The Stamford Bridge crowd were cheering again after Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton on Sunday. It was a comfortable victory for the Blues with both goals in the first half and both coming from Spaniards, Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata. Everton, who had only travelled back from Croatia on Friday, were not at their best but that doesn’t make the comfort of the win any less impressive.
The Blues carried on where they’d left off at Wembley last week with an explosive start, peppering Jordan Pickford’s goal with shots from the very beginning. Pedro teed himself up for an overhead kick on the edge of the area but his speculative effort sailed just over and just wide of the goal. He had another effort saved by Pickford moments later after a smart one-two with Willian – his low drive was grasped by the England keeper. The goal came with another one-two, this time between Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata. The striker cushioned a header back to his compatriot, he guided the ball into the far bottom corner with the outside of his boot. This was Morata’s second assist in 3 games for Chelsea and another with his head.
Chelsea’s record signing used his head yet again to put the Blues 2 goals in front just before half time. He thought he was fouled on the edge of the area by Ashley Williams but, after referee Jon Moss waved away his claims, Williams helped Morata up while play continued. The Welsh captain was made to rue his kind gesture after Morata headed in a Cesar Azpilicueta cross just moments later from close range. The chance was very similar to the one Azpilicueta had presented him with against Spurs at Wembley but this time Morata made no mistake and found the next. It was a cross from Azpilicueta that we saw a lot last season but this time it’s Morata heading them in – not Diego Costa.
The second half was more balanced, with the Toffees having chances of their own to reduce the deficit, but it was Pedro who got the best chance since the break after he fired wide from the right of the area after nutmegging Gylfi Sigurdsson. Everton rallied late on after the introduction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Antonio Rudiger had recovered well to prevent Sandro from striking one past Thibaut Courtois before the Spaniard was taken off for his younger teammate. Calvert-Lewin caused more problems for the Chelsea defence than Sandro had but it was Ashley Williams who threatened to score next. The Blues had defended a Wayne Rooney free kick but Williams scooped one, with his back to goal, that had Courtois scrambling. However, unlike in Euro 2016, the Welsh captain could not beat the Belgian keeper as his effort landed on the roof of the net.
Williams guided a header wide just moments later – a much better chance from close range but it just wasn’t to be for Everton. They went close a few minutes later after Idrissa Gueye’s effort was impressively tipped over by Courtois as it headed towards the top right corner. Chelsea held out for a 2-0 win and it moves them up to 6th in the table, 3 points off Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United. A fascinating title race beckons with the two Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Spurs all in contention.