Everton vs Chelsea: Instant Reaction | Inconsistent Toffees win 2-0

Everton started the game terribly, looking for all the world like they played on Thursday while Chelsea have come from a week-long break. And as the minutes ticked on, it became quite clear that this was Marco Silva’s gameplan, to sit back and give Chelsea’s midfield the run of the park and hoof it to Dominic Calvert-Lewin at every chance. Poor.

That approach backfired almost immediately, with Eden Hazard dancing in and placing a shot past Jordan Pickford, but the ball came back off the goalie’s left post and was then cleared away.

As the half progressed the Blues seemed to show more initiative, but the hosts continued to play like they were away at the most terrifying arena in the world. The Goodison crowd tired of those antics early on and the stadium fell quiet again like it has so many times this season.

Of course, when Everton did put some pressure on Jorginho and his cronies, they were able to create more, so Silva’s tactics to begin the game certainly need questioning. DCL was about the only player showing life and the few chances the Toffees had came to him.

The Blues somehow stumbled to the break at 0-0, but came out the second half a changed side. Silva must have turned on a bit of the good ol’ Sir Alex Ferguson hairdryer at the break, because the Toffees were on fire.

Two quick chances got generated before Everton won a corner that bounced around and then Richarlison got his head to the rebound to give the home team an undeserved lead. It only got better from there, unbelievably enough.

The Brazilian looked like a new man in the second half too, and it came as no surprise soon after when he was tripped in the box by Marcos Alonso. Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has been missing most of the first half stepped up to take the penalty, only to see it saved by Kepa, but the rebound fell very kindly for the Icelander and he slotted home to the opposite side!

Believe it or not, Everton somehow held on despite never really coming under any real pressure from Chelsea and closed out the game 2-0.

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