toptop
First-half
goals from Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata earned Chelsea a comfortable 2-0
victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
The Premier League champions opened the scoring through Fabregas' smart finish
in the 27th minute before summer signing Morata headed home his second Premier
League goal of the season five minutes before half-time.
The result means Chelsea go into the international break on the back of two
straight victories, after recovering from the disappointment of their
opening-day defeat at home to Burnley.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois (6), Azpilicueta (7), David Luiz (7), Rudiger
(6), Moses (6), Fabregas (8), Kante (6), Alonso (7), Willian (8), Morata (8),
Pedro (7)
Subs: Bakayoko (6), Batshuayi (6), Christensen (n/a)
Everton: Pickford (6), Baines (7), Keane (5), Williams (5),
Jagielka (5), Holgate (6), Davies (6), Sigurdsson (6), Gueye (6), Rooney (6),
Ramirez (6).
Subs: Besic (7), Calvert-Lewin (6), Lennon (n/a)
Man of the match: Willian
The home side dominated from the off and after forcing Jordan Pickford into
early saves from David Luiz and Pedro they opened the scoring in the 27th minute
with a goal that was both started and finished by Fabregas.
The Spaniard, on his return from suspension, played a quick free-kick to Willian
on the right flank before receiving the ball back and finding Morata in the
area. The striker flicked it up and nodded it back into the path of Fabregas to
smartly volley home with the outside of his boot.
Antonio Conte's side deservedly doubled their lead 13 minutes later when Cesar
Azpilicueta delivered a quality cross into the box and Morata evaded the
attention of Michael Keane before heading beyond a stranded Pickford.
Muhamed Besic was named on the bench for Everton, despite reports that his
father was hospitalised after being shot in Bosnia on Saturday, and was
introduced by Ronald Koeman at half-time to add some steel to their midfield.
Team news
Eden Hazard was still not fit enough to make the Chelsea squad, but Pedro and
Cesc Fabragas started. Gylfi Sigurdsson started his first Premier League game
for Everton.
And Everton enjoyed their first chance of the match five minutes after the break
when Wayne Rooney, playing for the first time since announcing his international
retirement this week, released Sandro Ramirez - only to see the Spaniard scuff
his shot.
Chelsea wasted a number of chances to score a third as Pedro fizzed a shot
narrowly wide and Victor Moses shot straight at Pickford after finding himself
in space in the Everton penalty area.
The visitors enjoyed a flurry of late chances as Ashley Williams' speculative
effort landed on the roof of the net and he then headed Gylfi Sigurdsson's cross
narrowly wide, while Idrissa Gueye forced Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to
tip a long-range drive over the bar.
But Everton were ultimately second best as they suffered their first defeat of
the season.
Opta stats
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 23 home Premier League games against Everton
since a 1-0 loss in November 1994 (W13 D10).
Everton have conceded 10 goals against Chelsea under Ronald Koeman, more than
twice as many against any other opponent during his tenure at the club.
Alvaro Morata is the first player in Premier League history to both score and
assist a goal in each of his first two home games.
In fact, both of his goals have been scored with his head and both assists have
been headed passes.
Everton had three touches in the opposition box before the 85th minute in this
match - in the final five minutes (and injury time) they had four.
Man of the match - Willian
Fabregas and Morata will make the headlines after scoring the goals, but
Willian's energy, industry and creativity were crucial to Chelsea's success. The
Brazilian dovetailed brilliantly with Pedro behind lone striker Morata and the
Everton defence struggled to contain his runs all afternoon.
He made four key passes in the game - more than any other player - and only a
goal was missing to complete his performance. Conte will hope to welcome back
Eden Hazard after the international break, but he will have a tough decision to
make over whether to start the Belgian ahead of the in-form Willian.
What's next?
Both sides have a two-week break before their next fixtures. Chelsea travel to
Leicester on September 9, while Everton host Tottenham on the same day. Whose
squad will Ross Barkley be in by the time that match kicks off?
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Courtois, Rudiger, Luiz, Azpilicueta (c), Kante,
Fabregas, Alonso, Moses (Christensen 89), Willian, Morata (Batshuayi 78), Pedro
(Bakayoko 75)
Subs Not Used Caballero, Musonda, Kenedy, Tomori
Booked Moses, Azpilicueta
Goals Fabregas 27, Morata 40
Everton Pickford, Keane, Williams, Jagielka (c) (Lennon 83),
Holgate, Davies (Besic 46), Gueye, Sigurdsson, Baines, Ramirez (Calvert-Lewin
62), Rooney
Subs Not Used Stekelenburg, Martina, Kenny, Lookman
Booked Gueye, Rooney
Goals
Attendance 41,382
Referee Jon Moss