MX23RW : Sunday, December 22 10:29:17| >> :120:42168:42168:
[monks data]
Everton logo
Premier League | Gameweek 12
Dec 12, 2020 at 8pm UK
Goodison Park
Chelsea logo

Everton
1 - 0
Chelsea

Sigurdsson (22' pen.)
Richarlison (24'), Doucoure (80')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Kante (45+3'), James (59'), Silva (65')

Everton overcome Chelsea in front of Goodison Park faithful

Everton overcome Chelsea in front of Goodison Park faithful
© Reuters
An error by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy allowed Everton's Iceland international to convert from the spot.

Chelsea's 17-match unbeaten run was ended by an Edouard Mendy error at Goodison Park as a patched-up Everton side won 1-0 to deny their visitors the chance of going top of the table.

The Blues goalkeeper, bought this season to replace the unconvincing Kepa Arrizabalaga, clumsily brought down Dominic Calvert-Lewin which allowed Gylfi Sigurdsson to score the decisive 22nd-minute penalty.

Mendy's rush of blood came after he saw the Toffees striker get the better of the experienced Thiago Silva in the air, but when Calvert-Lewin poked the ball past him there was nowhere to go but clatter into the England international.

It was the ideal scenario for Carlo Ancelotti's team, who due to injuries lined up with a quartet of centre-halves across the back four and without their influential playmaker James Rodriguez, subsequently defended resolutely and counter-attacked sporadically to secure a welcome three points after one victory in their previous six outings.

That tactic almost helped them double their lead but a second penalty, awarded after the excellent Calvert-Lewin was tugged back by Ben Chilwell, was chalked off for offside.

Chelsea, who went into the weekend the Premier League's second-highest scorers behind Liverpool, managed just 10 shots and hit a post through Reece James and Mason Mount as Frank Lampard's 50th Premier League match in charge ended in defeat – their first since losing to Liverpool on September 20.

Centre-forward Olivier Giroud, who was attempting to become only the second Chelsea player to score in seven successive Premier League starts, barely had a chance.

Everton v Chelsea – Premier League – Goodison Park
Dominic Calvert-Lewin impressed once again (Peter Powell/PA)

All the focus had been on Everton's makeshift full-backs but Mason Holgate, on the right, did an impressive job of keeping Timo Werner quiet, although Ben Godfrey found a marauding James a different prospect.

The plus side of having four central defenders was they were not inclined to go too far over the halfway line and once Everton got in front they stuck to their task of stopping Chelsea's attackers and it worked with a first clean sheet since the opening game of the season.

Chelsea's control of early possession barely benefited them and they went behind midway through the first half thanks to some route one football and classic centre-forward play.

Calvert-Lewin outjumped Silva from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's long pass and then poked the ball past Mendy as he charged out, with the goalkeeper's momentum taking out the Everton striker.

Richarlison, without a Premier League goal since September, wanted the penalty but compatriot Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure persuaded him to relinquish the ball and Sigurdsson coolly sent Mendy the wrong way.

It did little for the Brazil international's confidence and, having earlier shot weakly at Mendy when well-placed, he made it too easy for the goalkeeper to save with his legs when Silva gave away possession and Alex Iwobi and Sigurdsson sprang the counter.

In between the goal and that last chance of the half, Pickford's good form from last week's draw at Burnley continued as he twice saved well from James, tipping one shot onto a post at full stretch.

Everton v Chelsea – Premier League – Goodison Park
Everton celebrate after at the final whistle (Clive Brunskill/PA)

When Pickford came to the edge of his area to punch early in the second half, Mount dropped a lob onto the roof of the net, with the same player later beating Pickford but not the woodwork with a free-kick.

Everton's chances were infrequent, with Yerry Mina taking a cross right off the head of Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison's first decent shot forcing a good, low save from Mendy before Sigurdsson – only in the side because of Rodriguez's calf injury – was denied the chance to double his penalty tally by VAR.

Tammy Abraham replaced the ineffectual Kai Havertz for the last 22 minutes but it had little effect on the outcome as the first 2,000 fans inside Goodison since March celebrated a welcome victory.

ID:426292: cacheID:426292:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:11502:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti pictured on November22, 2020
Read Next:
Everton looking to avoid equalling 61-year-old record against Chelsea
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Lions
@
Bears
6pm
Browns
@
Bengals
6pm
Patriots
@
Bills
6pm
Titans
@
Colts
6pm
Giants
@
Falcons
6pm
Rams
@
Jets
6pm
Cardinals
@
Panthers
6pm
Eagles
@
Washington
9.05pm
Vikings
@
Seahawks
9.25pm
49ers
@
Dolphins
9.25pm
Jags
@
Raiders
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Aston Villa178452626028
6Manchester CityMan City178362925427
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
8Bournemouth167452421325
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
10Fulham166642422224
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Crystal Palace173771826-816
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!