Everton vs Chelsea result: Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison hand below-par Blues damaging defeat
Sigurdsson second-half goal put the game to bed and left the Blues with work to do in the race for the top four
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Your support makes all the difference.Everton secured a much needed win over Chelsea at Goodison leaving Sarri’s side off the pace for Champions League qualification.
Chelsea failed to capitalise on their bright start as Eden Hazard hit the post early on and Gonzalo Higuaín’s attempted chip over Jordan Pickford was gathered by Michael Keane.
Just five minutes after half time Richarlison nodded home from a corner to put the Toffees in front. He then won a penalty later on, which Kepa Arrizabalaga saved, only for Gylfi Sigurdsson to tuck away the rebound.
The defeat leaves Chelsea three points adrift of Arsenal in fourth, whilst Marco Silva’s side move up to eleventh in the table.
Here are five things we learned at Goodison Park:
1. Silva has room to breathe whilst Sarri suffocates
After slumping into the bottom half of the table, Marco Silva needed a big win. It’s Everton’s first win against a top six side since 15th January 2017, where they beat Guardiola’s Man City 4-0. His ally from Watford was once again the difference maker, Richarlison nodded home the first and won the penalty from which the second goal came. This made justified Silva’s game plan perfectly, as he pitted the Brazilian against Chelsea’s weak sport- Marcos Alonso. Meanwhile, defeat for Sarri means a place in the top four is unlikely, given that they still have to visit Anfield and Old Trafford in the last 7 games. The Italian will be slowly scooping his eggs (and cigarettes) into the Europa League basket.
2. Mina the man to lead Everton’s defence?
Lack of game time and form has meant Yerry Mina is yet to replicate his World Cup form at Goodison. Marco Silva called for the Colombian to be ‘more consistent’ and today he gave a response. Gonzalo Higuaín barely had a sniff after the early exchanges, and it was his block from the Argentine’s long range effort that allowed Pickford to parry away from goal- Mina secured his second man of the match against Chelsea this season. With Michael Keane only just finding his feet this season, and Kurt Zouma going back to Chelsea in the summer, Everton need a defender to rely on week in week out. Mina could be their man.
3. Hudson Odoi should feel aggrieved
Another opportunity given and another taken in midweek for Callum Hudson-Odoi. He bagged another goal and an assist in Kiev, but still he is denied a Premier League start. Pedro was bright today but ultimately failed to have a decisive impact. The youngster was brought on with 20 minutes to go, but surely its time he was given the opportunity to make an impression from the start. If Maurizio Sarri doesn’t gamble on Hudson-Odoi soon, the prospect of joining Bayern Munich will only become more tempting.
4. Higuain isn’t impactful enough
Since joining Chelsea on loan in January, Gonzalo Higuaín has managed three goals- two against Huddersfield and one against Fulham. He has been praised for his link up play with Eden Hazard, but ultimately he hasn’t been good enough in front of goal. Today was yet another performance where you felt he was a passenger for long spells of the game. He will depart at the end of the season and Chelsea won’t be able to sign a replacement. Maybe Michy Batshuayi or Alvaro Morata deserve a second chance.
5. Barkley just lacks the killer punch
He was bright in the first half today, but ultimately Ross Barkley couldn’t find the final ball or finish to change Chelsea’s fortunes. Meanwhile, Ruben Loftus-Cheek has had to watch on for most of the season as Barkley and Kovacic compete to be the least impactful player in Chelsea’s midfield. Loftus Cheek, like Hudson-Odoi, is another double barrelled surname who has been criminally under used, and it is everyone at Chelsea who is paying the price.
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