As it happened: Chelsea thump Everton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea were able to get past Everton with ease at Stamford Bridge. A 4-0 victory sees the Blues extend their gap to five points over Wolves who are their closest rivals in the race for top four.

The first five minutes of the first-half saw the sides try and gain possession with no real chances created. That however was not a sign of things to come.

In the sixth minute, Olivier Giroud released Willian who squared the ball to Mason Mount with the midfielder able to shoot, Jordan Pickford was equal to it though.

That was followed by another chance for Chelsea, Giroud dispossessed Mason Holgate. The Frenchman slipped the ball through to Pedro with the wingers shot blocked by Michael Keane.

Chelsea scored a significant goal to put them in the lead after 15 minutes. After fantastic build-up play by the Blues, Pedro picked up the ball and played a great ball to the feet of Mason Mount who swiveled and beat Pickford at the front post.

Everton were up at the other end minutes later, Richarlison found himself in space and pulled the trigger however Kepa saved the shot comfortably.

In the 19th minute, Willian raced through down the wing and forced Pickford to make a good save. Ross Barkley regained possession of the ball seconds later, but his shot went over the bar. Ross Barkley  then played a tremendous ball through to Pedro, who squeezed the ball under a diving Pickford to give Chelsea a 2-0 lead after 21 minutes.

Although the game was really lost by then,the first big chance for Everton came in the 26th minute. Richarlison regained the ball after a Kurt Zouma mistake. The Brazilian played a great ball through to the on form Dominic Calvert-Lewin who tried to dink Kepa, but his shot trickled wide of the goal.

Referee Kevin Friend blew his whistle for half-time. Chelsea were the far better side in the first-half of the game and it showed through the two goal cushion they had. Everton’s only chance came when Calvert-Lewin tried to chip Kepa.

The first minutes of the second-half were very lively from both sides, but with no real threats from either side. As i the first half, it took six minutes of play for the hoe side to find the net.

In the 51st minute, Chelsea found the a third goal. Barkley played a ball into Willian with no Everton players close to the winger. The Brazilian fired hard and low with the shot able to find the back of the net.

It was nearly 4-0 to Chelsea soon after the Willian goal. Pedro skipped past Djibril Sidibe. The Spaniard’s shot was blocked. The subsequent corner was fired into the box by Willian. Giroud was able to sneak his shot into the back of the net to make it 4-0 for the Blues.

It could have been worse for the Toffees. Pickford made a great save from Pedro. The winger pulled the trigger from a Willian pass, but the English goalkeeper made a fantastic diving save.

Everton looked to score a consolation goal. Sidibe burst through down the flank, but his cross was blocked by Zouma.

In the 69th minute, Barkley found himself on the ball and tried to squeeze the ball into the back of the net, but Pickford was able to stop the shot going in.

Kevin Friend blew the whistle for full-time. Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton had considerably underperformed on his return to Stamford Bridge. The Blues were on top for the whole 90 minutes and fully deserved a 4-0 win against the Toffees.

Team Lineups

Chelsea XI- Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma, Alonso; Barkley, Gilmour, Mount (James 60′); Pedro, Giroud (Broja 86′), Willian (Anjorin 71′).

Everton XI- Pickford; Digne, Holgate, Keane, Sidibe; Sigurdsson, Davies (Kean 58′), Gomes, Bernard (Walcott 46′); Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin (Gordon 76′).