Everton 1-0 Chelsea: Richarlison winner boosts strugglers' survival hopes

2 years ago 21

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Everton moved to within two points of the Premier League safety zone with a priceless win over Chelsea that was inspired by a thunderous atmosphere at Goodison Park.

Starting the day in the relegation places, five points behind Leeds and Burnley, the hosts were lifted by their fans in their attempt to extend a 58-year stay in the top flight.

Everton's aggressive pressing was eventually rewarded a minute after the break when Richarlison's dispossessed Cesar Azpilicueta on the edge of the area and scored his ninth goal of the season.

Vitalii Mykolenko could have doubled the lead soon afterwards but skewed wide, and Everton were indebted to two stunning saves from Jordan Pickford to keep themselves in front.

First, the Everton keeper denied Azpilicueta after Mason Mount's shot hit both posts and spun out. From the resulting corner, Pickford then took Antonio Rudiger's shot fully in his face, needing medical treatment.

It was an incredible effort from the England stopper, who also saved from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but typified Everton's approach as they dug in to thwart Thomas Tuchel's side, even if that raw approach drew complaints from the German.

Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon could have made the game safe late on, but Frank Lampard saw his side hold out against his former employers, to earn only his fourth win in 13 Premier League games in charge.

The victory was vital, reducing the gap behind Leeds and Burnley, with the Toffees having a game in hand on their relegation rivals.

Chelsea, meanwhile, will rue the fact they could not turn their possession into a goals, with their preparations hampered by fireworks being set off during the night outside their hotel.

They remain third, but Arsenal can climb to within three points of them by winning at West Ham later on Sunday.

More to follow.

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Everton

Squad number1Player namePickford
Squad number17Player nameIwobi
Squad number23Player nameColeman
Squad number13Player nameMina
Squad number4Player nameHolgate
Squad number19Player nameMykolenko
Squad number24Player nameGordon
Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
Squad number8Player nameDelph
Squad number11Player nameGray
Squad number7Player nameRicharlison

Squad number6Player nameAllan
Squad number33Player nameRondón
Squad number36Player nameAlli

Chelsea

Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Squad number2Player nameRüdiger
Squad number24Player nameJames
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Squad number12Player nameLoftus-Cheek
Squad number3Player nameAlonso
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number11Player nameWerner

Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number10Player namePulisic
Squad number22Player nameZiyech

Line-ups

Everton

Formation 5-4-1

1Pickford
17Iwobi
23ColemanBooked at 38mins
13Mina
4HolgateBooked at 90mins
19Mykolenko
24Gordon
16Doucouré
8DelphBooked at 45minsSubstituted forAllanat 71'minutes
11GraySubstituted forAlliat 90+4'minutes
7RicharlisonSubstituted forRondónat 80'minutes

Substitutes

2Kenny
5Keane
6Allan
9Calvert-Lewin
15Begovic
26Davies
32Branthwaite
33Rondón
36Alli

Chelsea

Formation 3-4-1-2

16Mendy
28AzpilicuetaBooked at 38minsSubstituted forPulisicat 68'minutes
6Thiago Silva
2RüdigerBooked at 17mins
24James
5JorginhoSubstituted forKovacicat 45'minutes
12Loftus-Cheek
3AlonsoBooked at 76mins
19MountBooked at 36mins
29HavertzBooked at 83mins
11WernerSubstituted forZiyechat 68'minutes

Substitutes

1Arrizabalaga
8Kovacic
9Lukaku
10Pulisic
14Chalobah
17Saúl
22Ziyech
23Kenedy
31Sarr

Referee:Kevin Friend

Attendance:39,256

Live Text

Match ends, Everton 1, Chelsea 0.
Second Half ends, Everton 1, Chelsea 0.
Mason Holgate (Everton) is shown the yellow card.
Offside, Chelsea. Hakim Ziyech tries a through ball, but Thiago Silva is caught offside.
Reece James (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Dele Alli (Everton).
Attempt blocked. Reece James (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
Substitution, Everton. Dele Alli replaces Demarai Gray.
Attempt saved. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcos Alonso.
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Édouard Mendy.
Attempt saved. Anthony Gordon (Everton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucouré.
Attempt blocked. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcos Alonso.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Séamus Coleman.
Attempt missed. Demarai Gray (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucouré.
Kai Havertz (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Kai Havertz (Chelsea).
Jordan Pickford (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Everton. Salomón Rondón replaces Richarlison because of an injury.
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Jordan Pickford.
Attempt saved. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Reece James.