Everton vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction

After a neat interchange in midfield, Fernandez plays a first-time pass looking to split Everton’s centre-backs, but Branthwaite again reads the danger and steps forward to disrupt the connection.

Only once in the last five meetings between Chelsea and Everton have both teams found the back of the net, with each team claiming two wins and two clean sheets - one apiece either side of a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in March, 2023.

Palmer’s corner from the other side doesn’t create quite the same danger, with Harrison easily able to beat the delivery away at the near post.

OFF THE POST BEFORE PICKFORD THWARTS GUSTO! Fernandez’s inswinging corner-kick somehow manages to dribble through the crowd of bodies in the six-yard box for the unmarked Jackson at the back post. Two yards from goal, the striker sends his header directly into the post, before the ball bounces out to Gusto. The full-back looks to slip a finish past Pickford but the England international flies off his line and puts in a well-timed two-footed tackle, which takes it behind for another corner!

Fernandez plays a lovely pass forward with the outside of his boot for Jackson, with Pickford coming off his line to try and meet it. He’s beaten to the ball by the striker, whose eventual shot is pushed behind by the out-of-position goalkeeper.

Young’s free-kick is Everton’s lone effort as we approach the half-hour mark, with Dyche’s side producing an expected goals of just 0.04 so far - compared to Chelsea’s 0.33 on five efforts. Jackson could have and really should have opened the scoring with his chance moments ago, though the chances are likely to keep coming for the visitors.

UNBELIEVABLE SAVE! PICKFORD KEEPS IT LEVEL! Neto drives towards the penalty area before playing it forward invitingly for Palmer. Unselfishly, the England international squares a pass across the face of goal - through the legs of Tarkowski - for Jackson, whose first-time finish is kicked away by a falling Pickford! Gusto is there on the follow-up, but the ball doesn’t drop kindly, with the full-back heading his chance over the bar!

Only six teams have conceded fewer than Everton’s 21 goals allowed this season, with each of the current top four, as well as Tottenham and Manchester United bettering Dyche’s defensive organisation. It hasn’t been as promising at the other end however, with the Toffees scoring fewer times than anyone else in the division except for Southampton, who are nine points from safety.

Chelsea look to be using a specific pattern while in transition, with both Palmer and Jackson dropping into the centre-circle to receive passes out from the defence, before a first-time interchange sets one of the forwards away through the Everton defence. The pair have combined well today without creating too many chances, and they account for over 50 per cent of Chelsea’s total goals this season in the Premier League (20 out of 37).

One former Manchester United player takes down another, with Young late in his step on Sancho, catching the winger on his ankle, to give Chelsea a free-kick on the halfway line.