Chelsea delivered a dominant second-half performance to secure a crucial 2-0 Premier League victory at Everton on Saturday, ending the Toffees’ unbeaten start to the season while claiming their first clean sheet in nine months.

Pedro Neto’s clinical brace proved decisive at Hill Dickinson Stadium as Xabi Alonso’s side leapfrogged their hosts into the top four.

The Portuguese winger struck just 43 seconds after the restart and sealed the points in the 90th minute, giving Chelsea a first win on Merseyside since August 2022 and moving them onto 13 points from seven games.

The clean sheet was the standout achievement for the Blues. Chelsea had gone 23 Premier League matches without shutting out an opponent since a 2-0 win over Brentford in January.

That defensive resolve held firm even after goalkeeper Emi Martinez was stretchered off with a serious-looking head injury following a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite.

Debutant Mike Penders came on and was rarely troubled as Everton’s threat faded.

Everton, under David Moyes, had started the campaign strongly with two wins and four draws.

Their first defeat of the 2026/27 season arrived against a Chelsea side that grew in authority after a scrappy first half. Moises Caicedo, captaining in place of the injured Reece James, rattled the crossbar with a thunderous volley, while Maxence Lacroix saw a header cleared off the line.

Chelsea emerged transformed after the interval. Neto finished calmly after fine work down the left involving Jorrel Hato, silencing the home crowd.

The visitors controlled the tempo thereafter, and when a late free-kick caused chaos in the Everton box, Neto was on hand to roll home his second and first Premier League brace in 187 appearances.

The result leaves Chelsea fourth, level on points with Brighton but ahead on goal difference in the early Champions League places, while Everton drop to sixth on 10 points.

Alonso’s men showed the maturity and defensive organisation that had been missing for much of the season, turning a potentially awkward away fixture into a statement win.

Neto later dedicated the clean sheet to the injured Martinez, underlining the squad’s collective spirit. For Everton, the loss ends a promising unbeaten run and raises questions about converting solid form into consistent results.

Chelsea, meanwhile, head into the next round of fixtures with renewed confidence, a precious clean sheet under their belts, and clear evidence that Alonso’s project is gathering momentum.

This hard-fought away victory ticks every box for a side looking to establish itself among the early-season contenders.

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