Palmer comes back and scores for Chelsea

Tuesday and Saturday like night and day. After suffering a defeat away to Atalanta earlier in the week — a loss that put their direct qualification for the Champions League round of 16 in doubt — Chelsea ended the week with a victory that should restore calm in west London. In a clash with Everton, who had been seen as a potential new ‘banana skin’ for the reigning world champions due to a noticeable upturn in form, Enzo Maresca’s team bought themselves some peace after a turbulent start to December — 2–0 (2–0).

Perhaps tradition can sometimes matter more than form, because Everton have historically found Stamford Bridge to be one of their least welcoming away grounds, having gone more than three decades without a win there. And once again, despite a run of surprisingly good results in the recent period, they failed to break that ignominious streak. Still, the impression is that this afternoon the decisive role was played by Enzo Maresca, who finally fielded his strongest lineup against the visitors from Liverpool.

And when we say strongest, that includes Cole Palmer in the starting lineup. Of course, not only him, but since arriving at Chelsea the Manchester-born youngster has grown into a key player for the London side. When, due to injury, Maresca was unable to rely on him for a prolonged period, many were surprised at how little his absence seemed to affect Chelsea’s results. However, once the team fell into a crisis — their biggest since the start of the season — they needed Palmer to pull them out of it. With a goal in the 21st minute, his first since mid-September and his only one at Stamford Bridge this season, the 23-year-old steered Chelsea toward victory, their first in the Premier League in the last four rounds. Although fully fit again, Palmer was clearly not ready to start two matches within four days. He remained on the bench in Bergamo, but at Stamford Bridge he was named in the starting XI and very quickly reminded everyone just how much influence he has on the team.

Malo Gusto was there as well, and notably so in the 16th round of the English league. Not just defensively either — although a right-back by trade, the French international was everywhere. For the opening goal, it was he who found Palmer with a pass from central areas, and he personally put his name under the second, bursting into the box in first-half stoppage time to meet Pedro Neto’s cut-back from the flank.

The scoreline might suggest that Chelsea cruised to a routine victory, but in reality that was not the case. Especially when the home side were holding a narrow lead, David Moyes’ men had plenty of chances to equalize, mostly from set pieces where the main target, as usual, was James Tarkowski. However, with none of those opportunities taken, Gusto’s goal came as a kind of punishment and would prove to be the final verdict. Even so, it could have become rather uncomfortable for those at Stamford Bridge late on, when Iliman Ndiaye struck the post. To be fair, Chelsea could also have won by a more convincing margin, and had they been forced to sweat, the main culprit would have been Alejandro Garnacho, who missed two or three clear-cut chances.

PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 16

Saturday

Chelsea - Everton 2-0 (2-0)

/Palmer 21, Gusto 45/

Liverpool - Brighton 2-0 (1-0)

/Ekitike 1, 60/

20.30: (4.00) Burnley (3.40) Fulham (1.97)

23.00: (1.13) Arsenal (10.5) Wolverhampton (22.0)

Sunday

17.00: (4.00) Crystal Palace (3.60) Man.City (1.90)

17.00: (2.55) Nott.Forest (3.25) Tottenham (2.85)

17.00: (3.30) Sunderland (3.45) Newcastle (2.30)

17.00: (3.80) West Ham (3.50) Aston Villa (2.00)

19.30: (2.00) Brentford (3.60) Leeds (4.10)

Monday

23.00: (1.83) Man.Utd. (4.00) Bournemouth (4.05)

*** odds are subject to change ***