A Dominic Calvert-Lewin brace helped Duncan Ferguson win his first game in temporary charge of Everton, beating Frank Lampard's Chelsea 3-1 at Goodison Park.
Everton came into this contest on the back of three straight defeats, the final of which was a 5-2 defeat to Liverpool that saw the end of manager Marco Silva.
With club legend Ferguson in charge the home side showed much more character, passion and fight against their visitors from the capital and were soon rewarded through Richarlison's strike after just five minutes.
Sidibe picked up on the right and crossed in wickedly into the six yard box. Richarlison, in typical Fergurson fashion, got between the two centre backs to head in powerfully from 3 yards out.
Match highlights
It set the tone for an almost unrecognisable performance full of fire and heart after the former Toffees striker, taking over in the short term from the sacked Silva, had called for "blood and thunder" from his under-achieving players.
Two goals for Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the break were more than deserved as even Mateo Kovacic's first Premier League goal failed to spoil the party.
Pre-match Ferguson had praised Chelsea counterpart Frank Lampard, another player-turned-manager at his former club, and jokingly asked for some tips.
Instead it was the novice schooling his slightly-more experienced opposite number.
Whether it was the change of manager which had lifted a cloud or Ferguson's fearsome reputation instilling some fight was irrelevant in a performance reminiscent of the Everton of old and one which would have resonated with Ferguson from his 239 league matches in a blue shirt.
The Scot arrived in the technical area suited and booted - albeit with his trademark blue sweatband occasionally poking out from under his left sleeve.
He was soon punching the air and charging down the touchline to celebrate Richarlison's close-range fifth-minute header from Djibril Sidibe's cross.
It was a header of which the big man himself would have been proud and the first time the Brazil international had scored in three consecutive Premier League matches.
An old-school feel was enhanced as Ferguson adopted a 4-4-2 formation - something his predecessor had steadfastly refused to try - with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford clearly told to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.
The caretaker manager's influence was evident in the effort put in by his players, with the second-biggest cheer of the afternoon for the recalled Morgan Schneiderlin after he harried and harassed Kovacic on the far touchline to force the ball out.
With former Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac watching from the directors' box, although not in the company of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright, the hosts continued to impress as Theo Walcott's low cross just evaded Richarlison at the far post and Calvert-Lewin shot straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea were guilty of over-elaboration in the penalty area so even when Michael Keane's loose control gifted possession to Willian, the Brazilian and Tammy Abraham managed to mess things up.
Tackles and blocks continued to be thrown in, Lucas Digne's clearance in the six-yard box in front of Willian the best, until Everton doubled their lead four minutes into the second half.
Andreas Christensen and Kurt Zouma, the latter on loan at Goodison last season, failed to deal with a high ball and Calvert-Lewin capitalised.
Within three minutes Kovacic had pulled one back, VAR ruling an offside Abraham had not impinged on Pickford's eyeline, and Ferguson was again rallying the troops.
Both sides missed further chances as Walcott skipped past N'Golo Kante but shot at Kepa after ignoring Richarlison alongside him, while Christian Pulisic steered wide from Kante's knockdown.
Richarlison was a brave man to show his displeasure at being substituted 20 minutes from time but when Calvert-Lewin forced home late on Ferguson was sprinting down the touchline again, celebrating with ballboys as he went.
He admits he is not yet ready for what is his dream job on a permanent basis but he has got Goodison rocking again and restored the appetite for a fight needed to haul the club away from the threat of relegation.
Moshiri's final-whistle thumbs up to the man in the technical area was validation enough.
OPTA stats
- Everton enjoyed just their third win in 12 Premier League games (D1 L8), with the Toffees ending a run of three defeats in the competition.
- Chelsea have lost a Premier League game against a team with a manager taking charge of their first game in the competition for the first time ever, excluding their game against Oldham on the first day of the 1992-93 season (P18 W14 D3 L1).
- Chelsea have lost three of their last four Premier League games (W1), as many defeats as they suffered in their previous 20 in the competition.
- Everton have secured consecutive league wins against Chelsea for the first time since November 1994.
- Chelsea have registered only one clean sheet in 17 Premier League away games in 2019, a joint-low among teams to play in both seasons (Tottenham also have 1 in 16).
- Everton forward Richarlison has scored in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time ever (89 appearances in total).
- Everton full-back Djibril Sidibé has registered three assists in his last five Premier League games (all for Richarlison), as many as he managed in his 36 games in Europe’s big five leagues before that.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored his first ever Premier League brace in his 92nd appearance in the competition, and his first league brace overall since October 2015 for Northampton Town against Carlisle in League Two.
- Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic scored for the first time in his last 82 games in Europe’s big five leagues, since netting for Real Madrid against Real Sociedad in January 2017.
How it Happened
Relive our live blog of the match below...
Full time: Everton 3-1 Chelsea
A big win for the big man - Everton had the clinical edge and stronger defensively to record a deserved win. Chelsea lacked in the final third, meaning they could not turn their possession into goals and it killed them
94: Chelsea still pushing
Chelsea are still applying the pressure, but Everton are holding firm and it sums up Chelsea's day
90: Six Minutes of injury time
Into them now
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Everton seal it
83: GOAL: Everton 3-1 Chelsea
Calvert-Lewin
Chelsea can't finish and now they can't defend or pass.
Kepa has the ball at his feet under no pressure and puts a lazy pass out to Zouma, but it is no way near him and Walcott picks up instead and Chelsea are in trouble. He drives towards goal and gets the ball to Davies and he holds up two defenders as he tries to get a shot away. As he strikes, the ball is stabbed away from him and somehow falls to Calvert-Lewin who taps in under Kepa
81: Chelsea sub
Batshuayi is on for James for the visitors
80: Chelsea fire close again
After a quiet few moments Chelsea spring back into life and break down the left, cross comes in from Azpilicueta and Mount volleys at goal and it is blocked by Holgate when destined for the back of the next.
Rebound falls to the left to Azpilicueta and he smashes it into the top corner and Pickford superbly tips over - How have Chelsea not levelled up in this one
Corner comes to nothing
73: Abraham down
As the ball is rolling out of play Pickford comes out and gives a good whack to his England mate Abraham, who is blindsided and goes down holding his arm. Cheap shot from the keeper
71: Davies blows it
The sub has a chance straight away to seal the win. Cross from the left from Digne and Davies stoops 4 yards out to surely head home, but he takes his eye off it and misses it all together - think he was already thinking of his celebration
69: Sub apiece
Everton take off Richarlison for Davies
Chelsea swap Willian for the fresh Hudson-Odoi
67: Yellow Card
Calvert-Lewin slides in and wipes out Azpilicueta.
64: Chelsea miss again
The ball comes in, is knocked down to Mount, and with the far post luring him in he smacks it wide when the far corner was waiting expectantly.
Chelsea should be level
63: Kovacic over
Chelsea are snapping into the tackles now and pressing hard. They win it back 30 out and Kovacic drives towards goal and on the edge of the box curls one just over the bar
61: Calvert-Lewin Stat
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in successive Premier League starts at Goodison Park for the first time since December 2017.
60: Kepa save
Walcott races through with tremendous pace and gets into the box, tight angle on the right and should square to the back post for a tap in for a team mate.
However he shots across goal instead and forces an excellent one handed save from Kepa.
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Chelsea get back in it - what a finish
57: Chelsea madness at the back
What the heck are Chelsea doing at the back. They are trying to pass it around their back four and Kovacic at left back is caught with it in the left corner and Sidibe plays it into the box and Calvert-Lewin's shot is blocked by some desperate Chelsea bodies. Ball comes out to Schneiderlin, who tries to bend it into the corner, but misses by a few yards. That was almost the game
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Everton go 2-0 up
53: GOAL! Everton 2-1 Chelsea
Kovacic
Chelsea back in it. They build down the left and ball crossed low into the box aiming for Willian, it's behind him 8 yards out and Everton clear, but only 25 out and Kovacic cool passes it into the net. Wonderful finish, with accuracy over power.
49: GOAL! Everton 2-0 Chelsea
Calvert-Lewin
Excellent from Calvert-Lewin, terrible from Zouma.
Cross from the right, Zouma's clearance is lazy to only clear 30 out. Ball looped back to edge of box and Calvert-Lewin out powers the centre-back as both jump for it, but then he miss controls it, so it falls to Zouma to clear, but his miss kicks it himself and it falls back to the Everton striker, who then cooly slots home.
Quick VAR check for handball..... goal stands
47: Everton free kick
Sigurdsson floats a free kick in from the right, 40 yards out, Calvert-Lewin gets highest on the pen spot, but heads well over
45: Second half underway
Back underway at Goodison
Half-time thoughts
Chelsea have got so close to levelling this up, but it feels it could be one of those days where they just don't click in the final third.
Remember, Chelsea have lost 11 of their last 12 Premier League away games when losing at half-time.
