Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 on Saturday to return to the Premier League's top four, as well worked first-half goals from talisman Cole Palmer and France fullback Malo Gusto stemmed a run of four games in all competitions without a victory.
Palmer, who returned to action his month after missing most of the season through injury, drilled the ball between Jordan Pickford and the near post after a pinpoint pass by Gusto. Gusto switched from provider to scorer in the 46th minute when he poked a Pedro Neto cross home after the Portuguese winger outpaced marker Vitalii Mykolenko.
The result lifted Chelsea to 28 points, five behind leaders Arsenal, who play bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers later on Saturday and two ahead of Crystal Palace who face second-placed Manchester City on Sunday. Everton dropped to eighth on 24. Read our live blog below, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge!
Chelsea vs Everton latest news
- GOAL! Gusto adds a second before half-time
- GOAL! Palmer scores first goal since September
Full-time!
16:55 , Alex Young95min: Back to winning ways!
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:50 , Alex YoungFour minutes added on.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:48 , Alex Young89min: Now Alcaraz sees his shot blocked by Chalobah inside the box!
OFF THE POST!
16:48 , Alex Young87min: Still no shot on target for Everton, despite Ndiaye twisting and turning on the edge of the area before hitting the inside of the post with a driven shot!
Chelsea survive.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:44 , Alex Young84min: Still no shot on target for Everton in the second half, though they have had opportunities.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:39 , Alex Young80min: Estevao replaces Joao Pedro.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:37 , Alex Young77min: A cynical yellow card for Fofana for stopping an Everton counter.
Certaintly took one for the team.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:35 , Alex YoungEngland's goalkeeper denies their right-back with a stellar fingertip save. Chelsea really pushing for that third goal in this final 15 minutes.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:35 , Alex Young76min: Estevao is being readied.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:35 , Alex Young75min: A brilliant save from Pickford to tip James’ free kick over the bar.
It was dipping at the last second. Good stop.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:32 , Alex Young72min: Up the other end, Grealish somehow misses the target with the goal gaping.
A cross to the back post, Grealish slides in but can only direct a shot wide.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:30 , Alex Young69min: This game has been so open at times.
The seas open for Santos on the edge of the area, but he is slightly off-balance and blazes over from 18 yards. A great opening.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:26 , Alex Young67min: Grealish sees his header tipped over the bar. It looked like it was perhaps going over in any case, but a nice header from 15 yards.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:24 , Alex Young65min: And so he is. Gitten is on.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:23 , Alex Young63min: Garnacho looks set to be the player replaced.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
16:21 , Alex YoungGittens has just been recalled from the training pack. He will be coming on shortly.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:19 , Alex Young59min: Santos replaces Palmer.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:16 , Alex Young56min: Another great chance for Garnacho goes begging.
He does brilliantly to drive into the area from the left-hand side, straight at goal, but his finish sails over the bar.
That’s two for him today.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:14 , Alex Young52min: It’s been a feisty start to the second half as Chelsea make sure Everton don’t come out of the traps with any momentum.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
16:08 , Alex Young48min: First chance of note and it’s a real opportunity for Garnacho, who is spotted and found by Fernandez at the back post with a sublime cross... but the summer signing slides in and cannot hit the target.
Second half
16:05 , Alex Young46min: No changes.
Players are back out.
It’s been a dream afternoon for Maresca & Co. so far this afternoon. You can see Chelsea adding to their tally, too.
A goal and an assist for Gusto, who set up Palmer's opener.
Everton have had their chances, so perhaps a flattering scoreline, but Garnacho also missed an open goal.
Half-time!
15:49 , Alex Young49min: A long way back for Everton.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
15:48 , Alex Young46min: Three minutes added on.
GOAL!
15:47 , Alex Young45min: What a goal!
A move started and ended by Gusto, with Joao Pedro’s driving run in the middle, as the defender darts into the area to beat Pickford at his near post.
Super move, super finish.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:45 , Alex Young44min: Super stop from Sanchez to deny Grealish’s dink from close range.
Everton looking to keep the tempo up before the break.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:43 , Alex Young41min: O’Brien is giving Cucurella all sorts of trouble down the flank. A few really nice deliveries, too.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:38 , Alex Young38min: Oh my, how close was that?
A deep free kick delivery leaves Chelsea flat-footed as Tarkowski ducks in at the back post unmarked by heads wide!
