Everton recorded a fourth successive home win against Chelsea for the first time since 1973 as Richarlison decided their crucial 1-0 victory at Goodison Park.
Everton’s busy start unnerved Chelsea, as Antony Gordon sent a free-kick into the stands from the edge of the box, and Demarai Gray subsequently forced a save from Edouard Mendy. Mason Mount might have become the first English Chelsea player to score home and away in a single campaign against Everton since Frank Lampard when his long-range effort sailed narrowly over, but the hosts remained the most likely to break the stalemate. Driving inside from the right, Gordon struck narrowly wide and continued to be a menace throughout a goalless first half that saw five yellow cards dished out.
Everton started the second half perfectly as Richarlison pounced on an error from César Azpilicueta to put the Toffees ahead in the 46th minute, with what proved to be the games decisive goal. The Brazilian raced through on goal before finding the back of the net for the third time in Everton’s last four home matches against Chelsea. Soon after, Lampard’s side should have doubled their lead, but Vitali Mykolenko blazed over. Chelsea struggled to match Everton’s intensity but were only denied an equaliser by an inspired sequence of saves from Jordan Pickford. After Mason Mount hit both posts, he moved quickly to claw Azpilicueta’s rebound off the line and later bravely blocked Antonio Rudiger’s goalbound effort from close range. Ruben Loftus-Cheek also saw Pickford palm his long-range effort over the bar, as Everton, despite Mateo Kova?i? going close to an equaliser late on, won on a Sunday for the first time this season, and stretched their unbeaten run at home to four matches.
Lampard’s men remained 17th, but three points could help them avoid a first-ever PL relegation. Chelsea’s six-game unbeaten on their travels ended, with Everton becoming a difficult trip for the Blues, who have only three of their last 14 top-flight games at Goodison Park.
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