The draw is now 9/4 with Sky Bet, with an Everton win evens and Chelsea to take the glory at 11/4
SKY BET PRICE BOOST
Sky Bet have Price Boosted the following:
- Richarlison to score a brace is 11/2
- Tammy Abraham to score the 2nd goal is 9/2
- Willian to score from outside the area is 11/1
Stats
Possession: Everton 24% v 76% Chelsea
Shots on target: Everton 2 v 1 Chelsea
Shots off target: Everton 0 v 2 Chelsea
Corners: Everton 1 v 3 Chelsea
Fouls: Everton 7 v 4 Chelsea
Half-time: Everton 1-0 Chelsea
A rare positive half-time team talk will be delivered in the Everton dressing room, as they lead.
Since Richarlison's goal Everton have had the better chances and should have had a second through Calvert-Lewin.
However since the 25th minute their attacking threat has disappeared and it has been all Chelsea. They played some nice stuff, but the final ball or their decision making has let them down and they've lacked that killer instinct in the final third
46: Everton's first corner
Everton win their first corner of the match, which they take a minute to take to run the clock down. Once they drill it in Chelsea head clear easily.
45: Injury time
2 minutes to be added. Looks like Everton will hold out here
44: Chelsea come again
Chelsea are getting closer.
Mount plays a great pass into the area from deep which Abraham races to get onto, plays back to Willian and after jinking past two challenges he runs out of space as the ball runs behind.
42: Yellow card
Richarlison into the book now for a stretching, slide tackle from behind on Pulisic. Free Kick into the box, but cleared
40: Almost for Chelsea
Great run from Pulisic down the left and he drives into the box, tiptoeing down the byline and somehow staying in play.
He crosses to Willian for the tap in 3 yard out but Digne is there to beat his man to the ball and clear.
35: Abraham poor header
Cross from the left and Abraham is free 6 yards out, but he gets underneath the ball, which means his header loops high into the air and easy for Pickford to catch.
34: Game opening out
Chelsea are starting to get more balls and crosses into the Everton box, with the hosts looking dangerous on the counter attack, mainly thanks to Pickford's quick distribution.
Big 10 minutes before half-time here you feel.
31: Yellow card
The first of the day goes to...... Everton's Digne as he takes out Willian. Was no need for the foul and now he stands on a fine line up against Willian
30: Chelsea dominating possession
Chelsea have had 68% possession overall and 80% in the last 10 minutes, so they are working up the gears, without any success yet.
But Everton will be pleased that when they've actually had the ball they've created four good chances and got passed the Chelsea back line with ease.
26: Chelsea chance
More like it from Chelsea. Wonderful run from Willian down the right, beating his man and crossing at the byline.
Abraham arrives at the near post, sticks out a leg and gets his studs to the ball, which deflects it pass Pickford, but also passed the far post by 1cm
25: Richarlison down
Worrying moments for Everton as Richarlison twists badly and goes down. A few minutes of treatment and he is up again but is still limping around the park
24: Duncan Ferguson - still terrifying
Even when celebrating a goal....
19: Someone shoot!!
Chelsea should be at 1-1, but all their attacking players were too nice to each other and kept passing it to each other rather than shooting.
Keane makes an error trying to control a long ball. Willian nicks it off him on the edge of the box and plays it to Abraham, with no Everton defenders around. However it is over hit, so forces Abraham wide. So he plays it back to Willian, who instead of shooting 8 yards out, tries to pass to the on-running Pulisic, but he is muscled out of it and Everton finally get men back to get it out for a corner.
Chelsea forgot they weren't on the training ground then
16: Calvert-Lewin chance
Calvert-Lewin gets space in the Chelsea box, as Walcott plays a clever through ball. It's on the right edge of the six yard box and Calvert-Lewin choses to hit it first time, rather than taking a touch, and fires it straight at Kepa. Looked in two minds whether to go at near or far post and in the end went in the middle to make it easier for the keeper.
14: Chelsea corner
Chelsea's first of the day is no where near a man in black and easily headed away by Calvert-Lewin.
10: Everton's tails up
Pickford plays a great pass from his own box to the right wing to find Walcott, the former England man smashes a low cross in to the far post, 6 yards out, and on the slide Richarlison misses it by 3mm, a touch there and that was 2-0
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
A Duncan Ferguson type goal from Richarlison
05: GOAL! Everton 1-0 Chelsea
Richarlison
Richarlison scored the last goal of the Silva era and now the first since his exit.
