Beto bags brace as Everton add to Chelsea’s woes

Premier League

Everton 3-0 Chelsea

Goals from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye boosted Everton’s chances of European qualification while denting Chelsea’s hopes of securing Champions League football next season.

Having scored in each half, Beto became the first Everton player to score twice in one match at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Ndiaye sealing victory late in the second half.

Back-to-back home wins give Everton hope of a first European campaign in eight years, but Chelsea’s dismal form continues with a fourth successive defeat in all competitions.

It was an energetic Everton who edged the opening 45 minutes, with Beto catching Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez dwelling on the ball, only to be rescued by a Jorrel Hato clearance.

James Garner – who received his first England call-up on Friday – later had a shot cleared off the line by Malo Gusto.

Chelsea then had multiple efforts blocked, including one created in open play for Joao Pedro, before a flurry of chances from the resulting corner involving Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana.

Moments later, however, Everton opened the scoring as Garner threaded a pass through the defence and Beto beat Fofana to the ball before lifting it over Sanchez first time with the outside of his boot.

Vice-captain Fernandez, who hinted this week that he might want to leave Chelsea, produced an acrobatic volley that was superbly saved by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford just before the interval.

At half-time, Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior introduced winger Alejandro Garnacho in place of Gusto.

Fernandez again went closest for Chelsea when he curled a shot from outside the box, only for Pickford to save once more.

But it was Beto celebrating again as his powerful strike squeezed through Sanchez after a superb interception and 30-yard run upfield from midfielder Idrissa Gueye to seal the victory.

Chelsea introduced winger Estevao Willian and striker Liam Delap, who had been a David Moyes transfer target for Everton, but Iliman Ndiaye curled a sensational third into the top corner late on to secure a dominant win for the Merseyside club.

Everton move up to seventh in the Premier League, strengthening their push for European football, and sit just two points behind sixth‑placed Chelsea – who now risk missing out on Champions League qualification.

Chelsea next welcome Port Vale to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup quarter-finals on 4 April (17:15 BST). They then host Manchester City in the Premier League on 12 April (16:30).

Everton are without a game for three weeks before they visit Brentford in the Premier League on 11 April (15:00).

Today’s other Premier League results:

• Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Liverpool
• Fulham 3-1 Burnley