Chelsea are up to fourth in the Premier League and Nicolas Jackson scored for the first time in 2025. Today was a good day for Enzo Maresca’s side.
With Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend, Chelsea seized the advantage in the race for the five Champions League spots with a vital 1-0 win against Everton.
Maresca opted to watch from the back of the press box at Stamford Bridge as he served a one-match ban after receiving a third yellow card of the season in last week’s 2-1 win at Fulham, with assistant Willy Caballero patrolling the touchline in his absence — but overall, he will have liked what he saw.
Liam Twomey dissects the key talking points…
What does this win mean for Chelsea?
Despite coming from behind to beat Fulham in thrilling fashion at Craven Cottage last weekend, Chelsea began Saturday in sixth place, knowing that their final four Premier League opponents are Liverpool (home), Newcastle United (away), Manchester United (home) and Nottingham Forest (away). Gulp.
Taking care of business at home against a stubborn Everton was a must, especially since Chelsea’s away support gave Maresca a preview of the likely reaction to another setback at half-time of the Fulham game. Choosing to sit in the press box, the Italian was close enough to hear any rumbles of discontent.
In the end, the first half was grumble-free as Chelsea’s physical intensity matched the stakes of the occasion, harnessing the crowd’s energy. It also helped that the balance of Maresca’s attack looked the best it has in weeks, with Pedro Neto a constant threat on the right and Noni Madueke adapting well to his role on the left.
Chelsea never seem to win comfortably and were forced to show their grit as Everton pushed for an equaliser in the second half, with Robert Sanchez coming up with an excellent save after a weak punch, but even that should be encouraging as the focus turns towards the decisive final month of the campaign.
Their path to Champions League qualification remains daunting, particularly if Cole Palmer’s individual struggles persist, but Chelsea have held on to the hope they found with their Fulham fightback, and back-to-back victories at least provide a platform for them to continue to raise their level in May.
Chelsea’s remaining Premier League fixtures: Liverpool (home) May 4, Newcastle (away) May 11, Manchester United (home) May 16, Nottingham Forest (away) May 25.
Nicolas Jackson, 1-0
Signs that this might be a good Jackson day were there well before his excellent strike to break the deadlock in the 27th minute.
Jackson’s contribution at the point of Chelsea’s attack is always much greater than his ability to convert chances. That skill set can feel underwhelming when he goes four months without finding the net, but even during his barren stretches, he helps the functioning of Maresca’s team in almost every phase of play.
Out of possession, Jackson’s relentless but intelligent pressing sets the tone, forcing opponents into the passes — and often the errors — that Chelsea want them to make. When his team have the ball, he is always in motion, always asking questions with his movement and always a threat to ignite an attack with his silky link-up play.
Both of these elements were highlighted by his first goal of 2025. Having helped coerce Jordan Pickford into a longer pass, Jackson darted back to ensure he was onside when Enzo Fernandez looked up after Trevoh Chalobah had won possession.
Jackson’s finish on the turn was swift, decisive and hugely encouraging for Maresca, who surely needs more production from his attackers, including Palmer, to deliver a top-five finish in the Premier League.
Everton’s screening of the passing angles into Romeo Lavia, Palmer and Moises Caicedo made Jackson’s ability to drop deep and present himself for low passes out of defence even more important, and he did so impressively — even when harassed by the bigger Jake O’Brien and Jarrad Branthwaite.
Jackson will remain a frustrating player for Chelsea supporters — one half-hearted attempt to beat Pickford to an underhit O’Brien backpass drew groans and he was offside when putting a rebound into the net late on — but he is vital to this team.
Welcome back, Romeo Lavia
It took less than a minute for Lavia to demonstrate the unique impact he has on this Chelsea team.
Receiving the ball around the halfway line, the midfielder slipped a deft pass forward into the feet of Caicedo, who had ‘inverted’ from right-back into the space ahead of him. Caicedo had the time to look up and hit a quick pass towards Jackson running in behind Everton’s defence. The attempt was wayward but the intent was clear.
Lavia’s first instinct is always to play forward, and his ability to rattle passes through tight windows into the feet of more advanced team-mates is unsurpassed in this Chelsea squad.
Chelsea’s mindset to attack quickly wherever possible went beyond Lavia, but on several occasions in the first half, his decisive passes (illustrated in his player dashboard below) created dangerous situations that might easily have led to greater danger with a little more precision from his colleagues in the final third.
Maresca’s line-up against Everton featured nine of the starters that produced Chelsea’s best home performance of the season in a 3-0 win against Aston Villa on December 1, with only the injured Wesley Fofana and Jadon Sancho absent (Chalobah and Madueke started in their places). Lavia, starting his first game since January 14, was a big part of that performance too.
That Lavia has only been fit enough to start nine times for Chelsea in the Premier League this season is a small footballing tragedy. After 66 minutes against Everton, Maresca will desperately hope the Belgian’s availability can stretch to meaningful minutes in the final four matches of the campaign.
What did Enzo Maresca say after the game?
Speaking to reporters after the match, Maresca admitted Palmer and Jackson’s form has dipped this season, but that he has full faith in his attackers: “We don’t have doubt with the ones that, for part of the season, struggled a little bit, like Nico, like Cole, like Robert (Sanchez). It’s the moment you have to support them even more.
“Cole’s performance today was very good. Sacrificed (for the team), he was pressing well. It’s just a matter of time for all of them.”
Chelsea’s head coach is also looking forward to his return to the touchline next week. “It’s the worst,” Maresca said when asked about his view from the press box. “A disaster. I prefer to be on the bench. You want to say something but nobody can hear.
“I was in contact with the bench. Next to me, a member of the coaching staff would spread the message with the ones on the bench.”
What next for Chelsea?
Thursday, May 1: Djurgarden (Home), Conference League semi-final first leg, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
(Top photo: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
