Everton had no answer for Chelsea on Saturday as Xabi Alonso’s side picked up a second successive Premier League win, and David Moyes admits one player derailed his side tactically.

Pedro Neto scored twice as Chelsea secured all three points, but also their first clean sheet in the Premier League. The Blues had not kept a clean sheet in the league since Liam Rosenior’s third game in charge.

Everton offered very little in the final third, even if Emi Martinez was forced off with a broken jaw. The Argentine has since had surgery, but Everton need to operate on their attack if they are to be successful.

Speaking after the match, however, David Moyes has named one Chelsea player that surprised Everton tactically before a ball had even been kicked. He was expecting Pep Chavarria to start on the left flank.

David Moyes admits Pep Chavarria decision on Saturday

Moyes started Merlin Rohl on the right of Everton’s attack, but the German struggled and was the first Everton player substituted. The Toffees were expecting to come up against summer signing Chavarria.

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But instead, they got Netherlands international Jorrel Hato, and that difference in player might have been the reason for Chelsea getting in down the left and Hato finding Neto to score the first of his two goals.

“We actually expected Pep Chavarria to play at left-back. We thought with his attacking work, and what was required, the person who we thought would be best to work would be Merlin Rohl in that position.”

Who starts for Chelsea now – Jorrel Hato or Pep Chavarria?

Hato and Chavarria will now be both vying to start for Chelsea in what is arguably the club’s biggest week of the season. A fourth-round Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool, before facing Man United next weekend.

Chelsea need to be at their absolute best in both games to stand a chance of picking up two wins. So, who starts at left-back? Hato has endured a poor start to 2026-27, even called “terrible” by Paul Merson.

Hato was excellent on Saturday and there is no doubt he can get up and down the flank. But in this Alonso side, Chavarria is the better option as long as there is cover behind him. It’s more balanced.

If Alonso wants his side to be just as attacking on the left, as they are with Pedro Neto on the right, then Chavarria is the better choice. If he needs to be solid, away from home, Hato has more chance of playing.