The Premier League may have treated Chelsea lightly for cheating over a seven year period but Everton left them battered and bruised, and Liam Rosenior in a whole world of trouble, with a resounding victory at a raucous Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Two goals from Beto and a brilliant finish from Iliman Ndiaye delivered Everton’s biggest win over Chelsea since 1987 and capped their new home’s finest occasion so far. Jordan Pickford also secured the 100th clean sheet of his Everton career with a stupendous save from Enzo Fernández, but in truth the threat from the visitors was minimal. A fourth consecutive defeat for Rosenior’s team, and second 3-0 reverse in succession, maintained their downward trajectory under the former Strasbourg coach. Everton look a stronger bet for European qualification than Chelsea on current form.
The backing for David Moyes’ side was as intense as their performance. The team coach was welcomed by a large crowd of Evertonians as it snaked its way into the stadium while the atmosphere inside had a touch of Goodison Park about it, loud and edgy. Anger was a key ingredient.
This week’s announcement that Chelsea had been fined £10.75m and banned from signing academy players for nine months, having engaged in “deception and concealment” for seven years under Roman Abramovich’s ownership, sparked incredulity at Everton. The Merseyside club were hit with two separate points deductions for breaching profitability and sustainability rules in 2023/24. Chelsea’s punishment for making illicit payments totally £47.5m to sign players pales in comparison.
