Cole Palmer Ends Goal Drought As Chelsea Beat Everton 2-0 To Return To Winning Ways

Cole Palmer marked his return to the scoresheet for the first time since September as Chelsea snapped a four-match winless streak with a 2-0 home win over an in-form Everton side at Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old attacker, who has been managing a groin problem that sidelined him for over two months, struck after 21 minutes with England boss Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands. The move was sparked by Malo Gusto, who later found the net himself shortly before the interval.

Everton started brightly and controlled much of the opening spell. Iliman Ndiaye tested the Chelsea defence with two efforts, while James Garner also went close as the visitors pressed early.

Chelsea, however, settled through Palmer after a difficult start to December that featured losses to Leeds and Atalanta, along with a draw at Bournemouth. Slipped in behind the defence by Gusto, Palmer steadied himself before wrong-footing Jordan Pickford with a neat finish at the near post.

The goal shifted the balance of the game. Alejandro Garnacho wasted a number of opportunities, the most glaring coming when he fired wide with the goal gaping after latching onto a poor back pass from substitute Carlos Alcaraz. The chance came shortly after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, facing his former club, was forced off injured.

Both sides threatened again before the break, with Enzo Fernandez and Jack Grealish unable to convert their chances. Chelsea then doubled their advantage just before half-time as Gusto reacted quickest to bundle in Pedro Neto’s delivery.

After the restart, Garnacho lifted a close-range effort over the bar before making way for Jamie Gittens. Grealish had a header saved and later volleyed wide when well placed, while Ndiaye struck the post late on and Trevoh Chalobah produced a crucial block to deny Alcaraz inside the area.

Chelsea’s sharper finishing proved the difference as they tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League. Everton, meanwhile, stay eighth, having played more matches than several teams around them.