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:36 , Alex Young36min: Neto flashes a shot well wide from the edge of the area.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:35 , Alex YoungBig applause for Gusto as he holds onto the ball under pressure. He's been excellent so far.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:34 , Alex Young34min: Cross is fizzed in, but cleared with ease by Fofana.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:33 , Alex Young33min: Corner for Everton after Fofana hoofs Grealish’s cross over his own bar.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:32 , Alex Young31min: Not for the first time this match, Fernandez makes a poor decision and costs his side.
This time he flies into Gueye from behind to concede such a needless foul, as Chelsea were building momentum.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:30 , Alex Young29min: Chelsea are ramping up the pressure. Cross after cross into the Everton box, but few team-mates being found.
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
15:27 , Alex Young25min: Ndiaye looks to be struggling a tad, looking down at his right knee and giving it a rub.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:25 , Alex YoungWhat a miss! Nothing more you can say. Chelsea should be 2-0 up and into a commanding lead. Simple as that.
MISS!
15:25 , Alex Young23min: Oh my word, Chelsea should be two-up!
Alcaraz plays the ball back towards goal, straight into Garnacho’s path. The Argentine’s touch around the keeper means he is certain to score, but somehow trickles a shot the wrong side of the post!
GOAL!
15:22 , Alex Young21min: Just when Everton were starting to look their most dangerous, Palmer breaks the deadlock!
Gusto spots Palmer’s run, and one glorious pass sets up his team-mate to beat Pickford inside his near post.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:20 , Alex Young19min Half-chance for Everton as Tarkowski flicks a cross back into the six-yard box. Joao Pedro reacts first to hoof clear.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:18 , Alex Young17min: Neto flies in and shoulder-barges Grealish over. The Chelsea winger looks stunned when the referee blows for the foul, but it’s as clear as day. Grealish just laughs.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:15 , Alex Young14min: Dewsbury-Hall is off and straight down the tunnel. He gets applauded by the home crowd.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:15 , Alex YoungAlcaraz has just been told to go inside and get changed, so it looks as though he'll be replacing the returning Dewsbury-Hall here. Shame for the midfielder.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:14 , Alex Young11min: Concern for Dewsbury-Hall on his Chelsea return. He’s down and looks like a hamstring injury.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:10 , Alex Young8min: Everton now with a good spell. Ndiaye dropping into nice gaps.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:07 , Alex YoungA terrible corner delivery allows Cucurella to head clear as the first man, but set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva could be seen instructing the Chelsea players to camp in there and get closer to the goal-line. Everton are a big team and a threat in the air.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:06 , Alex Young6min: Everton’s first corner is a poor one, not clearing Cucurella at the near post.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:05 , Alex Young5min: A bit of melee at the front post before Chalobah heads over.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:04 , Alex Young4min: Chelsea win a corner off Tarkowski.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
15:04 , Alex Young3min: Plenty of patience possession from Chelsea in these opening stages.
Kick-off!
15:00 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Right then, here come the teams.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:50 , Alex YoungThe Everton players have just received a really loud applause from the away fans to my left. Everton are enjoying a great season, even if they do have a torrid historic record here.
Are the omens there for Everton?
14:45 , Alex YoungIt has been 31 long years, and 30 visits, since Everton last won at Stamford Bridge.
But, with Chelsea on a four-game winless streak, and with Everton ending long hoodoos against Manchester United and Bournemouth already this season, will today be the day?
Moyes on Chelsea
14:37 , Alex Young"They were getting criticised a little bit for the way they were going about the business, but they brought in some great players.
“You know, I don’t know everything about Chelsea, but they look as if they’re in there going in the right direction."
Half an hour until kick-off.
Dom Smith checks in
14:13 , Alex YoungOur man in sound and colour.
🗣️"December has historically been quite cursed for Chelsea."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) December 13, 2025
Chelsea could do with turning the tide today.
Here's @MrDomSmith at the Bridge.#CHEEVE pic.twitter.com/Fz9LP77fzL
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:03 , Alex YoungA strong Chelsea XI is no surprise at all.
The Blues are under pressure to win after four matches without one, and Everton are tricky visitors on current form - even if they have not beaten Chelsea at the Bridge in 30 attempts.
Palmer, Fofana and James start
14:01 , Alex YoungChelsea have both Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana available to start today.
Fofana was introduced as a half-time replacement for Trevoh Chalobah during Tuesday’s Champions League defeat away at Atalanta but had to be taken off 30 minutes later after receiving an accidental boot to the eye which impaired his vision.
