Chelsea vs Everton LIVE: Nicolas Jackson’s goal earns vital three points for Blues
Chelsea 1-0 Everton: Enzo Maresca’s men move up to fourth in the table
Chelsea earned a vital three points in the race for Europe after defeating Everton 1-0 in a close encounter at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues, who are aiming to secure a place in the Champions League next year, moved up to fourth in the Premier League table following Nicolas Jackson’s sweeping strike in the first half.
Enzo Maresca’s men were the controlling side, especially in the first half, and forced a couple of decent saves out of Jordan Pickford who was on form yet again for the Toffees. Jackson’s effort, scored from range with a finely directed strike that hit the inside of the far post, defeated the Everton goalkeeper and was a difference maker in the end.
Everton fought back folowing attacking changes from David Moyes but Robert Sanchez made two crucial stops to deny Beto and Dwight McNeil.
Relive the updates from Stamford Bridge below:
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
11 mins: Levi Colwill makes a fine pass over the top and lands the ball on the chest of Cole Palmer making a diagonal run into the box.
His first touch is a little heavy which allows Pickford enough time to come off his line and scoop up the ball.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
9 mins: A lovely long ball releases Vitaliy Mykolenko down the left wing and the Everton left-back bombs it forward.
Trevoh Chalobah sprints across as cover, sticks out a leg in a well-timed challenge and nicks back possession without too much trouble for Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
6 mins: Noni Madueke shoulder Nathan Patterson off the ball deep in Everton’s final third.
He carries the ball into the penalty area but Patterson, with the help of Idrissa Gueye, manages to get back and recover possession.
Madueke has started out on the left wing for the Blues which was unexpected.
Chelsea 0-0 Everton
3 mins: A threaded pass aims to get Nicolas Jackson in behind the back line but Vitaly Mykolenko is on hand to pass the ball back to Pickford and cut the Chelsea attack short.
Kick off! Chelsea 0-0 Everton
Everton get the ball rolling at Stamford Bridge. It’s sent back to Jordan Pickford who boots it over to the right wing.
The ball floats over the head of Levi Colwill and Beto clashes with Marc Cucurella as it drops.
Cucurella wins Chelsea an early free kick.
Chelsea vs Everton
The players make their way out onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer will be hoping to get himself back on the scoresheet today after 16 games without scoring.
Chelsea come into the match sitting sixth in the table but a win will take them into the top four.
With Champions League qualification stretching to the top five places this season, the Blues cannot afford to drop any points today.
Kick off is up next...
Ndiaye speaking to TNT Sports:
"We are very motivated. We're very determined to finish the season stronger than we started. It starts today and it is very important to win.
"We are away from home [against Chelsea] this time. It is going to be more difficult than the home game. We want to try to get a little bit more control than the last game, it will be difficult but we want to try.”
Everton will miss Tarkowski
James Tarkowski has won more duels than any other Premier League player this season (199), while he ranks second for clearances (209) and fourth for blocks (42).
He will be a big miss for Everton today?
Nicolas Jackson scored nine and assisted three goals in his first 15 Premier League appearances this season, averaging a goal involvement every 99 minutes.
He's since failed to score in his last 12 league outings, providing only two assists.
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