Nicolas Jackson ended his goal drought to lift Chelsea’s top-five hopes with a crucial strike against Everton at Stamford Bridge. The 1-0 victory was a vital step in their Champions League pursuit. Jackson’s emotional celebration after scoring his first goal in 14 games reflected the relief felt by both the player and his teammates, though Chelsea’s European ambitions are far from secured.
Chelsea’s manager, serving a one-match touchline ban, praised Jackson’s perseverance, emphasizing the importance of supporting players during difficult spells. Chelsea continued their trend of creating chances at home, averaging more shots per game than any other Premier League team. Against Everton, they had five shots in the first half, dominating a side that had little at stake after securing their top-flight safety the previous weekend.
Chelsea’s first opportunity came early when Pedro Neto almost latched onto a lofted pass, only for Jordan Pickford to intervene swiftly. Cole Palmer, struggling to find form with 17 matches now without a goal, had a half-chance smothered by the Everton goalkeeper shortly after. Palmer’s struggles stood in contrast to the liveliness of Chelsea’s other attackers, with Noni Madueke notably testing Pickford with a powerful curling effort that was palmed away.
The decisive moment came after a mistake by Everton. Pickford’s pass to Beto near the halfway line saw the towering striker bundled off the ball too easily by Trevoh Chalobah. Chelsea quickly transitioned, Enzo Fernández feeding Jackson, who turned sharply and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner, finally ending his barren run.
Everton’s manager was frustrated with the manner of the goal, criticizing Beto for failing to protect the ball and highlighting the danger of defensive mistakes in modern football. Despite their reputation for defensive solidity, Everton’s frailty in possession proved costly.
Chelsea might have doubled their lead before half-time when Jackson intercepted a weak backpass from Nathan Patterson, only for Pickford to deny him again. Jackson later had the ball in the net a second time, tapping home after Pickford spilled a shot, but he was flagged offside.
Controversy briefly flared when Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sánchez collided with Vitaliy Mykolenko. Although it appeared Sánchez had charged into the Everton full-back, the referee awarded a free-kick to the hosts. Had Sánchez not touched the ball, a penalty could have been awarded.
Everton’s first real chance came when Abdoulaye Doucouré headed wildly off target from a Mykolenko cross. Everton, the Premier League’s draw specialists with 14 stalemates, showed little attacking threat even as Chelsea eased off in the second half.
Sánchez redeemed his earlier error-strewn performance with important saves in the second period, notably parrying a fierce strike from Beto and tipping away Dwight McNeil’s effort. Despite their defensive resilience this season, with only Liverpool, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest conceding fewer goals, Everton’s attacking woes continued. They have now failed to score in a league-high 15 matches, underlining the work required in the summer transfer window under the club’s new American billionaire investor.
Chelsea, meanwhile, celebrated a much-needed win that kept their hopes of European football alive, buoyed by Jackson’s timely return to form. The road ahead remains challenging, but victories like this one offer the belief that a top-five finish is within reach.