Maresca confirmed on Friday afternoon that the French centre-back is now “completely fine” and starts against Everton at Stamford Bridge.
Moises Caicedo, who played the full game in Italy in midweek, drops out again as he serves the final match of a three-game domestic suspension handed down following his red card against Arsenal last month.
Chelsea captain Reece James starts his third game in a week, alongside Enzo Fernandez, meaning that Andrey Santos remains on the bench.
Liam Delap remains sidelined with a shoulder injury picked up against Bournemouth that could keep the striker out for up to four weeks, and there are longer-term injuries to Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill.
Idrissa Gana Gueye returns for Everton after serving his three-match suspension, in Everton’s only change.
Confirmed team news in full
13:52 , Alex YoungChelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Enzo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, Hato, Andrey Santos, Gittens, Estevao Willian, Guiu
Everton XI: Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry
Subs: Travers, Patterson, Aznou, Campbell, Dibling, Alcaraz, Iroegbunam, McNeil, Beto
Everton XI
13:49 , Alex Young...and the visitors!
Today's Toffees to face @ChelseaFC! 🟡 #CHEEVE pic.twitter.com/FiqdTRDmFE
— Everton (@Everton) December 13, 2025
Chelsea XI
13:49 , Alex YoungCole Palmer starts.
Here's how the Blues line-up! 🔵#CFC | #CHEEVE pic.twitter.com/DduMC7zTk4
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 13, 2025
Latest on Essugo
13:38 , Alex YoungTeam news is dropping in under 10 minutes, and we have a small update on a player who will be missing out today.
Enzo Maresca is unsure if Dario Essugo will be fit before Christmas after confirming that the midfielder’s recent injury setback was a new issue.
Essugo arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer, but has seen his progress hampered by a thigh problem suffered in September. A return to training in November was cut short in what was thought a setback.
But Maresca has now confirmed it was a seperate issue. Asked ahead of Saturday’s visit of Everton to Stamford Bridge if the 20-year-old will play before Christmas, Maresca replied: “I don’t know. I don’t have information. I know that he’s better.
“It’s not the same injury that he had in the past. It’s something small and it will be a short time.”
The atmosphere is building outside the Bridge.
Maresca: Only wins will stop the complaints
13:17 , Alex YoungChelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said results are the only thing that will stop Blues fans complaining after the team's poor run.
"It's something that unfortunately I cannot control," he said of yet another social media backlash against his management. "We're in an era where everyone can say what they want.
"One week ago after Arsenal when we were second, everyone was thinking we were title contenders. And after a week, everyone is complaining.
"It's football, it's our business. Completely aware that when you don't win everyone complains. Now it's a matter of trying to win and hopefully people can be a bit happier.
"I care about what I can do better. It's 30 years I'm in football, I know that if you don't win everyone complains. If you win everyone is happy. It's a matter of trying to win because at the end that's how people judge us.”
Moyes: Everton benefitting from experience
13:04 , Alex YoungDavid Moyes believes a key component of Everton’s success has been not only retaining the core of their senior players, but bringing in proven talent in the likes of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The duo, together with Iliman Ndiaye, have been vital to their success, which has negated the likes of another new signing Thierno Barry, who only scored his first Premier League goal last weekend, struggling to get to grips with English football.
"We were desperate for Premier League experience, players who could play in the league, players who could make sure we were keeping away from the wrong end," the Scot added.
"Even now going into future windows we still need that as we are not ready yet to go and pluck out the best youngsters.
"Chelsea have got youngsters from Brazil and all over the place, and some young British boys as well, but they had a base of Premier League experience which we needed.
"We want to now build on that and use it as the building blocks to get better and I think with the likes of Kiernan, Jack, Thierno and Tyler (Dibling), I hope those boys all go on to be good players in the future."
Some day for it.
Maresca reveals worrying new Palmer fitness update
12:30 , Alex YoungEnzo Maresca has revealed that Chelsea star Cole Palmer had “completely bad” pain after his recent cameo against Leeds, as fears over the severity of a persistent groin injury continue.
Palmer’s groin problem has limited his stop-start season to just six appearances across all competitions so far and no full 90-minute outings since September.
The situation continues to be monitored closely and managed by Chelsea, who opted not to take him to Italy for Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Atalanta.
While Chelsea are still not holding any internal conversations about the potential for Palmer to undergo surgery, it is viewed as a concern that he is still not feeling 100 per cent right after certain games and training sessions.
