It was not a statement performance to launch a new season under ambitious new owners yet Chelsea found rare encouragement at Everton nevertheless. “Maybe it was not the most exciting game in the history of the Premier League,” Thomas Tuchel massively under-stated; “But a win is a win is a win.” A potentially significant one, given Chelsea’s recent toils at Goodison Park.
Jorginho’s penalty late in first-half stoppage time ended a run of four successive league defeats for Chelsea at Goodison. Tuchel’s team were dogged not decisive, solid not spectacular, and lacking in penetration despite a lively contribution from Raheem Sterling.
