Toffees well beaten by London Blues – By Matt Townsend

By Matt Townsend: On The Banks Of The Royal Blue Mersey Reporter

Everton’s long unbeaten run away from home came to an end last night as they went down to a deserved 2-0 defeat at Chelsea that underlined how far the Toffees still are from competing with the best in the Premier League.

This was a battle between two teams trying to secure Champions League football next season and it was the London Blues who won it.

Going into last night’s match the Toffees hadn’t lost away from home since a November defeat at Newcastle United. Since then, Everton had claimed a point at Old Trafford and finally won a derby at Anfield to end a 22-year hoodoo at that ground.

It’s been even longer since an Everton team claimed all three points at Chelsea, in fact the 1994-95 season was the last time they did.

Carlo Ancelotti lost key midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure before the game and had to reshuffle his team. It left Allan as the only genuine defensive player in midfield and the team lacked pace and energy in that critical area without the dynamic Frenchman. There was also no place for January signing Josh King again in the Everton attack.

Right from the kick off Chelsea bossed the game and controlled the ball. Everton struggled to break up their pattern of play and cope with the high press they employed.

Chelsea’s German forward Kai Havertz was having his best game since moving to Stamford Bridge last summer and it was he who opened the scoring with his shot after half an hour deflecting off Ben Godfrey and into the net.

The Toffees were creating very little and Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison were isolated and starved of decent service.

Everton had a brief spell just before half time when they posed a threat but only managed one shot on target in the whole match though Andre Gomes.

In the second half it was more of the same as the home side continued to dominate possession and create chances while Everton were pressed back and were forced to defend for long periods.

Havertz had the ball in the net again but it was ruled out for handball. But then after he made a run into the box Jordan Pickford tangled with him, down he went and a penalty was awarded. Once that was converted by Jorghino it was game over.

The much-maligned England keeper then made a series of fine saves to keep the score respectable and although Ancelotti brought on King and Bernard it was too little, too late.
This defeat, like the home loss to Manchester City last month, underlined how much work still has to be done before the Toffees can compete at the top table. Another important summer is coming up.