Everton 0‑2 Chelsea: Pedro Neto double lifts visitors into fourth

Pedro Neto scored at either end of the second half to lift Chelsea into fourth with a 2-0 win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, ending the hosts’ eight-match unbeaten run. The visitors also secured their first Premier League clean sheet of the season under Xabi Alonso, although a serious injury to goalkeeper Martinez came at a cost.

Everton 0-2 Chelsea | HIGHLIGHTS | Premier League 2026/27

Five bookings punctuated a goalless first half. Harrison Armstrong received the first in the 23rd minute, followed by Neto and Josh Acheampong, before James Tarkowski and Morgan Rogers were both cautioned in the 34th minute. Neither team made the breakthrough before the interval.

Neto changed that in the 46th minute, putting Chelsea ahead immediately after the restart. His opener established a lead the visitors would carry deep into the second half, leaving Everton needing a response to preserve their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Chelsea finished with 18 shots against Everton’s six, a three-to-one advantage in attempts that was considerably wider than the possession split. The visitors had 53 per cent of the ball, with Everton recording 47 per cent, while Chelsea also led the corner count seven to five.

The efforts on target offered a different perspective: Chelsea registered seven and Everton five. The hosts therefore made Chelsea defend their goal despite their smaller overall shot total. For Alonso, keeping those attempts out delivered a defensive milestone alongside the three points.

Chelsea’s afternoon was disrupted midway through the second half when Martinez collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. The goalkeeper was taken to hospital, where doctors diagnosed a fractured jaw, and Chelsea confirmed he subsequently underwent successful surgery.

Mike Penders entered in the 75th minute with the score still 1-0. In a message posted from hospital, Martinez said his operation had gone well and that he hoped to return to the pitch “in a few weeks”. He will miss Chelsea’s next match against Tottenham Hotspur.

The lead remained at one goal until the 90th minute, when Neto struck again to seal the victory. His second removed the possibility of an Everton equaliser and completed a double that accounted for all the scoring after the teams had gone into half-time level.

Jorrel Hato credited Chelsea’s defensive work at Cobham for the clean sheet. That work brought its first league shut-out in seven attempts this season, giving Alonso a result built on more than Neto’s finishing. Everton’s five shots on target made the defensive contribution a meaningful part of the win.

Chelsea now have consecutive league victories after beating Bournemouth 5-1 in their previous match. Across those two wins they have scored seven goals and conceded once, a sharper return after the 3-0 defeat at Brentford that preceded them.

This was also Chelsea’s second away victory of the league season, bringing their record on the road to two wins and two defeats. They now have 13 points from seven matches, with four victories, one draw and two losses placing them in the Champions League qualification positions.

For Everton, the defeat ended an eight-match unbeaten sequence and was their first league loss of the campaign. Their opening six Premier League games had brought two wins and four draws; after seven matches, they sit eighth with 10 points.

It was their first home defeat, too, following two wins and a draw. Everton put five of their six attempts on target but finished without a goal, while Chelsea’s greater volume of shooting opportunities helped support the decisive contribution from Neto.

Best moments: Official highlights are available on the Chelsea Football Club and Everton Football Club channels. Neto’s goals in the 46th and 90th minutes are the scoring moments to revisit.

Chelsea next face Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge, eight points behind leaders Manchester City but now occupying fourth place. Martinez’s absence gives Alonso a goalkeeper decision for that fixture. Everton remain three points behind Chelsea: their unbeaten start is over, but the immediate task is to turn a record containing four draws in seven league games into more victories.

Questions

Where does the result leave Chelsea and Everton?

Chelsea are fourth with 13 points from seven matches, eight points behind leaders Manchester City. Everton are eighth with 10 points from seven matches.

What is a clean sheet?

A clean sheet means a team finishes a match without conceding a goal. Chelsea’s 2-0 victory was their first Premier League clean sheet of the 2026/27 season under Xabi Alonso.

What happened to Chelsea goalkeeper Martinez?

Martinez suffered a fractured jaw after colliding with Jarrad Branthwaite in the second half. He underwent successful surgery and said he hoped to return in a few weeks. He will miss Chelsea’s next match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Who do Chelsea play next?

Chelsea next face Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.