Everton player ratings vs Chelsea: Jordan Pickford with perfect score, Richarlison magical
Everton’s win over Chelsea is a momentous victory in the survival fight
Everton hosted the European Champions Chelsea at Goodison Park on Sunday. Frank Lampard‘s men have been treading in dangerous waters and a positive result was crucial ahead of the business end of the Premier League season.
Coming into this game the Toffees were sitting in 18th place, six points adrift of safety. Burnley’s three wins on the trot have seen them come out of the drop zone and sit 16th with 34 points. With an abysmal away record, the Toffees have to bank on maximizing the home games and taking points off sides like Chelsea.
Lampard made two changes to the starting lineup from last weekend, Yerry Mina returning to the lineup in place of Michael Keane. Allan had a silent game against Liverpool and was dropped in favour of Fabian Delph in order to provide more solidity and distribution in the midfield. On paper, it looked like Lampard had lined his troops in a 4-3-3 or a 4-5-1 shape but once the game began, Everton played a 5-4-1 with Alex Iwobi playing as a right wing back.
Everton needed a faultless performance in order to keep their hopes alive of survival and oh boy did they deliver. Richarlison scored soon after the break as the Toffees capitalized on Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta’s mistake. The sublime finish from the Brazilian was his eighth Premier League goal of the campaign. The deserved win keeps Everton in 18th position but within two points of safety with one game in hand compared to Leeds United and Burnley.
Everton player ratings vs Chelsea
Jordan Pickford – 10
Jordan Pickford was well in his element and had no slip ups throughout the first half. His powerful throw to Vitaliy Mykolenko allowed the Toffees to launch an attack. Pulled off three splendid saves in succession in the second half. Had it not been for Pickford, the Toffees would have conceded the equalizer.
The Englishman kept Everton in the game and produced one of the finest goalkeeping displays Goodison has ever seen in recent times. The 28 year old made five saves to keep his sixth clean sheet of the season.