Chelsea are still conceding too many goals, the main thing is that they win, which they did again on Wednesday. Manchester City are in scintillating form this campaign as they continue to play some very attractive football, but the measure of any champion is not how they do when at their best, but instead how they battle when they are at their worst.
Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson became synonymous with winning when they were playing poorly and that has always been the benchmark of true champions. Chelsea are the reigning champions, and if they want to defend their crown then they must learn how to win ugly and grind their way back into contention for the title.
Everton’s defensive woes continue
Everton’s defence was once again caught out by the simplest of routines for Chelsea’s goals. For the first, Willian played a short corner to Charly Musonda who, under no pressure was able to float a lovely ball into the box that Antonio Rudiger simply could not miss as he sent a looped header over the stranded Jordan Pickford, nestling into the back of the net.
For their second goal, Willian once again played a short corner to Cesc Fabregas who played it back to the Brazilian, with the winger then making space for himself before he sent a sublime curling effort in off the post. Both goals were fantastic set-piece routines, but how can Everton get caught in a similar way twice?
Two short corners, two goals. Defensively, Everton were all over the place at times as they gave Chelsea too much time and space. Indeed, Ashley Williams epitomises their struggles. The Welshman was very solid for them last year, but he has looked lost this season as poor performances have been met with massive criticism. His rash tackles, poor passes and even worse decisions put the Toffees on the backfoot more than once, and Everton know that if they are to arrest a run of form that has seen them keep just one clean sheet in 14 games this year, then their defenders must improve.
No honeymoon period for Everton
When Claudio Ranieri left Leicester, every Foxes’ fan was left deflated reminiscing about the title-winning scenes of only a few months before. Some blamed the players, others the owners, one thing was clear though, the fans did not agree with the decision. However, football is a game that does not allow much sentiment, and the club as a whole knew that a big win would get the fans back on side, and that is exactly what the Foxes did.
Again, following the sacking of Craig Shakespeare earlier this month, the players knew that a big performance was needed, and they got a victory via a 2-1 win over Swansea City. Suddenly, the atmosphere is slightly less negative for the former-Premier League champions. Everton would have been desperate to do the same on Wednesday, but they failed to book the tickets for their honeymoon period.
Everton threatened to get back into the game in the second-period but it was not enough. The fans were once again forced to endure a defeat as their terrible run was extended. When it came to Leicester, they got the luck they needed, but Everton just cannot seem to catch a break.
Everton need Mirallas
Everton parted with Romelu Lukaku in the summer as their best player was allowed to leave for Manchester United. The Belgian commanded a hefty price-tag, and while he left a huge goal scoring hole, the £75 million Everton received would surely be re-invested. Of course, this is not what happened, and the Toffees are struggling because of it.
However, while many think that they are bereft of any kind of real striker, they could just be looking in the wrong place. Wayne Rooney has been preferred up-front, but he cast an isolated figure against Chelsea as he possesses neither the pace nor the power to lead the line on his own. Summer signing Sandro Ramirez has also been poor as he has failed to come through on the potential Ronald Koeman saw in him, but interestingly, both players have been given time and chances.
Kevin Mirallas is one player that has not been given a chance though. The tricky winger is a much-maligned figure at Goodison, falling out of favour with Koeman and slipping down the pecking order. However, against Chelsea, he was given a chance to run at the opposition and attack, and that is what he did. While he is, of course, a wide-man, he has a good scoring touch and is very fast and tricky. The downside to Mirallas is his unpredictable nature.
The downside to Mirallas is his unpredictable nature. One game he could be on top form giving the opposition nightmares, while the next he looks lazy and disinterested. However, Everton look so predictable and drab at the moment, that some unpredictability might actually benefit them.
Chelsea make Everton pay
Everton looked awful in the first-half as Chelsea were able to coast to half-time with a one-goal lead. In the second though, the visitors came out with a renewed vigour and started playing some much better football. Indeed, they were knocking on Chelsea’s door for long-periods and came close to opening it too.
However, luck has not smiled on the Toffees this season and it deserted them once again against the Blues. Willian was given too much time and space and he finished superbly to ruin all of Everton’s hard work. In the end, the visitors did not give themselves enough time to break Chelsea down as their insipid first-half performance cost them.
The visitors would have been well aware of the threat the Blues posed on the counter-attack, and as time ticked away, the Toffees were forced to throw more men forward, leaving themselves vulnerabe. The question that they must ask is if they were able to come out in the second-half and improve dramatically, why couldn’t they react in that same way after Rudiger scored in the first-half?
Chelsea: Caballero 6 – Rudiger 7, Cahill 6, Christensen 6 – Zappacosta 7, Ampadu 6.5, Drinkwater 6 (Fabregas 7), Kenedy 7 – Willian 8, Batshuayi 6 (Morata 6), Musonda 6.5 (Pedro 6).
Unused subs: Eduardo, Clarke-Salter, Scott, Sterling.
Everton: Pickford 6 – Baines 6, Williams 5, Jagielka 7, Kenny 7 – Davies 7, Baningime 7, McCarthy 6 (Calvert-Lewin 7) – Lennon 6 (Lookamn 6), Rooney 5 (Niasse 6), Miralles 7.
Unused subs: Robles, Keane, Sigurdsson, Holgate.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
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