Everton 2 Chelsea 0: Sarri´s side see top-four hopes fade
Everton eased the pressure on Marco Silva and dented Chelsea’s top-four hopes with a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Richarlison punished Chelsea’s profligacy just after half-time and Gylfi Sigurdsson converted the rebound from his own saved penalty to secure only the Toffees’ second victory in nine Premier League games at home.
Marco Silva’s men, who dramatically lost 3-2 at Newcastle United last time out, were thoroughly outplayed in the first half, but an improved performance from Jordan Pickford helped keep the visitors at bay.
Defeat for Chelsea, their first since the EFL Cup final, leaves them three points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal with eight games remaining.
3 – Gylfi Sigurdsson is the second player to have failed to score three penalties in the Premier League this season (along with Paul Pogba) – the only other campaign to see multiple players miss three penalties was 2003-04 (Shearer and Van Nistelrooy). Denied. pic.twitter.com/X1oSGVUzrt— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2019
Panic permeated Everton’s defence in the opening exchanges as their opponents twice went close in quick succession.
Eden Hazard first drove a deflected shot into the base of the upright, before Gonzalo Higuain’s scuffed finish from Jorginho’s inventive pass allowed Michael Keane to hack the ball clear.
Pickford had earlier denied Hazard at his near post and, after Pedro dragged marginally wide, will have welcomed half-time.
However, Everton emerged from the interval transformed and Richarlison nodded them ahead in the 49th minute when Kepa Arrizabalaga parried Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header straight to the Brazil forward.
12 – Richarlison has scored 12 goals in the Premier League this term – only three players have netted more in the competition in their debut season at Everton (15 each – Kanchelskis, Yakubu and Lukaku). Impact. pic.twitter.com/iKOAxAc6RB— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2019
Marcos Alonso hit the side-netting with a good chance to respond and compounded that miss by tripping Richarlison in the box at the other end.
Sigurdsson stepped up 18 minutes from time and, after seeing Kepa save his initial attempt, pounced on the rebound to complete Everton’s first win in seven instalments of this fixture.
What does it mean? Europa League could be Chelsea’s last chance saloon
Chelsea really only had themselves to blame for allowing Everton to seize control of this contest and will now find it difficult to overhaul both Arsenal and Manchester United in the run-in.
With that in mind, Maurizio Sarri might be well advised to focus more energy on the Europa League – in which they are through to the quarter-finals – as a best route into next season’s Champions League.
Pickford stands up under pressure
Toffees boss Silva asked for Pickford to show “more emotional balance” after his erratic display at St James’ Park and the keeper answered the call on Merseyside.
His early denial of Hazard set the standard for an assured performance that featured five saves in total, most of which arrived when under considerable pressure in the first half.
Sarri errs with Alonso selection
He impressed in the 5-0 thumping of Dynamo Kyiv in midweek but left-back Alonso, chosen ahead of Emerson Palmieri, was again found out when required to perform more defensive duties.
It was the 28-year-old’s error that sent Sigurdsson to the spot in the second half and he should also have done better with an earlier chance to draw Chelsea level.
Key Opta Facts
3 – Gylfi Sigurdsson is the second player to have failed to score three penalties in the Premier League this season (along with Paul Pogba) – the only other campaign to see multiple players miss three penalties was 2003-04 (Shearer and Van Nistelrooy). Denied. pic.twitter.com/X1oSGVUzrt— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2019
– Chelsea have suffered defeat at Goodison Park without scoring a goal for the first time since September 2013, when they lost 0-1 under Jose Mourinho.
– Only Fulham (six) have lost more Premier League games away from home in 2019 than Chelsea (P5 W1 D0 L4).
– Despite scoring the rebound, Sigurdsson has now missed three of his five Premier League penalties for Everton (60%). Indeed, 2018-19 is just the second Premier League season to see two different players miss at least three penalties (also Paul Pogba), after 2003-04 (Alan Shearer and Ruud van Nistelrooy).
– Hazard has now failed to score in each of his seven Premier League games at Goodison Park – the most appearances he has made at a single away venue in the competition without finding the net.
– Richarlison has scored 12 goals in the Premier League this season; only three players have netted more in their first campaign at Everton (15 – Andrei Kanchelskis, Yakubu and Romelu Lukaku).
– Pickford (25y 10d) became the fifth-youngest English goalkeeper to make 100 Premier League appearances, after Scott Carson, Joe Hart, Ian Walker and Paul Robinson.
What’s next?
Everton’s first assignment after the international break is a trip to fellow mid-table team West Ham on March 30. Chelsea visit relegation-threatened Cardiff City the following day.
