Everton 3 Chelsea 1
Steven Naismith’s hat-trick condemned Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time in more than three years as the Blues’ desperate start to the season continued.
Everton exposed Chelsea’s lack of confidence at the back with two goals in six first-half minutes, Naismith heading in from Brendan Galloway’s cross and then drilling home from the edge of the box.
Nemanja Matic pulled a goal back with a terrific effort from 35 yards and skipper John Terry missed a chance to equalise before the break when he headed over.
Asmir Begovic twice denied ex-Blues striker Romelu Lukaku and although Chelsea enjoyed a lot of possession and territory in the second half, Naismith killed the match off with eight minutes to play.
The defeat will ask more questions about a Blues defence which has conceded 12 goals in the first five league games.
Naismith, who has scored more goals against Chelsea than any other Premier League side, came on after eight minutes when Muhamed Besic limped off with a foot injury.
And on 16 minutes, the Scotland forward maintained his fine record against the Blues when he slipped the ball to Galloway and continued his run to head home the left-back’s cross.
Begovic, standing in for the injured Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois, then denied Arouna Kone and James McCarthy but he could not keep out Naismith’s second, drilled in from the edge of the box.
Matic’s bolt from the blue, a swerving shot which beat Tim Howard in the home goal, reduced the arrears and Chelsea could have been level shortly afterwards but Terry – returning to the side after suspension – nodded Eden Hazard’s cross over.
In the second half, Begovic came to the fore with two saves from Lukaku shot while Chelsea brought on Kenedy, Radamel Falcao and Willian in an attempt to freshen up the attack.
It worked to a degree, with Everton pinned back in their own half for spells, but the visitors failed to really stretch Tim Howard.
And a brilliant counter-attack punished Chelsea as Ross Barkley laid the ball into Naismith, who finished crisply from an angle.
This post was last modified on 13/09/2015
