Neto’s brace at Everton leads Chelsea to victory spoiled by Martínez’s head injury | Premier League

Chelsea returns from the international break with an authority which bodes well for Xabi Alonso. Two goals from Pedro Neto condemned Everton to a first defeat of the season as the visitors moved up to fourth place thanks to their first Premier League clean sheet since January. A head injury suffered by Emi Martínez, who was carried off on a stretcher after seven minutes of treatment, was the only concern for Alonso’s side during a mature performance in the Merseyside sun.

There were goalkeeping problems on both sides, with Jordan Pickford unconvincing for the second week in a row as David Moyes’ side suffered self-inflicted injuries. But Everton could hardly complain about the merits of Chelsea’s victory given their contrasting second-half performances.

There were more needles than quality in the first half as Everton edged out and they were left wondering why they were still facing 11 men at half-time. Morgan Rogers risked a second yellow card by getting into a challenge with James Garner shortly before the break. The Chelsea striker caught the ball and the man but, beyond the two players feeling the impact of the 50-50, there was no further punishment from Paul Tierney.

Rogers’ tackle was just as reckless as the one that had led to an earlier booking for Harrison Armstrong, one of five yellows shown in a half that owed its entertainment to the animosity between the teams. The hosts’ grievances deepened when Rogers played a part in Neto’s breakthrough moments after the restart.

After denying Chelsea their usual opening goal – with Pickford saving from Cole Palmer and Jarrad Branthwaite blocking a goal-bound Jordan Henderson effort – Everton acquitted themselves well in the first half. They should have taken the lead from a corner awarded after Martínez was penalized for holding the ball too long. Garner’s initial delivery was poor, in line with Everton’s cross for much of the game, but Jack Grealish provided a perfect cross at the second attempt for Thierno Barry. The unmarked Everton striker directed a tame header straight at Martínez from close range and into the center of the goal. Another big failure from Barry was one of many recurring themes that undermined Everton’s efforts.

The Chelsea keeper spilled a Grealish volley as the home side kept up the pressure and also comfortably saved Barry’s difficult attempt in the box. The visitors began to turn the tide as the break approached and were inches away from taking the lead in spectacular fashion. Moisés Caicedo headed wide at the far post for a Henderson corner which arrived exactly where the training ground routine demanded it. Her thunderous volley flew past Pickford but hit the bar, leaving her shaking for several seconds.

Neto forced a decent save from the Everton keeper from distance in first-half stoppage time and beat him from much closer range 44 seconds after the restart. As in the draw at Hull last weekend, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Pickford were deemed defensive and duly punished. Rogers was somewhat inevitably involved in the release of Jorrel Hato, Alonso’s only forced change since Bournemouth’s 5-1 defeat, away from Maitland-Niles on Chelsea’s left. Hato’s low cross from the touchline hit James Tarkowski and found Neto, whose shot beat Pickford’s weak attempt to save low to his left.

The goalkeeper’s worries took on a much more serious aspect when Branthwaite collided with Martínez as they contested a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall free-kick. The Argentina international required lengthy treatment before being carried away with his neck in a brace and to the sound of Everton boos. Fortunately, he greeted Branthwaite when the concerned Everton defender waited to wish him luck.

Martínez’s replacement, Mike Penders, making his Premier League debut, was not seriously tested as Everton’s threat dissipated and Chelsea handled the closing stages well. Victory was sealed in the final minute of normal time when Henderson’s free-kick struck Barry’s head, bounced off Everton substitute Tyrique George and Vitalii Mykolenko, before falling to Neto. The Chelsea winger curled a confident finish past Pickford’s desperate dive into the bottom corner.