
Chelsea boosted their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they edged Everton 1-0 on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
Nicolas Jackson ended his 13-game goalless run by netting from 20 yards.
Beto was dispossessed in the centre circle, which allowed Enzo Fernandez to deliver a precise pass to Jackson, who drilled a brilliant effort into the bottom corner.
That strike proved decisive in sealing maximum points for Enzo Maresca’s side, with the victory moving them to fifth in the Premier League standings.
They are now a point behind Manchester City but share the same tally with Nottingham Forest, who have a game in hand.
Despite the win, Chelsea were not entirely convincing with their performance against Everton this weekend.
The Blues were the better side in the first-half, but the visitors threatened to equalise in the final stages of the match.
Beto unleashed a strike from distance, but goalkeeper Robert Sanchez got down well to save.
The Spaniard then denied Dwight McNeil with another brilliant save, playing a crucial role in his team’s victory.
Chelsea face a tough battle to secure a top-five finish this season, with City, Newcastle United, Forest and Aston Villa all competing for the three spots below Liverpool and Arsenal.
Maresca’s side have a challenging fixtures’ list, with the West Londoners set to meet Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Forest in their last four matches of the season.
Chelsea made an excellent start to the 2024-25 campaign under Maresca, and they were regarded as title contenders in December.
However, their form drastically dipped in the new year as they struggled to put together a consistent run.
The Blues suffered two damaging draws against Brentford and Ipswich Town earlier this month, but have bounced back to pick successive wins over Fulham and Everton.
