Chelsea winners and losers after Everton win – Palmer sensational, Jackson and Madueke worry
Chelsea thrashed Everton 6-0 on Monday night to continue their late surge of finishing in the European places. Cole Palmer scored four at Stamford Bridge while Nicolas Jackson and Alfie Gilchrist netted one each.
The result leaves Chelsea ninth in the Premier League table, one point off West Ham United in eighth. The Blues are also just three points off Manchester United and Newcastle United, who sit seventh and sixth respectively.
It was a great performance for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, although the result was slightly tarnished by an on-field disagreement involving Palmer, Jackson and Noni Madueke.
Winners
Cole Palmer
What a player. He is the beating heart of this Chelsea team. Where on earth would they be without him?
The 21-year-old now has 23 goals in 38 appearances for the Blues this season. Not bad for a player who is in his first season at Stamford Bridge having moved to west London from Manchester City in the summer.
It’s been some season for the Englishman. He is now level with Erling Haaland for this season’s Golden Boot, with the duo having each scored 20 Premier League goals. With seven games remaining, you wouldn’t put it past him to win it.
Mauricio Pochettino
It was a much-needed three points for the Blues and manager Pochettino. The Argentine has been under huge pressure this season with many performances and results being questioned by pundits and fans, with some even calling for him to be sacked at certain stages of the season.
Chelsea’s form has been decent in recent weeks, however, and this was arguably the most complete performance of Pochettino’s tenure in west London. The performance, result and manner of the victory will do him the world of good. Now he needs to build on it.
Losers
Jackson and Madueke
In a 6-0 win it can sometimes be hard to find negatives. Nicolas Jackson and in particular Noni Madueke perhaps optimised Chelsea this season in one moment of madness, however.
After Palmer was brought down in the box with the Blues 4-0 up, Madueke grabbed the ball and appeared insistent he take the spot kick. Jackson was not happy about this and proceeded to argue with his teammate, wanting to take the penalty himself.
It was a messy situation which did not paint the pair in a good light. In the end, captain Conor Gallagher came over and separated the two players before giving the ball to Palmer, who sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way to score his fourth on the night.
Perhaps a little harsh on Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi considering they did not play against Everton, but the fact the team won 6-0 without them on the pitch is a little telling. The duo were both ruled out of the game with injury so Pochettino instead played Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva at centre-back and Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher in centre-midfield.
Both Chalobah and Silva looked solid at the heart of defence, while Caicedo and Gallagher complimented each other wonderfully. In truth, Fernandez and Disasi were not missed on Monday night.
That may be more down to the lack of quality Everton showed but it was still a great team performance from Chelsea. Pochettino now has a tough decision to make ahead of the weekend in regards to his team selection.
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