On whether Palmer will have to play through sporadic pain in his groin for the rest of the season, Maresca said before the Everton game: “Hopefully not. But it's something that is a little bit day by day.
“You can see he's getting better, [then] some days it can be worse. For instance, after Leeds, he was completely bad, the day after. And he played [only] half an hour.
“After Bournemouth, he was OK. He played one hour. There's not any sense [to it]. It's day by day that decides how he feels.”
Head to head record
12:17 , Alex YoungChelsea won the corresponding fixture last season 1-0 thanks to a goal from Nicolas Jackson.
Everton have not won at Stamford Bridge since 1994 and suffered a 6-0 hammering not so long ago.
Chelsea wins: 77
Everton wins: 50
Draws: 57
Dewsbury-Hall out to inflict transfer regret in Chelsea reunion
12:10 , Alex YoungKiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s time at Chelsea always did feel short-lived.
It was a couple of months before his 26th birthday, in July last year, that the attacking midfielder was headhunted by the Blues - a £30million deal that didn’t make a huge amount of sense on the face of it.
Did he ever have much of a chance of breaking into the Chelsea first XI on a regular basis in the very biggest games?
It was his importance to Leicester in their Championship-winning campaign, where, crucially, he starred under Enzo Maresca, that went a long way to explaining why he had become a Chelsea player. This was a big move for Dewsbury-Hall, the big move.
But in a fairly predictable turn of events, he ended up playing more times in the Conference League than the Premier League, a reliable goalscorer in Europe’s third-tier competition, but with little prospect of becoming much more.
Chelsea broke even, selling him on to Everton, with whom he will return to Stamford Bridge for Saturday’s game as one of the most integral players to how David Moyes’ team operate.
His last five league appearances have brought three goals and two assists, the sort of form no Chelsea player can lay claim to having equalled or bettered in that time.
Chelsea vs Everton prediction
11:58 , Alex YoungThe incentive is there for Everton; win and leapfrog Chelsea in the Premier League table. The Toffees are in good form going into the game, winning their last two away matches without conceding a goal.
There’s an argument to say that they are playing Chelsea at the ideal time given the form Maresca’s side are currently in.
It’s certainly a potential banana skin for the hosts and we think the two sides will have to settle for a share of the spoils.
Draw, 1-1.
Predicted lineups
11:50 , Alex YoungPredicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Santos, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro
Predicted Everton XI: Pickford; O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry
Early Everton team news
11:45 , Alex YoungAs for Everton, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his permanent move to Merseyside in the summer.
Idrissa Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam are both available after suspension while Thierno Barry could feature after a shoulder issue and Iliman Ndiaye plays his final game before departing for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal.
Jarrad Branthwaite, Seamus Coleman and Merlin Rohl are all sidelined.
Early Chelsea team news
11:37 , Alex YoungChelsea should have Cole Palmer available to start this afternoon, despite a "mixed feeling" after training on Thursday.
Palmer missed the defeat to Atalanta to manage his workload, but is still not 100 per cent fit after respective groin and toe issues and came through Thursday’s training session at Cobham with a “mixed feeling”, according to head coach Enzo Maresca.
Wesley Fofana was introduced as a half-time replacement for Trevoh Chalobah in the Champions League, but had to be taken off 30 minutes later after receiving an accidental boot to the eye which impaired his vision. Maresca has confirmed the defeder is "completely fine".
Moises Caicedo, who played the full game in Italy in midweek, will drop out again as he serves the final match of a three-game domestic suspension handed down following his red card against Arsenal last month.
Chelsea captain Reece James may be handed an initial rest against Everton after coming through two sets of 90 minutes against Bournemouth and Atalanta. He is currently unable to play three full games in a week.
That should mean a chance for Andrey Santos in midfield, with Maresca having also claimed that further opportunities are coming for defender Jorrel Hato.
Liam Delap remains sidelined with a shoulder injury picked up against Bournemouth that could keep the striker out for up to four weeks, and there are longer-term injuries to Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill.
Welcome
11:29 , Alex YoungGood morning and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Everton.
The Blues are now winless in four, including two defeats, across all competitions, to see their proposed Premier League title challenge fizzle out before it got started.
A win today is a must for Enzo Maresca, as Chelsea look to build from much-needed momentum heading into the festive period.
Kick-off at the Bridge is at 3pm. Stick with us.
