Chelsea compound Everton's woes with six-goal hammering | OneFootball

Chelsea compounded Everton’s season-long woes with an emphatic six-goal hammering.

Scorers: Palmer 13′, 18, 29′ (PEN) 64′, Jackson 44′, Gilchrist 90′

Beto spurned a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock for the visitors as he sliced a shot wide from close range after Séamus Coleman’s delivery.

They were soon made to rue that miss as Cole Palmer produced a superb solo effort, nutmegging Jarrad Branthwaite before firing a low a shot past Jordan Pickford.

Barely five minutes later, the England international struck again by pouncing on Nicolas Jackson’s blocked effort to head home a second for the hosts.

Matters worsened for Sean Dyche’s side as a poor clearance from Pickford allowed Palmer to wrap up a hat-trick by lobbing the ball into an empty net.

Jackson added a fourth shortly before the interval with a shot on the turn from Marc Cucurella’s searching cross from the lefthand side.

The Toffees responded with a raft of changes early in the second half with James Garner, Amadou Onana and captain Séamus Colman all making way.

But things went from bad to worse as the hosts were awarded a penalty for Abdoulaye Doucouré’s challenge on Palmer, who added a fourth of the evening.

Academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist opened his account at the end of normal time by sweeping home a half-volley after Pickford parried Ben Chilwell’s initial delivery.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side moved ahead of Brighton into ninth place while Everton remain two points clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone in 16th.