A Weekly Blog on All Things Chelsea

Two goals from Frank Lampard helped Chelsea to end Everton’s unbeaten home record on a cold Sunday afternoon at Goodison Park. A fourth successive league win means that Chelsea will end 2012 just four points off second place in the Barclays Premier League with a game in hand over Manchester City. While it did not have the control or swagger of recent performances, the first league win at Goodison since 2008 means a producitve festive period for the Blues, and a renewed sense of optimism heading into the new year.

Rafa Benitez’s return to Merseyside was always going to be a tough game, against a team described as a “small club” during his time at Liverpool, and the chance to finish the year above both Benitez and Liverpool was a real one. It seemed even more likely when they took the lead after only 63 seconds. Phil Jagielka’s right wing cross was headed onto the post by Victor Anichebe with the rebound fired home by Steven Pienaar, whose run into the box had not been tracked by either Lampard or David Luiz.

This set the tone for the first 30 minutes of the game, with Everton playing at a much higher tempo and outworking the visitors in midfield. They could have had a two goal advantage in the first ten minutes, but Nikica Jelavic’s free kick hit the post with Petr Cech beaten. The Czech keeper was also on hand to keep out a drive from Leon Osman before Chelsea had even fashioned a chance in the game. When that chance did come it fell to Juan Mata, who for once was not able to finish. The Spaniard had been crowded out of the game in the opening half hour, but as the first half drew to a close he began to become more involved in the game, linking well with Ramires down the right as well as with Fernando Torres.

It was these two who created the opening from which Chelsea equalised just before half time, with good play from Torres on the right wing gave Ramires space for a cross which was met by a powerful header by Lampard for his fifth goal of this season, and his 191st of his Chelsea career.

Despite the withdrawl of Cech at half time with an ankle injury, bringing his 400th Chelsea game to an early end, the second half was a much more balanced game, though no less intense. Chelsea created more good opportunities, with Torres first failing to control and excellent Luiz chip over the defence then being caught narrowly offside after link up play by Mata and Hazard. He was not the only striker failing to break the offside trap, as Jelavic struggled to do so at the other end, much as Holt and Benteke have in recent games. There was still a threat in the air though, and Jelavic hit the woodwork for a second time midway through the half, but while his header beat Turnbull it could not beat the crossbar.

The improved interplay from the Chelsea midfielders meant that they were looking more dangerous themselves and forcing the Everton defence back, but there was nothing the Toffees could do about Lampard’s second goal. The increasingly influential Mata found space to cross to Hazard, and while his knockdown header was half cleared, and Mata’s followup shot saved there were no defenders left standing to beat Lampard to the rebound. His second of the game took him within one goal of Kerry Dixon in second on the clubs all time goalscoring list.

Jelavic had his final chance of the game with only a minute left of stoppage time when a cross fell to him in the six yard box, but he couldn’t find a finish and Turnbull was able to gather. While this was not one of the most expansive performances, the hard fought nature of the win against a very tough team will have pleased Benitez, though the rumours about the future of the goalscorer will linger on. In the 11 games Lampard has played in the league this season, Chelsea have won 10. He has not featured in eight games, and in those Chelsea have picked up only one victory. He might not be surplus to requirements just yet.