On a chilly Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge, we watched Chelsea produce a composed and controlled 2–0 victory over Everton in the 2025–26 Premier League season. Goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto before half-time settled the contest, extending Everton’s miserable record in west London and nudging Chelsea back towards the European places.
Official Match Snapshot
Fixture: Chelsea vs Everton – Premier League 2025–26, Matchday 16
Date: Saturday 13 December 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Final score: Chelsea 2–0 Everton
Goals:
- 1–0 – Cole Palmer (Chelsea), 21' – through ball from Malo Gusto, low finish past Jordan Pickford
- 2–0 – Malo Gusto (Chelsea), late in first half – finished a rapid counter-attack initiated by Pedro Neto
Everton’s long-running wait for a league win at Stamford Bridge – stretching back to 1994 – continues, while Chelsea consolidate their fine home record against the Toffees.
Line-ups and Tactical Shapes
We saw both managers stick to recognisable identities, but with subtle tweaks that defined the game’s rhythm.
Chelsea XI and Shape
Enzo Maresca restored Cole Palmer to the starting XI after resting him in midweek, and made several other attacking selections. The confirmed line-up was:
- Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Reece James, Enzo Fernández; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; João Pedro.
In possession, we effectively morphed into a 3-2-4-1: Gusto pushed high on the right, Cucurella tucked slightly narrower on the left, while Reece James stepped inside to form a double pivot with Enzo Fernández. Palmer played as a roaming No. 10, drifting across the front line, with Neto holding width and Garnacho attacking the left half-space.
Everton XI and Shape
David Moyes set Everton up in a compact 4-2-3-1 built to frustrate and counter. The visitors’ line-up was:
- Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
Out of possession, Everton dropped into a 4-4-2 block, with Ndiaye stepping alongside Barry to press Chelsea’s centre-backs while Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall pinched infield. The plan was clear: slow Chelsea’s build-up, win second balls, and break quickly into the space behind our adventurous full-backs.
First Half: Chelsea Unlock the Game
The opening 20 minutes were cagey. Everton were disciplined, and we struggled to find tempo. Jordan Pickford saw little serious work early on, and the match risked drifting into a stalemate, with most of the play in the middle third.
Palmer’s Intelligent Movement Breaks the Deadlock
Everything changed in the 21st minute. Out of almost nothing, Chelsea stitched together the sort of direct move Maresca has been trying to hardwire into this young side.
Wesley Fofana stepped confidently into midfield, committing the first line of Everton’s press. Rather than recycling the ball sideways, he punched a vertical pass into Malo Gusto, who had drifted infield from right-back to occupy the half-space. Gusto’s first touch took him away from pressure; his second was a perfectly weighted, straight pass between full-back and centre-back for Palmer’s well-timed run.
We have seen Palmer score spectacular goals, but this was all about calm execution. Taking the ball in his stride, he opened his body and slid a low finish past Pickford at the near post. It was his first Premier League goal since September, underlining how much Chelsea had missed his final-third quality during his recent injury troubles.
From a statistical standpoint, that goal flipped the expected narrative. Everton had been content to keep things tight; suddenly they were chasing the game, forced to step five yards higher and offer Chelsea more space between the lines.
Everton’s Response: Brief Pressure, Limited Threat
In the spell immediately after the opener, Everton enjoyed their most encouraging period of the half. Ndiaye and Barry combined neatly on transitions, and one or two half-chances required Robert Sánchez to stay alert. But crucially, Everton rarely generated clear, high-probability shooting opportunities; their efforts tended to come from distance or crowded zones, reflecting how well our back line controlled the penalty area.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s early injury – a hamstring issue that forced him off inside the first half-hour – further disrupted Everton’s ability to connect midfield with attack. Moyes had to reshuffle, and from that point onwards the visitors lacked a consistent creative fulcrum between the lines.
Neto and Gusto Combine for a Devastating Second
Just as Everton were starting to build a little momentum, Chelsea struck again with a classic counter-punch. Shortly before the interval, Pedro Neto seized space on the right wing, driving at the back-pedalling defence.
Neto’s acceleration and change of direction unbalanced his marker; with Everton’s back four retreating chaotically, he kept his head up and drilled a low ball across the box. Malo Gusto, having surged forward from his nominal right-back slot, arrived like a seasoned attacking midfielder to sweep the ball home for 2–0.
