Everton suffered a 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after failing to make their chances count.
The Toffees, chasing a first win at this venue since 1994, were struck with a major blow early on. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, involved in two goals in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, went down with what seemed like a hamstring issue inside the first quarter upon his return to London.
Chelsea took charge of the contest shortly after through Cole Palmer, who was played through on goal by Malo Gusto. David Moyes’ side escaped with a let-off just minutes later, with Charly Alcaraz giving the ball away in a dangerous area. Alejandro Garnacho rounded Jordan Pickford but couldn’t guide his shot towards an empty net.
Between minutes 38 and 44, Everton had their best spell in the game. They had three opportunities to secure an equaliser during that period but failed to make them count, with James Tarkowski, Thierno Barry and Jack Grealish coming close.
The visitors were made to pay for their wastefulness just before half-time as Pedro Neto led a counter-attack before laying it off for Malo Gusto to finish.
Garnacho could’ve scored the third for Chelsea just 10 minutes after the restart after finding himself in acres of space but once again, the former Manchester United winger failed to keep his shot on target and ballooned it into the stands.
Grealish had a great chance to pull one back after meeting a delicious cross from Alcaraz at the far post. However, his shot, hit with the outside of his boot, went wide off the far post.
Iliman Ndiaye came closest to dragging Everton back into the game after he moved to the left following Grealish’s substitution. He weaved his way past a few defenders before trying to guide the ball into the far corner with his weak foot, only to be thwarted by the woodwork.
The overwhelming feeling after the game remains one of regret with Everton failing to make their opportunities count in a difficult contest where chances were at a premium.
Here are the player ratings from Everton’s 2-0 loss to Chelsea away from home:
Jordan Pickford: 5.5
While there was little Pickford could’ve done to avoid the opening goal, he should’ve done much better for Malo Gusto’s second just before half-time. He was caught off balance at his near post and his hand wasn’t strong enough to keep the ball out.
Jake O’Brien: 6
Jake O’Brien looked dangerous going forward late in the first half and found himself in acres of space on a couple of occasions. He sent a wonderful cutback into the box before half-time, but Ndiaye failed to get a proper shot off. Also played Gueye into space with a clever pass that could’ve led to the equaliser.
He was beaten for pace as Garnacho found himself through on goal from Robert Sanchez’s long pass but failed to keep his shot on target.
James Tarkowski: 6
Tarkowski did well to put Garnacho off for his attempt. He also had a free header from a brilliant Garner free-kick but couldn’t keep it on target in the first half.
Michael Keane: 6
Keane had a solid enough game of his own but the spaces between him, Gana and Mykolenko were exploited by the hosts during the game, largely in the first half.
Vitalii Mykolenko: 4
Vitalii Mykolenko was at fault for Palmer's opening goal after he failed to track his run into the box. He then got embarrassed by Pedro Neto at the stroke of half-time for Malo Gusto’s goal. Mykolenko, however, ended the game on a better note with a couple of forays and crosses into the opposition box.
Idrissa Gana Gueye: 4.5
Returning to the fold after a three-game ban, Gueye was at fault for both goals conceded by his side. He failed to block the passing lane to Palmer behind him and also let Gusto escape his attention close to the box.
Among his positives from the game were a great driven cross into the six-yard box that Barry couldn’t turn in and a strong challenge on Pedro Neto in the dying minutes.
James Garner: 6 (replaced by Tim Iroegbunam at 83’)
Garner had his hands full trying to keep the midfield ticking with Dewsbury-Hall going off and Gueye not being at his best. His free-kick from deep was brilliant and could’ve led to a goal had Tarkowski kept his header on target at the back post. Had
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: N/A (replaced by Charly Alcaraz at 14’)
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s much-anticipated return to Stamford Bridge was unfortunately cut short as the player went down injured after 13 minutes. He came off to a standing ovation from both sets of fans at the ground.
Iliman Ndiaye: 7
Iliman Ndiaye endured a tough evening against Marc Cucurella, who escaped with a lot of physicality against Ndiaye, especially in the first half. However, he should’ve done better with the low cross from O’Brien across the box before half-time, but ended up wrapping his foot around it.
Ndiaye moved to the left after the Grealish change and had his side’s best chance of the game offensively when he wriggled past a couple of defenders before seeing his shot come back off the far post.
Thierno Barry: 5.5 (replaced by Beto at 68’)
Barry had a great chance to equalise before half-time from Gana’s driven cross but the ball ended up going through his legs following Robert Sanchez’s touch. Had an anonymous game otherwise as he didn’t have a lot of opportunities to work with.
Jack Grealish: 5 (replaced by Tyler Dibling at 83’)
Not Jack Grealish’s night. He found himself in a great position inside the box just before halftime but instead of squaring the ball to his teammates in space, he tried to chip the keeper with no success. Grealish had another great chance at the 70th minute from Alcaraz’s cross into the box but he sent the ball wide off target trying to hit it with the outside of his boot.
Substitutions
Charly Alcaraz: 5.5
Gave the ball away in a dangerous position shortly after coming on with Garnacho missing an open net after rounding the goalkeeper. Sent a great whipping cross into the box but Grealish failed to score from that opportunity. The Argentine was found by Mykolenko in the box late in the game, but the Chelsea backline blocked his effort.