He spreads the ball wide to the right, as Everton pour men forward, and Sidibe picks up and crossed in wickedly into the six yard box. Richarlison had continued his run and he gets between the two centre backs to head in from 3 yards out. Excellent worked goal
03: Chelsea counter
Early warning for Everton with an excellent Chelsea counter attack. Iwobi is out powered in a tackle and loses the ball and Pulisic and James break quickly down the right. James' cross with Pulisic and Abraham in the box is deflected away from them. The second cross from James is overhit and goes out at the far post - wasteful.
1230: Kick Off
We are underway, with Chelsea in black shirts and socks and orange socks 🤢. Everton in the traditional home kit of blue and white
A reminder of the teams
Everton: Pickford, Sidibe, Holgate, Keane, Digne, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Walcott, Richarlison, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Stekelenburg, Baines, Bernard, Davies, Kean, Niasse, Tosun.
Chelsea: Kepa, James, Christensen, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Mount, Pulisic, Abraham.
Subs: Caballero, Tomori, Emerson, Jorginho, Barkley, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi.
1229: Teams Out
A huge reception for Duncan Ferguson, who is suited and booted today - it's a good look for him, but still doesn't look right - he needs to be in full kit
1224: Pulisic to strike again?
Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic is proving to be one of the stories of the season and he loves an away match. He's been directly involved in six goals in his last five Premier League away games, scoring four and assisting two. So he'd be my tip to do damage today...
He is 5/1 to score first; 7/4 anytime and to assist 1+ goal is 7/2
1221: Best bet
Tom Carnduff has been previewing this one and his best bet is....
His total of 16 shots on target puts him level with Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus and Burnley striker Chris Wood, while he's above the likes of Raheem Sterling, Danny Ings and Sebastien Haller.
We've seen how easily this Everton defence can be carved open. Liverpool's five goals left the backline completely helpless and Chelsea, with Mount likely to occupy his usual attacking midfield role, will see opportunities to strike.
Everton may opt to go for a similar 3-4-3 formation that limited Leicester's passing lanes and chances on goal last weekend - a system that was changed for the trip to Liverpool.
That didn't stop Leicester's efforts on goal though. The Foxes registered six in the win at the King Power Stadium and the 5/2 on Mount having two or more this weekend is value worth taking.
1220: Stats
- Everton won this exact fixture 2-0 back in March, and are looking to secure consecutive league wins against Chelsea for the first time since November 1994.
- Everton have won six of their last 10 home league games against Chelsea (D1 L3) – more than they had in their previous 24 against them at Goodison Park in the top-flight (W5 D10 L9).
- After a run of six consecutive clean sheets at Goodison Park in the Premier League, Everton have recorded just one shutout in their last six at home in the competition, conceding at least twice in four of those games.
- Everton will play a Premier League match in December starting the day in the relegation zone for the first time since December 2003, when they drew 0-0 with Manchester City.
1216: Soccer Saturday Price Boost
Ahead of the big games this afternoon, Sky Bet have Price Boosted
- Liverpool, Tottenham and Cardiff all to win is 4/1
- Liverpool and Tottenham to win and Cardiff to draw with Barnsley is 9/1
- Liverpool, Tottenham and Barnsley to win is 11/1
1208: Some one will get cold
Mums all over the country right now "He'll catch his death dressed like that"
1204: Chelsea team
Frank Lampard names the same line-up that beat Aston Villa last time out as Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount are all included in the attack. Ross Barkley is on the bench on his return to his former club, alongside Jorginho.
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Christensen, Zouma, Azpilicueta, James, Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Mount, Pulisic, Abraham
1203: Everton team
Big Duncan makes two changes for this first game in charge. Theo Walcott and Morgan Scheiderlin come in at the expense of Yerry Mina, who picked up an injury at Anfield, and Tom Davies.
Everton: Pickford, Holgate, Keane, Sidibe, Digne, Schneiderlin, Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Walcott.
1201: Another new era for Everton
Marco Silva was finally put out of his misery this week after that hammering at Anfield where Everton's tactics and defending were just plain embarrassing.
So yet another new era for Everton is set to be launched, the problem is they don't seem to know who with.
In the mean time club legend Duncan Ferguson is in charge today
1200: Welcome
Welcome to our first of three live Premier League blogs on this fine December Saturday. We start with Everton against Chelsea, then move onto full coverage of the 3pm matches, followed by the small matter of the Manchester derby as champions City host United. Follow it all with Sporting Life throughout the day.