Everton 3-0 Chelsea Match Highlights Video Mp4 Download

Chelsea’s first visit to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium will not be remembered fondly by Blues supporters, as we suffered a disappointing defeat on Merseyside.

After a cagey opening, the home side broke the deadlock shortly after the half-hour mark as Beto was able to race clear of our defence and dink a finish over Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

It was the Guinea-Bissau international who doubled Everton’s advantage in the second period; he produced a powerful shot that went through Sanchez and crept over the line. Iliman Ndiaye then added further gloss to the scoreline, with a fine finish into the top corner.

We had our moments in the game – Jordan Pickford twice produced excellent saves to deny Enzo Fernandez – but the Blues head into the international game on the back of a defeat.

Liam Rosenior made three changes to his side. Malo Gusto and Wesley Fofana came into our defence for Mamadou Sarr and the injured Trevoh Chalobah. Romeo Lavia started in midfield, with Andrey Santos named among the Chelsea substitutes.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the opening minutes of the contest; a Moises Caicedo shot from distance that drifted well wide was the best either side mustered.

Yet Everton began to take control as the opening 45 minutes progressed – and the Blues survived a couple of scares. The first was of our own making, as Beto caught Sanchez on the ball. Fortunately, the Chelsea goalkeeper recovered to nudge the ball clear.

The second came after a neat attacking move from Everton, which created an overload at the back post and enabled James Garner to fire toward the far corner. The covering Gusto managed to clear.

The biggest threat posed by the Blues during the opening 45 minutes came via corners. One led to a series of shots: first from Caicedo, then Marc Cucurella, and finally Pedro Neto. All were blocked. The ball was then worked to Joao Pedro, who curled a shot into the arms of Pickford.

Falling behind

Rosenior’s side grew in confidence as the half progressed and began to have more possession in the Everton half. However, just after the half-hour mark, we fell behind. Garner was given far too much time to guide a pass into the path of Beto, who sprinted clear of Fofana and dinked his finish over Sanchez.

A response from the Blues was needed. It almost came instantaneously. Another corner was delivered by Neto and palmed down by Pickford to Fernandez. The Argentine midfielder caught his shot perfectly but Pickford threw out a hand and managed to divert the ball over. It was a spectacular save.

The final chance of the half also went to the Blues, as Fernandez crossed to the back post and Lavia managed to get his head to the ball. Unfortunately, his glanced effort flew wide.

A half-time switch

Rosenior turned to his bench at the interval, as Alejandro Garnacho was introduced for Gusto. Caicedo dropped into the right-back position, with Fernandez moving deeper into midfield and Cole Palmer shifting into the number ten role.

The momentum of the game remained with Everton, though. Another change came from Rosenior early into the half as Andrey Santos stepped on for Lavia.

We came close to a leveller on the hour mark. A patient spell of possession in the Everton half enabled Fernandez to take control of the ball on the edge of the area, and he curled a shot toward the far corner that Pickford tipped wide.

It proved a big save as the hosts doubled their advantage from their next attack. After a loose pass was intercepted in midfield by Idrissa Gueye, he broke forward and played the ball through to Beto, whose shot squirmed through the legs of Sanchez and crept just over the line.

The Blues needed a spark. Fernandez almost provided it as he tricked past two Everton players, played a one-two with Joao Pedro, and tried to lift the ball over the onrushing Pickford. Unfortunately, the Toffees’ goalkeeper saved well.

Another substitution came: Estevao, returning from injury, replaced Neto. The Brazilian almost made a decisive impact, as he whipped an in-swinging corner over Pickford and off the crossbar.

Yet any hope we had of a fightback was effectively ended with 14 minutes to play. Beto flicked on a long pass forward, the ball fell for Ndiaye, who advanced into the box and curled a fine strike into the top corner.

Our final changes were made amid celebrations from Everton supporters, as Tosin and Liam Delap were introduced for Caicedo and Joao Pedro.

The Blues probed Everton’s backline in the time that remained, but Pickford wasn’t tested further, and the game ended in defeat for Rosenior’s side.

What comes next

The international break. The Blues are not in action again until 4 April, as we welcome Port Vale to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The teams

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto (Garnacho 46), Fofana, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo (Tosin 78), Lavia (Andrey Santos 57); Palmer, Enzo (c), Neto (Estevao 70); Joao Pedro (Delap 78)
Chelsea substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Sarr, Essugo
Booked: Garnacho 69, Fofana 87

Everton: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; McNeil (Branthwaite 78), Dewsbury-Hall (Iroegbunam 89), Ndiaye (Rohl 89); Beto (Barry 81)
Everton substitutes: Travers, Patterson, Dibling, Coleman, Armstrong
Goalscorers: Beto 33, 62, Ndiaye