Jackson’s goal secures an important win at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea beat Everton 1-0 on Saturday in the 34th round of the Premier League, thanks to a first-half goal by Nicolas Jackson. This victory lifts Chelsea to fourth place with 60 points, just ahead of Nottingham Forest and narrowly behind Manchester City.
Everton, meanwhile, remain 13th on 38 points, tied with Manchester United and Wolverhampton on goal difference.
A Bright start from Chelsea
From the kickoff, Chelsea showed real attacking intent. Cole Palmer nearly opened the scoring within minutes, only for James Garner to make a crucial last-ditch clearance. Pedro Neto soon threatened as well, whipping a dangerous ball into the area, but it was just out of reach for Noni Madueke.
Chelsea kept pushing, and Madueke tested Jordan Pickford with a fierce shot from the edge of the box, but the Everton goalkeeper made an outstanding save. Marc Cucurella had another chance when Pickford fumbled a clearance, but the defender’s header narrowly missed the post.
Jackson breaks the deadlock
Chelsea’s pressure finally paid off in the 27th minute. After Beto lost possession in a dangerous area, Enzo Fernandez pounced and fed Nicolas Jackson, who finished clinically with a low drive into the corner to make it 1-0.
Everton tried to respond before halftime, with Mykolenko finding Abdoulaye Doucoure unmarked inside the box. However, Doucoure’s header lacked power and was easily gathered.
Everton fight back, but Chelsea hold firm
The second half saw Chelsea maintain control. Madueke came close again after a sharp move but was denied by Pickford’s quick reactions. Nicolas Jackson nearly doubled his tally after intercepting a poor back pass, but Pickford rescued Everton once more.
Chelsea kept creating opportunities from set pieces, but Everton’s defense, especially Jarrad Branthwaite, held firm.
Everton had two late chances to salvage a draw. Jack Harrison set up Beto, whose powerful strike forced an excellent save from Robert Sanchez. Idrissa Gueye also tested the Chelsea keeper from distance, but Sanchez was equal to it.
Chelsea thought they had a second goal when Jackson tapped home a rebound, but VAR disallowed it for offside. In the dying minutes, Dwight McNeil came close for Everton, but Sanchez again stood tall to protect the lead.
Chelsea beat Everton to keep chasing the Champions League spot
In a crucial victory for their top-four ambitions, Chelsea beat Everton with a disciplined and dominant performance at Stamford Bridge. Nicolas Jackson’s goal made the difference, as Chelsea continue to battle for Champions League qualification while Everton’s struggles persist.
