The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge was electric as Chelsea finally broke their winless streak, securing a crucial 2-0 victory over Everton in the Premier League’s sixteenth matchday of the 2025-26 season. After a challenging few weeks marked by injuries, travel, and mounting pressure, the Blues found relief and renewed momentum, thanks in large part to the return and clinical finishing of Cole Palmer and the all-action performance of Malo Gusto.
Palmer, still carefully managing a groin injury that sidelined him for over two months, made his first home start since the opening weekend and wasted no time in making an impact. With England manager Thomas Tuchel in attendance, the 23-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 21st minute, capitalizing on a clever pass from right-back Malo Gusto. Palmer’s calmness in front of goal—sending Everton’s Jordan Pickford the wrong way with a composed finish—settled Chelsea’s nerves after a rocky start to December, which had included defeats at Leeds and Atalanta and a goalless draw at Bournemouth.
Everton, coming into the match in strong form, dominated the opening 20 minutes. Iliman Ndiaye twice tested Chelsea’s keeper, and James Garner came close as well. The Toffees looked poised to challenge for a spot in the top four, but their early momentum fizzled after Palmer’s breakthrough. As Palmer later put it, “I’ve been out for a while, probably the longest I’ve ever been out, so I was itching to get back out there with the team. To start and score was a nice feeling.” According to Palmer, the demands of the schedule have been underestimated: “We’ve obviously had a difficult few games, and it’s harder than people think, a game every three days. It’s a lot of travel and it’s difficult, so to get the win is great.”
Palmer’s return was not only a boost for the team, but also for the fans, who had missed his creativity and finishing touch. Head coach Enzo Maresca, who has faced his own challenges recently—including what he described as his “worst 48 hours” at the club and a lack of support from unnamed parties—opted to manage Palmer’s minutes carefully. “I didn’t want to rush back too soon and then get injured again, and I’m still managing it, so it’s just about getting better each day,” Palmer explained. “I enjoyed being back out there, and I’m still not near 100 per cent in terms of fitness and sharpness, but I’m getting there and hopefully I’ll be there soon. I don’t want to do too much too soon but I’m getting there.”
With the opening goal, Chelsea’s confidence surged. The Blues began to dictate play, and Everton struggled to regain their earlier dominance. Chelsea’s man of the match, Malo Gusto, was everywhere—assisting Palmer’s opener and then doubling the advantage just before half-time. Gusto reacted fastest to a low cross from Pedro Neto, slotting home to make it 2-0 and sending the home crowd into raptures. The defender’s tireless display earned him a standout rating of 9 from local media, while Palmer’s 57-minute shift and goal merited an 8.
Everton, to their credit, continued to battle. Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye both came close to pulling one back, with Grealish forcing a fingertip save from Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez and Ndiaye striking the post late on. Substitute Carlos Alcaraz nearly gifted Chelsea a third with a poor back pass, but Alejandro Garnacho squandered the open goal opportunity. Chelsea’s defense, marshaled by Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana, held firm, with Chalobah making key blocks and Fofana’s positive passing helping launch attacks—including the sequence that led to Palmer’s goal.
In midfield, Chelsea captain Reece James continued his impressive run of form, driving the Blues forward and nearly scoring himself from a free-kick, only to be denied by Pickford. Enzo Fernandez kept the engine room ticking, while Marc Cucurella contributed defensively, allowing his fellow full-back Gusto to surge forward. Pedro Neto, though quieter overall, made his mark with the assist for Gusto’s goal.
Substitutions played their part as well. Andrey Santos replaced Palmer just before the hour mark, bringing energy but missing a golden chance to extend the lead. Jamie Gittens came on for Garnacho and looked lively in the final 25 minutes. Estevao Willian also made a late cameo as Chelsea saw out the win, maintaining a clean sheet and consolidating their position in the top four.
For Everton, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, especially given what was at stake. Defender Jake O’Brien summed up the mood: “We just gave them two goals at the start and it kind of killed us for the rest of the game. We’ll go back and look at it. I think we got in good positions and on another day we take them and it’s a whole different game. But the performance wasn’t bad today. I’m disappointed by the result, but I think there are positives to take from the result. We can bring that into next week.”
The loss leaves Everton in eighth place, having played a game more than most of their rivals, and missing out on a chance to break into the top four. For Chelsea, the win not only ends a frustrating five-game winless run, but also brings much-needed optimism as the busy winter schedule continues. The return of Palmer, the emergence of Gusto as a two-way threat, and the leadership of James and Maresca point to a team rediscovering its identity at just the right time.
With the Premier League season entering a crucial phase and fixtures coming thick and fast, Chelsea’s ability to manage injuries, rotate the squad, and maintain momentum will be tested. But as the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge, there was no mistaking the sense of relief and belief among the home faithful. The Blues are back in the hunt—and with Palmer and Gusto leading the charge, who knows how far they can go?
