Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin scored second-half goals to drive Everton to another win, this one 2-0 over reeling Chelsea at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The Toffees have won three-of-four Premier League outings since they were handed a 10-point deduction for breaking sustainability rules, and have now beaten Newcastle and Chelsea with clean sheets over just a few days.
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Chelsea had all of the ball but did nothing with it, Mauricio Pochettino’s attacking unit providing just 0.93 xG off of 16 shots on 72% possession. Robert Sanchez and Reece James both left the game with injury, as New England Revolution import Djordje Petrovic finished the game in goal and conceded Everton’s second.
The Blues were coming off a loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford, and now sit 12th as one of four teams on 19 points. Everton’s still in 17th place but their 13 points are four more than Luton and would have them ninth without the deduction.
Aggrieved Toffees have belief, something Chelsea’s lacked for ages
Everton is fighting mad, and turning that into performances as the Toffees have deserved every bit of their post-penalty reemergence into the safe spaces.
Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil continue to play inspired football under Sean Dyche, and the Toffees have some big — in stature and talent — players who are delivering on their potential under the boss.
They believe, big time.
Chelsea has almost none of that, and Mauricio Pochettino’s lineup shake-up of leaving Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling out of the lineup did very little. Reece James’ injury plugged Levi Colwill into the fold, and the team adapted to that, but that’s about it for the positives.
Armando Broja was poor and Nicolas Jackson not much of an improvement when Poch flipped his men. The whole right side struggled, which is also a compliment to Everton’s left with McNeil and Vitalii Mykolenko, while the left side’s service was not finished by the other forwards.
What’s next?
Everton goes to Burnley for a Dyche derby at 12:30pm ET Saturday, while Chelsea hosts Sheffield United at 10am ET the same day.
Everton vs Chelsea final score: 2-0
Goal: Doucoure (55'), Dobbin (90+2')
How to watch Everton vs Chelsea live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 9 am ET, Sunday, (Dec. 10)
TV channel: USA Network
Online:Watch via NBCSports.com
Everton vs Chelsea player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Everton vs Chelsea player ratings (fotmob.com)
Everton vs Chelsea player ratings (fotmob.com)
Abdoulaye Doucoure goal!
Red-hot Dwight McNeil slips Dominic Calvert-Lewin through to Robert Sanchez’s doorstep, and the sliding Chelsea keeper denies Everton’s center forward.
Abdoulaye Doucoure is rushing toward the box and the rebound, with Levi Colwill the only hope of blocking a shot. Doucoure hasn’t been missing chances like that this season, and he buries.
There’s a VAR review for offside on Calvert-Lewin, and it comes to nothing. 1-0 to the hosts!
Everton vs Chelsea first-half analysis
It’s what you would’ve expected — Everton ornery, Chelsea organized but missing something in the final third.
Chelsea’s had 71% of the ball but produced just 0.20 xG off their five shot attempts. Neither team have shown us real danger in the final third, though Chelsea’s been there for much of the game.
Reece James had to leave injured and was replaced by Levi Colwill. Mauricio Pochettino has Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson on the bench, and Jackson seems likely to be introduced soon as Armando Broja is not making much of his start
Everton lineup
Your Toffees for #EVECHE! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0EH6BnMaiN
— Everton (@Everton) December 10, 2023
Chelsea lineup
Your Chelsea. 📋@ParimatchUK | #CFC | #EveChe pic.twitter.com/PTQtTdESw0
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 10, 2023
Focus on Everton, injury news
OUT: Dele Alli (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Jordan Pickford (knee), Seamus Coleman (undisclosed), Andre Gomes (calf), Amadou Onana (calf), James Garner (illness)
Focus on Chelsea, injury news
OUT: Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Christopher Nkunku (knee), Romeo Lavia (ankle), Malo Gusto (undisclosed), Noni Madueke (undisclosed)
