The victory in the Premier League ensures we sit in fourth place ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures, and moves us four points clear of the Toffees.

A game that had chances at both ends, it was the ruthless finishing of Enzo Maresca’s side that proved the difference and ensured we claimed the three points in SW6.

Palmer broke the deadlock midway through the first half, sweeping home a defence-splitting Gusto pass, before the Frenchman netted himself on the stroke of half-time after being picked out by Pedro Neto.

The visitors did threaten, with Iliman Ndiaye hitting the post, but we managed to see the game out and claim a big three points at the Bridge.

The selection

Enzo Maresca included Palmer in his XI to face the Toffees, with the forward making back-to-back starts for the first time in the Premier League this season.

Elsewhere, the Italian brought in Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana and Alejandro Garnancho into the starting XI from our midweek Champions League defeat to Atalanta, while James was again used in midfield with Moises Caicedo suspended.

Feeling each other out

The game took a while to spring into action, with the tactical battle of both sides evident. In fact, it wasn’t until the departure of former Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – who was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury 15 minutes in – that the tie sparked into life.

The midfielder’s withdrawal proved the springboard for a gluttony of half-chances, all coming for the visitors. First James Tarkowski flung the ball into the danger zone that we managed to scramble clear as Thierno Barry and Jake O’Brien lay in wait, before Rob Sanchez kept out a deflected Iliman Ndiaye shot.

The warning signs were there for the Blues, but we responded in the perfect fashion.

Palmer with the breakthrough

As it proved, we needed less than a minute to react to those Everton chances and it was Cole Palmer – who else – who ignited our spark and broke the deadlock on 21 minutes.

Skipper Reece James, playing alongside Enzo Fernandez in midfield, worked the ball onto Gusto and the right-back found Palmer’s run with a superb defence-splitting pass that the England international latched onto before sweeping past his national team compatriot, Jordan Pickford, into the far corner. Advantage Chelsea.

It lifted the crowd and the mood inside Stamford Bridge transpired from the stands down to the pitch, with Garnacho then presented with a great chance to double our lead just moments later.

A loose backpass from Carly Alcarez – the man who replaced Dewsbury- Hall – was spotted by Garnacho, but the Argentine could only slide the ball wide of the target after rounding Pickford. The former Manchester United wideman had previously slammed just over Pickford’s goal, as we looked for a second.

Everton fight back

As the half creeped towards its conclusion, the visitors stepped things up and threatened our goal on a number of occasions.

First, Tarkowski nodded just wide at the back post having connected with a deep James Garner centre, before Ndiaye then took a swing and a miss after being picked out by O’Brien’s pullback.

Five minutes before the break, a smart Everton move allowed Idrissa Gana Gueye to get in around the back of Marc Cucurella, but his low cross flashed across the six-yard box with, thankfully for us, no waiting Toffees attacker to take advantage.

And, finally, 90 seconds before the half-time whistle blew, a jinking run from Jack Grealish was ended abruptly by Sanchez, who blocked the Man City loanee’s effort with his shoulder.

Glee for Gusto

Despite that Everton pressure, there was still time for more Chelsea celebrations as we grabbed a second goal on the stroke of half-time.

Pedro Neto drove past the Everton defence before pulling the ball back from the byline, where Gusto ran onto the pass and fired home. 2-0 Chelsea and a goal scored at the perfect time, as we moved into the break with an appealing two-goal lead.

A lesson in being ruthless in the final third, would best sum up the first 45 minutes, with the Blues in charge in terms of the scoreline at least.

Strong start to the second half

Maresca’s men started the second period as we ended the first, attacking the Everton goal. A deep cross from Fernandez was met by Garnacho at the back post, but his effort slid just wide of the target.

Just before the hour-mark, Andrey Santos entered the fray in place of Palmer. Our No.10’s work for the day was done, having scored a goal and played his part with the intention to manage his minutes ahead of a busy period ahead.

The Brazilian had quite the impact, too. First, he made a fine challenge to thwart an Everton attack before getting a shot away on goal just before the 70-minute mark, although he couldn’t keep his effort down and blazed over Pickford’s bar.

Chances at both ends

While our two-goal lead was healthy, it certainly wasn’t all cut and dry for us and the visitors were still pushing for a way back into the game.

Beto was brought on to add a new dimension to their attack but it was Grealish who had a big opportunity as he connected with a cross at the back stick, but couldn’t find the target from close range.

It sparked the Blues into attack-mode, with first Enzo crowded out in our box as he looked to fire at goal and then James saw a free-kick superbly tipped over by Pickford.

Ndiaye went close to pulling a goal back for the Toffees with five minutes remaining, skipping past Fofana before firing a low shot beyond Sanchez that bounced back off the inside of the post. Then, moments later, Alcarez was denied by a goal-saving block from Chalobah.

However, with four minutes of injury time added on, that was the last time the visitors threatened and we were able to see the game out and secure a valuable three points. Up the Chels!

What’s next?

The Blues are in Carabao Cup action in three days’ time, with a trip to South Wales to take on Cardiff City on the agenda. Victory against the Bluebirds will see us progress to the two-legged semi-final stage.

The teams

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James (c), Enzo; Neto, Palmer (Andrey Santos 58), Garnacho (Gittens 65), Joao Pedro (Estevao Willian 80).
Unusedsubs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, Hato, Guiu
Scorers: Palmer 21, Gusto 45
Booked: Fofana

Everton: Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski (c), Keane, Mykolenko; Gana, Garner (Iroegbunam 84); Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall (Alcaraz 16), Grealish (Dibling 84); Barry (Beto 68).
Unused subs: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Aznou, Campbell.

Att: 39,522

Referee: Thomas Bramall