Havertz is no false idol as he guides Blues to victory
JORGINHO’S penalty and a Ben Godfrey own goal secured Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League win over Everton that could prove pivotal to the Champions League qualification race.
Kai Havertz starred in a false-nine role at Stamford Bridge, with the Germany playmaker twice denied a goal before winning Chelsea’s penalty.
New boss Thomas Tuchel’s stunning start to life in west London extended to an 11th match without defeat and a ninth clean sheet.
Carlo Ancelotti pitched up at his old club with Everton buoyant from three straight victories, but the visitors were outmatched on the night.
Havertz – who has struggled to live up to his £71million price tag and was starting for the first time since January – was unlucky to have the opening goal taken away from him. The German’s cute diversion of Marcos Alonso’s cross looked to be heading for the corner of the goal, before Godfrey’s intervention sent the ball crashing into the other side of the net.
Alonso should have doubled the lead before half-time. Having raced on to Mateo Kovacic’s fine ball, his shot took a deflection and Pickford palmed the ball just around his far post.
Havertz had the ball in the net again shortly after the interval, a neat finish this time chalked off for handball.
Chelsea did not have to wait long for their second goal, though, and Havertz was involved once more. The former Bayer Leverkusen star latched on to Kovacic’s raking through-ball and was felled by Pickford.
Jorginho stepped up to the penalty spot and delivered his trademark skipstep finish, sending the frustrated Toffees keeper Pickford the wrong way.