Chelsea scored a goal in each half to see off top-four rivals Everton and maintain Thomas Tuchel’s unbeaten start as Blues boss.
The hosts took the lead when Kai Havertz’s shot took a big deflection off Toffees defender Ben Godfrey.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a fine save to deny Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso and Havertz thought he had scored, but had handled the ball before finishing.
However, the hosts doubled their lead through a Jorginho penalty after Pickford brought down the impressive Havertz.
With 10 league games of the season left, Chelsea remain fourth and in the last Champions League qualifying spot, only three points behind third-placed Leicester and four adrift of Manchester United in second.
Crucially, this victory takes the Blues four points clear of Everton in fifth and Carlo Ancelotti’s side – who have a game in hand over Chelsea – will drop to sixth if West Ham avoid defeat against Leeds in Monday’s late game.
Chelsea have not been beaten since a 2-0 loss at Leicester in Frank Lampard’s penultimate game as manager on 19 January, with Tuchel yet to suffer defeat in 11 matches in charge.
Chelsea revival continues with routine win
Chelsea have played in the Champions League in 15 of the past 17 campaigns, but were ninth in the Premier League, and five points off the top four, when they sacked Lampard in January.
Tuchel has transformed their fortunes. This victory means they have won six and drawn three of his nine league games in charge, as well as winning games in the FA Cup and Champions League.
The German, who guided Paris St-Germain to the Champions League final in 2019-20, made five changes from the side that won 1-0 at Liverpool on Thursday and saw his team dominate possession.
Jorginho twice volleyed wide from outside the area before they went ahead on 31 minutes.
Alonso fired in a low cross from the left and Havertz flicked the ball on, but it took a big deflection off Godfrey to leave Pickford with no chance.
Havertz thought he had scored only his second Premier League goal since a £71m summer move from Bayer Leverkusen when he collected Callum Hudson-Odoi’s chipped pass and fired past Pickford early in the second half.
However, the goal was ruled out as referee David Coote judged the German had handled the ball, with video assistant referee Michael Oliver confirming the on-field decision.
But it became 2-0 soon after when Jorginho scored his seventh goal of the season with a calmly taken penalty as Chelsea completed a routine win.
More to follow.
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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
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Chelsea
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Squad number16Player nameMendy
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Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
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Squad number4Player nameChristensen
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Squad number15Player nameZouma
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Squad number24Player nameJames
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Squad number5Player nameJorginho
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Squad number17Player nameKovacic
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Squad number3Player nameAlonso
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Squad number11Player nameWerner
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Squad number20Player nameHudson-Odoi
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Squad number29Player nameHavertz
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Squad number7Player nameKanté
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Squad number10Player namePulisic
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Squad number19Player nameMount
Everton
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Squad number1Player namePickford
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Squad number4Player nameHolgate
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Squad number5Player nameKeane
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Squad number22Player nameGodfrey
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Squad number17Player nameIwobi
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Squad number21Player nameAndré Gomes
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Squad number6Player nameAllan
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Squad number12Player nameDigne
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Squad number10Player nameG Sigurdsson
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Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin
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Squad number7Player nameRicharlison
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Squad number11Player nameKing
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Squad number20Player nameBernard
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Squad number26Player nameDavies
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 16Mendy
- 28Azpilicueta
- 4Christensen
- 15Zouma
- 24James
- 5Jorginho
- 17KovacicSubstituted forKantéat 80′minutes
- 3Alonso
- 11WernerSubstituted forPulisicat 90′minutes
- 20Hudson-OdoiSubstituted forMountat 66′minutes
- 29Havertz
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 2Rüdiger
- 6Thiago Silva
- 7Kanté
- 10Pulisic
- 18Giroud
- 19Mount
- 21Chilwell
- 22Ziyech
Everton
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Pickford
- 4HolgateBooked at 17mins
- 5Keane
- 22Godfrey
- 17IwobiSubstituted forDaviesat 56′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 21André GomesSubstituted forBernardat 76′minutes
- 6Allan
- 12DigneBooked at 50mins
- 10G SigurdssonSubstituted forKingat 70′minutes
- 9Calvert-Lewin
- 7Richarlison
Substitutes
- 11King
- 18Nkounkou
- 20Bernard
- 26Davies
- 31Neves VirgÃnia
- 34Broadhead
- 48John
- 53Tyrer
- 62Onyango
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea 2, Everton 0.
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Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Everton 0.
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Attempt saved. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
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Attempt missed. N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Marcos Alonso with a cross.
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Substitution, Chelsea. Christian Pulisic replaces Timo Werner.
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Tom Davies (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tom Davies (Everton).
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Attempt missed. Bernard (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tom Davies.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Jordan Pickford.
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Attempt saved. N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Attempt saved. Timo Werner (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mason Mount.
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Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Mason Holgate (Everton).
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Attempt saved. Kurt Zouma (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Jordan Pickford.
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Attempt saved. Timo Werner (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by César Azpilicueta.
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Substitution, Chelsea. N’Golo Kanté replaces Mateo Kovacic.
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Mason Mount (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bernard (Everton).
