Chelsea secured their first Premier League clean sheet in nine months with a 2-0 victory over an Everton side that had been unbeaten this season. The win lifted Chelsea to fourth in the table.
Neto double seals battling win
Pedro Neto scored both goals in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off on Merseyside, opening the scoring just 44 seconds after the restart and adding a second in stoppage time. The result was overshadowed by a sickening accidental clash of heads involving goalkeeper Emi Martinez and Jarrad Branthwaite, which saw the Blues keeper stretchered off and taken to hospital.
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith rated the Chelsea players’ performances at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Player ratings
Emi Martinez 7 – Played very well, making an important save from Jack Grealish. The football world will be hoping he is okay after a horrible collision with Branthwaite saw him stretchered off and taken to hospital.
Josh Acheampong 7 – Played as a hybrid of a centre-back and right-back, composed and excellent throughout.
Maxence Lacroix 7 – Good at the back whenever Chelsea looked slightly up against it. Proving a solid signing.
Levi Colwill 6 – Strong in the air and sensible on the ball for Chelsea once again.
Pedro Neto 8 – Chelsea’s man of the match scored both of their goals with passed finishes into the net. A good time to impress with Marco Palestra now back fit and pushing for that starting right wing-back berth.
Moises Caicedo 7 – Makes such a difference in Chelsea’s midfield and was excellent both on and off the ball.
Jordan Henderson 6 – Made smart decisions in midfield and it was his free-kick that led to Neto’s second goal.
Jorrel Hato 7 – A late addition when he came in for Pep Chavarria, who had a small issue, and he capped a strong display with a fine assist for Neto.
Morgan Rogers 7 – Really up for the physical fight at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and his backheel made Chelsea’s first goal possible.
Cole Palmer 7 – Involved in plenty of Chelsea’s best attacks and was unlucky not to come away with an assist.
Joao Pedro 6 – Had to score his late chance when put through by Palmer. But worked extremely hard when tracking back.
Substitutes and unused options
Mike Penders (Martinez, 75’) 6 – Came on for Martinez and did well, punching clear and winding down the clock.
Danny Welbeck (Joao Pedro, 90+1’) N/A
Marco Palestra (Hato, 90+1’) N/A
Romeo Lavia (Caicedo, 90+1’) N/A
Geovany Quenda (Neto, 90+11’) N/A
Not used: Fofana, Estevao, Nicoll-Jazuli, Barco.