It was only Gusto’s second senior goal, and he has now both scored and assisted in the same match, underlining how central he is to Maresca’s attacking blueprint. From our perspective, the timing could hardly have been better: Everton went in at half-time not just behind, but psychologically bruised, knowing that each time they stepped out, Chelsea had the pace and composure to cut through them.
Second Half: Controlled Management, Not Reckless Adventure
If the first half was about seizing control, the second was about keeping it. We did not see Chelsea chasing a third or fourth goal with reckless abandon; instead, Maresca’s side focused on structure, spacing, and denying Everton any route back into the match.
Game-State Football from Maresca
At 2–0, Chelsea’s priorities shifted. Rather than over-committing both full-backs, Gusto moderated his runs, picking his moments more carefully, while Cucurella often stayed tighter to Chalobah and Fofana. The double pivot of Reece James and Enzo Fernández became more conservative, ensuring that Everton’s counters were confronted early rather than deep in our own third.
We saw more side-to-side circulation as Chelsea invited Everton to chase shadows. Everton made attacking substitutions – including the introductions of Beto, Tim Iroegbunam and Tyler Dibling – but struggled to convert extra forwards into extra chances.
Chelsea’s Attacking Threat Remains, But with Restraint
Despite a more measured approach, Chelsea still carried threat. Palmer continued to drift intelligently, linking with João Pedro and Garnacho, while Neto remained a constant out-ball on the right. There were moments when a sharper final ball or a more decisive decision in the box might have added a third goal, but from a strategic standpoint the balance felt right: minimise risk, protect the clean sheet, and avoid giving Everton emotional oxygen.
The fact that Chelsea did not become ragged or complacent in the final 20 minutes is significant. In previous seasons we have too often seen leads eroded by sloppy defensive phases; here, however, the detail of our defensive positioning stood up under pressure.
Defensive Solidity and Sánchez’s Composed Display
Any clean sheet at Premier League level is a collective achievement, and we have to acknowledge how well the whole defensive unit functioned.
Back Four and Midfield Screen
Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana were aggressive without being reckless, stepping into midfield to intercept and winning most of their aerial duels. Cucurella, who can sometimes be overly impulsive, chose his moments to engage and otherwise formed a compact back three shape when Gusto advanced.
In front of them, Reece James’ adaptation into a hybrid midfield role was crucial. He broke up play, shielded the back line, and offered a safe passing option under pressure. Enzo Fernández, meanwhile, dictated tempo with short, sharp passing, keeping Chelsea’s circulation crisp enough to pull Everton’s midfield around without forcing high-risk vertical balls on every possession.
Robert Sánchez: Important Stops at Key Moments
While Everton did not pepper the Chelsea goal, they produced enough half-chances to keep Robert Sánchez honest. When called upon, he was decisive – claiming crosses cleanly and making a couple of smart stops, particularly when Everton sought to exploit second balls and chaos in the box late on.
From an analytical point of view, the quality of chances Everton created appeared limited; they rarely managed to isolate a forward one-on-one in a central location. That speaks well of our defensive structure and communication, especially when managing a two-goal lead – traditionally a dangerous scoreline for a side that can sometimes be guilty of switching off.
Key Individual Performances
Cole Palmer: The Difference-Maker Returns
We cannot overstate how vital Palmer’s return to scoring form is for Chelsea. After a spell out with injury and careful load management from Maresca, this was his first league goal since September – and it arrived in precisely the manner we have come to associate with him: timing, intelligence, and icy composure.
Beyond the goal, his influence between the lines was constant. He dropped into pockets to help progression, combined in tight spaces, and drew Everton’s midfield out of shape with his drifting. Whenever Chelsea needed to pause and breathe, Palmer’s ability to receive under pressure and recycle the ball safely was invaluable.
Malo Gusto: Full-Back as Playmaker and Finisher
If Palmer provided the finishing touch, Malo Gusto provided the creative spark. Officially, he came away with at least one assist – the through ball for Palmer – and the second goal showcased his own attacking instincts as he finished Neto’s cross.