Beto: 6
Had only 10 touches of the ball after coming on and didn’t get a lot of chances.
Tim Iroegbunam: N/A
Tyler Dibling: N/A
Reader Comments (21)
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2 Posted 13/12/2025 at 18:02:54
Barry will never be a quality foward and has to try better. It's a very early stage in his life and career but anyone who's played the game can see he's never a Premier League centre-forward as Beto, like you say, is a battering ram.
Tarkowski and Gana are both squad players at best now. We definitely need two full-backs and a central-midfielder in my opinion who can tackle and pass. Hayden Hackney at Boro fits that but, if they come up, he will stay.
Jake should be in his best position then centre half. We should take a chance on Evan Ferguson on loan; he will be leaving Roma early and at 21 has still got a chance. He's still better than them two donkeys we have up front.
3 Posted 13/12/2025 at 18:17:02
Didn't defend properly, never knew where his man was. Wasted numerous attacking opportunities through an inability to look up and deliver a decent ball into the box.
We knew we needed a right-back, this performance absolutely confirmed it.
4 Posted 13/12/2025 at 18:55:52
Ndyiaye had his usual good game despite being roughed up often. We are getting threadbare fit player-wise and it's bound to affect our performances and results.
5 Posted 13/12/2025 at 21:19:43
We need to hurry up and rectify our problematic full-back areas, it simply drives me insane that we are playing square pegs in the right-back position still and we still endure Mykolenko 4 years down the line, a Rafa Benitez signing.
If we are to move on to the next level in the coming months, then we are needing better all-round full-backs.
The lack of pace in the wide midfield areas remains cause for concern; as wonderful as Jack Grealish and Ndiaye are, I still feel like our play going forward is too slow and of course, we don't have enough firepower in our striking options either -- anyone who thinks we do, I'm sorry but you are well off an accurate assessment.
I don't know whether we will even come close to solving any of those issues next month but we've got to have a right good go at doing at least two or three signings that can make an impact in that team.
The Premier League is wide open this season, it's quite an average league nowadays in my opinion quality wise anyway, it's there to be got at if only we had more options and threats.
Another concern is obviously Dewsbury-Hall getting injured and the absence now of Ndiaye, how we cope with that and who will step up.
6 Posted 14/12/2025 at 02:40:47
8 Posted 14/12/2025 at 07:45:37
9 Posted 14/12/2025 at 08:44:32
Hopefully we can improve the squad next month.
10 Posted 14/12/2025 at 10:22:22
I don't think he has done enough to take over from Dewsbury-Hall or Gueye. Loses the ball far too often.
11 Posted 14/12/2025 at 10:24:13
He is off on Monday, he came back in and had a stinker!
12 Posted 14/12/2025 at 11:55:01
With regards to Alcaraz, he's probably rusty this season too with such a lack of game time.
I actually thought he was one of our key players the last three months of last season when playing weekly. Yes, he's sloppy in possession at times but really, you can aim that at most of our players on occasion.
We are going to be needing him over the next month because likely no Dewsbury-Hall, no Ndiaye and what are the alternatives?
Players that offer little going forward nor willing to run and carry the ball forwards.
We need to carry some kind of goal threat.
13 Posted 14/12/2025 at 20:30:19
Dewsbury-Hall has been playing very well but it doesn't half help a footballer when you know that your manager has got confidence in you, even when you aren't playing great.
14 Posted 14/12/2025 at 20:44:31
Especially if those 27 appearances included plenty of substitutions of just a few minutes.
15 Posted 14/12/2025 at 20:54:00
16 Posted 14/12/2025 at 21:16:26
I also think that sometimes, when a player comes on early, it is often harder getting straight into the pace of the game because it is usually a lot quicker than when you come on later once the game has often settled down.
17 Posted 14/12/2025 at 21:51:14
"I agree Brendan"
You wouldn't wish me a happy Christmas back in the day...sigh!
Progress mate!
18 Posted 15/12/2025 at 03:19:18
It's 'we' Anjishnu not 'they'.
19 Posted 15/12/2025 at 04:06:36
Neither you nor I, nor anybody else on this board failed to secure an equalizer. "They," the players, are the ones on the pitch and failed to do so, and there's nothing "we" can do about it.
Please drop your silly "experienced journo" digs on Anjishnu. You're better than that.
20 Posted 15/12/2025 at 07:49:02
But don't get me started on Christmas, mate, because I'm known as The Grinch in our house!
21 Posted 15/12/2025 at 10:29:19
You have seen Dibling play for Everton then?
Not having a go at the lad, it's still early days for him but, if he wasn't rusty, then he doesn't look very promising!
22 Posted 15/12/2025 at 11:25:11
None of our subs this year have done either.
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1 Posted 13/12/2025 at 17:48:41
I've seen enough of Barry to know he's dogshit and Beto is only a good battering ram off the bench…
Fuck Tarky raaa off, stick Jake next to Jarrad, get a c entre-forward and a right-back, then we'll see. We also need a left-back because, as much as we love the lad and we back the Ukrainians etc, he's shite too! 😔
We want our Richy back!!!