Pedro Neto scored both second-half goals as Chelsea inflicted Everton’s first defeat of the Premier League season in a 2-0 win on Merseyside. Chelsea kept their first clean sheet in the league for nine months, with Neto opening the scoring 43 seconds after the restart before sealing the victory in the 90th minute. The match was marred by a serious head injury to Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who was stretchered off after a collision with Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and taken to hospital for precautionary tests.
Morgan Rogers escaped a red card despite a dangerous challenge on James Garner, having already been booked, with VAR upholding the referee's decision not to send him off. Former referee Mike Dean criticized the call, stating it should have been a straight red. Everton had the best first-half chance through Thierno Barry, who headed straight into Martinez's arms, and later saw Jack Grealish's volley saved.
Chelsea hit the bar via Moises Caicedo's volley and had a goal-line clearance by Maxence Lacroix. The win moved Chelsea above Everton in the table to 13 points from seven games, securing Champions League qualification places for now, and marked their first victory at Everton since August 2022.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing