Doucouré and Dobbin strike to give Everton victory against Chelsea

Everton has reclaimed nine of their ten points. Sean Dyche’s determined team secured a third consecutive Premier League victory, marking Everton’s first such streak since Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure in March 2021. Their impressive display deepened Mauricio Pochettino’s challenges at Chelsea, as the expensively assembled visitors succumbed to a 4-1 defeat.

Despite a decent start by the visitors in a scrappy first half, they were unable to match Everton’s vastly improved second-half performance. Chelsea, grappling with injuries and fatigue, struggled for fluency, and the lack of character and finishing prowess proved costly.

Injuries plagued Chelsea, with Reece James making a short-lived return to the starting lineup before succumbing to another apparent hamstring injury. The absence of Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson, both benched following a loss at Old Trafford, further hampered Chelsea’s attacking capabilities. Everton’s strong defensive showing, led by Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko, played a pivotal role in their commanding performance.

Dwight McNeil’s impactful second-half performance was crucial for Everton’s resurgence. He forced a vital save from Robert Sánchez and created the opening goal with a surging run, setting up Abdoulaye Doucouré’s emphatic finish. Doucouré’s goal, his sixth of the season, marked a significant contribution to Everton’s recent success.

Chelsea, despite efforts to intensify pressure with the introduction of Sterling and Jackson, struggled to break through Everton’s resolute defense. Lewis Dobbin sealed Everton’s victory in stoppage time, securing a hat-trick of Premier League wins and deepening Chelsea’s woes under Pochettino. The 4-1 defeat further highlights the challenges faced by the expensively assembled Chelsea squad, while Everton’s resurgence under Dyche continues to gather momentum.