Chelsea pay the penalty as Everton secure hard-fought victory

Everton 1-0 Chelsea: Gylfi Sigurdsson’s first-half penalty was the difference as the Toffees ran out winners

Everton celebrate scoring (Getty Images)

Everton breathed life back into their league campaign and dented Chelsea’s top-of-the-table ambitions with a third consecutive win in this fixture at Goodison Park.

An ice-cold Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty was enough to decide an exacting encounter, which leaves the hosts just two points behind Frank Lampard’s charges, who have been touted as title challengers.

Chelsea arrived on Merseyside as strong favourites, but in keeping with this season defying convention, they could not oust their tireless opponents.

Everton had entered the October international break with a 100 per cent record in the top-flight, but stepped out in front of 2000 roaring voices in the Gwladys Street end and the Top Balcony with a solitary win from their previous seven fixtures.

Carlo Ancelotti was banking on his players being uplifted by finally having a real soundtrack at Goodison Park again, with any extra edges welcome sans the injured James Rodriguez and against a Chelsea side aiming to lead pack.

The offensive powers of the hosts were already hampered by the absence of assist king Lucas Digne and with Seamus Coleman still missing, Everton fielded four centre-halves. Mason Holgate operated as a right back with Ben Godfrey servicing the other flank.

Chelsea, unable to call upon Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi but still boasting an enviable depth of options, struggled to hurt Everton despite owning the ball.

Their lack of penetration in the opening 20 minutes was punished on account of a rare error from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

His counter-part Jordan Pickford directed a long kick for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to attack and the forward managed to flick it on.

He chased after it, but Mendy committed himself and clattered into Everton’s focal point. A penalty was awarded which Sigurdsson nonchalantly dispatched, sitting Mendy down and then rolling the ball in the opposite direction.

Going behind stirred Chelsea, desperate for a first win at Goodison in four seasons, with Reece James twice testing Pickford in quick succession.

His free-kick from distance was pushed away by home keeper and his deflected shot was superbly pushed onto the inside of the post by England’s No. 1.

Kurt Zouma then fired straight at Pickford and as Chelsea pressed on for an equaliser, Everton were afforded space to break.

Sigurdsson supplied a first-time pass to unleash Richarlison on the left, who shifted inside to edge of the area and seemed to slip as he sent a low shot that was pushed away by an equally off-balanced Mendy.

The half drew to a close with more fouls than free-flowing football; Mason Mount was fortunate not to get cautioned for pushing Yerry Mina into Pickford. N’Golo Kante did see yellow for his late tackle on Allan.

Chelsea started the start 45 with the same fire after conceding. Mount’s intelligent chip to catch out a backpedalling Pickford landed on the roof of the net.

Havertz saw a shot blocked by Mina, before Everton strung together a period of pressure. Richarlison’s snap shot was dealt with well by Mendy, before Calvert-Lewin had a shot thwarted and Sigurdsson went just over with a 25-yard free-kick.

After the hour-mark, Chelsea were left frustrated by the hosts’ work off the ball and had VAR to thank for not conceding another needless penalty.

Ben Chilwell collided with Calvert-Lewin and referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the spot, but the striker was rightly ruled offside.

In a tense tussle, the bookings flowed and the array of attacking talent on the pitch couldn’t find any sustained rhythm.

Havertz couldn’t replicate Ziyech’s creativity for Chelsea and he was removed for Tammy Abraham. It was Mount who still posed the greatest threat for the visitors and his free-kick late on cannoned off the post, with Pickford getting nowhere near it as he initially gambled on the ball being put in the opposite direction.

Oliver Giroud smashed over at the near post, but nothing was to give for Chelsea. Everton’s labour was warmly applauded by their fans and was just the tonic Ancelotti had wanted.

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