Summer signing Alvaro Morata scored and got an assist as Chelsea comfortably beat Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues fielded an attacking line-up with Pedro and Cesc Fabregas starting and they were in cruise control in the first half with two goals made in Spain.
Cesc Fabregas scored the opener with a fine volley after trading passes with Morata. And the former Real Madrid striker made it 2-0 after heading in Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.
Alvaro Morata of Chelsea scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on August 27, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Ronald Koeman, who handed Gylfi Sigurdsson his Premier League debut, saw his side offer little as an attacking threat for 80 minutes perhaps due to playing their third game in a week.
The visitors improved slightly after the introduction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Muhamed Besic and Aaron Lennon with Ashley Williams having two chances late on.
But Antonio Conte’s side continued to dominate and held on to make it back-to-back victories in the league.
TALKING POINT
Why were the Toffees so toothless for most of the game? The fixtures have not been kind to them this week - playing Manchester City on Monday, travelling to Croatia three days later to face Hajduk Split followed by an away game against the reigning Premier League champions. Six players who played in Split started and the team looked jaded. Koeman went for a 3-4-2-1 formation but Wayne Rooney, Sigurdsson and Sandro Ramirez offered little to test the Blues defence.
Everton's Dutch manager Ronald Koeman looks on during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge in London on August 27, 2017
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Alvaro Morata (Chelsea): The striker looks the real deal in the Premier League. He has the work rate and is not prepared to just wait for the ball around the box. And he showcased his impressive movement and finishing for the Blues’ second goal with a well taken header after combining well with Fabregas for the opener.
Alvaro Morata of Chelsea celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on August 27, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
CHELSEA: Courtois 5, Azpilcueta 7, Luiz 6, Rudiger 5, Moses 5, Fabregas 8, Kante 5, Alonso 5, Willian 7, Morata 9, Pedro 7. Subs: Bakayoko 6, Batshuayi n/a, Christensen n/a
EVERTON: Pickford 6, Keane 7, Williams 6, Jagielka 6, Holgate 7, Sigurdsson 5, Davies 4, Gueye 5, Baines 5, Rooney 4, Sandro 4. Subs: Besic 5, Calvert-Lewin 6, Lennon n/a
KEY MOMENTS:
13’ - LUIZ EFFORT! The corner is played short, Willian's drive is blocked. It falls to Luiz whose long-range effort is comfortably saved.
27’ - GOAL FOR CHELSEA! Fabregas exquisitely volleys the ball into the bottom corner after Morata heads it onto him.
40’ - GOAL FOR CHELSEA! Morata heads in from ten yards from Azpilcueta's cross.
Chelsea's Spanish striker Alvaro Morata (C) scores his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge in London on August 27, 2017.
Image credit: Getty Images
59’ – PEDRO CHANCE! Pickford completely misses Azpilcueta's low cross and Holgate is forced to put the ball behind for a corner. Willian's delivery falls to Sandro, who gives it away and Pedro races into the box and fires a shot wide.
83’ - WILLIAMS CHANCE! Everton have a free-kick on the left flank after Calvert-Lewin is fouled by Luiz. The delivery falls to Williams who hooks in a shot from the edge of the box which nestles on the roof of the net.
88’ - GOOD SAVE! Lennon tees up Gueye whose drive is tipped over by Courtois.
KEY STATS
Alvaro Morata is the first player in Premier League history to both score and assist a goal in each of his first two home games.
Everton's run of 23 games without a victory at Chelsea is their longest away winless run at another club in the Premier League.
MATCH IN A TWEET
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