Tactically, Gusto’s role was fascinating. He did not simply hug the touchline like a traditional right-back. Instead, he stepped into central zones, forming triangles with James and Palmer and repeatedly dragging Everton’s left-side defenders into uncomfortable positions. For a player still early in his top-flight career, his tactical intelligence and timing of runs are developing impressively.
Pedro Neto: Transition Catalyst
The statistics that will stick are Palmer’s goal and Gusto’s contribution, but Pedro Neto deserves major credit. His direct running, particularly on the counter, was essential to the second goal.
Neto provided what every possession-heavy side needs: vertical thrust. When Chelsea broke from deep, it was often Neto who carried the ball 30 or 40 yards, turning defence into attack. His willingness to track back and help Gusto defensively also prevented Everton from overloading that flank.
Everton’s Standouts in Defeat
For Everton, Jordan Pickford’s afternoon was mixed. He made several good saves, but will once again face scrutiny for being beaten at his near post for the opener. In front of him, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane fought doggedly to contain Chelsea’s movement, throwing themselves in front of shots and crosses.
In midfield, Idrissa Gueye worked tirelessly to disrupt Chelsea’s rhythm, and at times we saw flashes of quality from Iliman Ndiaye as he tried to drift into dangerous areas. But with Dewsbury-Hall departing early and Jack Grealish unable to fully impose himself in central zones, Everton never sustained enough pressure to make the hosts truly nervous.
Context and Consequences: What the Result Means
Coming into the match, Chelsea sat on 25 points from 15 games, with Everton just a point behind. This victory therefore does more than simply add another three points; it also opens up a small but meaningful cushion between the two sides in the congested middle of the table.
From a psychological point of view, the importance is even greater. Chelsea had endured a stuttering spell, with dropped points and questions about Maresca’s methods surfacing once again. A solid, controlled home win over an in-form Everton side helps to quieten that noise and reinforces the sense that this project is moving forward – not in spectacular, chaotic bursts, but in measured steps.
For Everton, the defeat is a reminder of the gap that still exists between their impressive home form and their struggles away at top sides. The narrative of their poor record at Stamford Bridge remains firmly intact, and with a congested fixture list ahead and key players heading to AFCON, Moyes will need to manage both squad freshness and morale carefully.
Tactical Takeaways
When we strip the match down to its essentials, several clear tactical lessons emerge:
- Chelsea’s structure with the ball is maturing. The use of Gusto as an inverted creator, James as a midfield anchor, and Palmer as a free No. 10 gave Chelsea multiple central passing lanes while still retaining width through Neto and Garnacho.
- Game-state management has improved. At 2–0, Chelsea did not chase chaos; instead, they prioritised control and compactness, something we have not always seen in recent years.
- Everton remain tactically honest but limited away from home. Their off-ball organisation was respectable, yet once they fell behind, they struggled to convert possession into clear chances without leaving themselves exposed to the counter.
- Individual quality in the final third decided the contest. Both goals came from well-timed runs, high-quality final passes, and composed finishes – precisely the moments of clarity that separate mid-table sides from those aiming higher.
Conclusion: A Professional, Convincing Chelsea Win
In the grand scheme of Chelsea’s season, this may not be remembered as a classic, goal-laden spectacle. But from an analytical perspective, it was exactly the sort of performance we have been waiting to see more regularly: structured, intelligent, and ruthless enough in the key moments.
We saw Cole Palmer reassert himself as the side’s creative heartbeat, Malo Gusto demonstrate why modern full-backs are effectively auxiliary playmakers and forwards, and the defensive unit deliver a reassuringly drama-free clean sheet. For Everton, the afternoon was another chapter in a long-running Stamford Bridge struggle – spirited in patches, but lacking the incisive quality to alter the storyline.
Most importantly, from Chelsea’s point of view, this 2–0 victory feels like a step towards stability. If Maresca’s team can bottle the control and maturity they showed here and reproduce it consistently, then this win over Everton may be seen, in hindsight, as one of those quietly significant afternoons when a project began to harden into something more convincing.
Note: All factual details in this analysis – including the scoreline, scorers, date, competition and line-ups – are drawn from official and reputable match reports and data providers. We have deliberately avoided guessing at detailed numerical breakdowns (such as exact shot counts or possession percentages) that were not fully published at the time of writing.