Well, well well. Everton finally defeated a top six club for the first time this season. Goodison Park was once again rocking and created a strong atmosphere for the players to thrive in. It was a bit nervous coming after the collapse last week against Newcastle, but Everton held on.
The first half of this match looked as though Everton were going to be shredded apart by Chelsea. Everton were extremely sloppy and were defending deep into their box. It didn’t look good but they held on until half-time.
Coming out after the break, Marco Silva must have told them something special because the Blues came out a different team. Everton put pressure on Chelsea right away and got an early goal from a set-piece. From then on, Everton showed more creativity and put pressure on Chelsea.
All around, it was a great match at Goodison Park and a much-needed win for the Blues. Hopefully, this will build more confidence moving forward.
Let’s take a look at four findings from the game.
Bernard shows his quality
With every match that passes, Evertonians are starting to see how much of a bargain they got when they signed Bernand on a free. His link up with Lucas Digne down the left-hand side has been fantastic. He also brings creativity to the side that nobody else currently does. With almost a full season of Premier League football in the books, he will surely look to impress from the start next season.
Richarlison will only get better
Richarlison has had an up and down season for Everton. He can be a frustrating player to watch at times, but he is only 21-years-old! This was a fantastic match for the youngster. He ends up in the right place at the right times. There are two things that can’t be questioned about Richarlison; his dedication and his persistence.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to mature
The evolution of Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues. With each passing match, his game seems to be developing more and more. Running into the channels, holding up play and pressing the back line. He is still raw in some aspects of his game, but the signs of a quality striker are there. Marcel Brands recently stated there was no need to go out and purchase a top striker, and DCL is the main reason why.
Half-time team talk prevailed
Whatever Marco Silva told his players at halftime, it worked wonders! Everton were woeful during the first half of the match. Sloppy passing and defending deep. It looked as though it was going to be a long day. Everton came out of half-time a completely different team. They pressured Chelsea and took control of the match. Marco Silva and Everton finally defeated a top six side for the first time this season.