Billy
Gilmour played a key role in Chelsea's 4-0 win over Everton at Stamford
Bridge, earning huge praise for his performance on his full Premier League
debut.
Others scored the goals but it was the 18-year-old midfielder who earned the
man-of-the-match award from Alan Smith, on co-commentary for Sky Sports. "He
hasn't tried to overcomplicate things," said Smith. "But he has always been
positive in his passing, always being progressive, and normally finding a
team-mate which is a happy trait to have."
Gilmour had impressed in the FA Cup victory over Liverpool on Tuesday
evening and injuries to N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic presented
an opening for him to follow that up with another start against Carlo
Ancelotti's side.
However, Frank Lampard was keen to stress beforehand that the chance coming
Gilmour's way was not entirely down to necessity. "He deserves to play,"
Lampard told Sky Sports.
"We have got injuries and suspension in the same area but I don't want that
to be the reason Billy is playing. He's playing because he has trained well
all season. I said that pre-Liverpool and he played very well against
Liverpool. I expect more of the same. He's young so I don't want to heap too
much on his shoulders but I believe in him."
Praise from another midfield legend
It wasn't just Lampard who gave Gilmour the big build-up. Another iconic
midfielder, seven-time Premier League winner Roy Keane, had been so taken
aback by his performance in midweek that he admitted that he'd been out of
his seat watching him.
"He was fantastic," Keane told Sky Sports. "I was sitting in front of the TV
having a cup of tea with a bit of chocolate in front of me. I didn't have
the volume on but as the game started I literally got out of my seat which I
very rarely do.
"I thought, 'Who is this kid in midfield?' There are certain traits you want
in a midfielder. Quality on the ball, football intelligence, composure. He
had everything. It was one of the best performances I have seen in a long,
long time.
"It was just his general play. He was like a world-class player. That's what
he looked like straight away. I thought he was one of their experienced lads
and then I kept a close eye on him for the rest of the game. Everything he
did throughout the game had quality written all over it. He looks a small
kid but with big composure about him.
"The downside for the kid now is that he has got to back it up because he
has started so well. Frank made the point there that it is OK coming in and
doing well, he has got to keep that up now. It is a different type of test
for him today."
How Gilmour impressed against Everton
It was a different test but the same result as Chelsea produced another
confident performance to see off their Merseyside visitors. Gilmour did not
score and he did not provide an assist but the Scot was at the heart of so
much of his side's good work.
Indeed, he was an integral part of the build-up for Mason Mount's opener.
That goal featured no fewer than 20 passes before the ball found the back of
the net - the second-longest passing sequence leading to a Chelsea goal in
the Premier League this season.
His role in the second goal was just as important. Here, he dropped the
shoulder on Richarlison after collecting a pass in midfield and - rather
than look for a sideways option - he was prepared to break the lines and
feed the ball into the feet of Olivier Giroud.
Giroud laid the ball off to Ross Barkley whose through-ball was neatly
finished by Pedro. The pass by Gilmour that led to that goal was just one of
the 41 he completed during a first half that completely took the game away
from Everton. By the end, he'd made 74 of them, more than anyone else on the
pitch.
"Billy Gilmour has run the game," Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports.
Others continued to join in the fun during the second half with Willian
firing low into the corner from distance and Giroud continuing his
renaissance by adding Chelsea's fourth. But Gilmour, who had received the
biggest cheer when the teams were announced before kick-off, was always
involved. His was the pass before the assist for the fourth.
Gilmour should have had his own assist late on after breaking forward from
midfield. He showed great awareness to square the ball to fellow graduate
Faustino Anjorin only for him to need too much time and the chance was gone.
No matter. By that point, the home supporters at Stamford Bridge were
chanting his name. Gilmour's impact was clear.
"He always looks to play forward," said Smith. "He lifts his head." Soon,
the former England striker was speculating about the youngster's
international future with the possibility of a European Championships to
look forward to in the summer. "He will find a place in that Scotland team
if he carries on being involved in this Chelsea side," he added.
For Gilmour and Chelsea, the focus will be on the role that he can play in
the club's push in the Premier League and the FA Cup before then. There was
a fear that Lampard's injury crisis in midfield could undermine Chelsea's
finish to the season. Instead, thanks to Gilmour's assured performances so
far, this team looks emboldened. What a start.
Gilmour's verdict on his debut
"It was amazing," Gilmour told Sky Sports after the game. "A dream come true
to make my full debut in the Premier League. But the most important thing of
all was to get the three points and to continue winning. Hopefully, we can
carry on that good form."
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