Everton manager David Moyes during the Everton FC v AS Roma Pre-Season friendly match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom on 9 August 2025 / Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Chelsea, looks on during the Sydney Super Cup Finals match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at the Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia on 1 August 2026
Everton and Chelsea clashed at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.Imago

Merlin Rohl takes breath away: Three Everton things you may have missed vs Chelsea

Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 in a full-blooded affair at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as Pedro Neto's double kept the momentum going for the visitors.

The result gave Chelsea a first Premier League clean sheet in nine months and was Everton's first league defeat this season. Chelsea go fourth, with Everton sitting sixth, before the rest of the weekend's games.

After just 35 minutes, five players had seen their names taken by referee Paul Tierney in what was a Premier League classic on Saturday, 17 October.

The game had it all. A brace from Pedro Neto, a serious injury for Emi Martinez, some controversial calls, and a frantic finish.

David Moyes will feel disappointed that his team failed to come away with anything at home, but with a limited bench, his couldn't really change much.

The result sees Xabi Alonso's side leapfrogging the Toffees into fourth, while Moyes's side have fallen to sixth before the rest of the weekend's fixtures.

While it is a frustrating result at home, the Scot will feel that he's learned about his team and the opposition, things he can take forward in the season.

James Tarkowski can be a creative force

All the best defenders are able to bring the ball from defence, and Jarrad Branthwaite is usually the one known for that on Merseyside.

His centre-back partner, James Tarkowski, showed Moyes exactly what he's capable of further up the pitch on this occasion, going on multiple maey runs against Chelsea.

It was too much for Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer to handle, and with one chance created [FotMob], the Toffees have yet another creative force.

Everton manager David Moyes during the Everton FC v AS Roma Pre-Season friendly match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom on 9 August 2025 / Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Chelsea, looks on during the Sydney Super Cup Finals match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at the Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia on 1 August 2026
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Everton manager David Moyes during the Everton FC v AS Roma Pre-Season friendly match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom on 9 August 2025 / Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Chelsea, looks on during the Sydney Super Cup Finals match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at the Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia on 1 August 2026
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Cole Palmer gets special treatment

When the cards were flying out of Paul Tierney's pocket, it was absolutely baffling not to see Palmer's name taken at the Hill Dickinson.

Early in the first half, he booted the ball into the air after the referee's whistle had gone, and even after multiple moments of dissent, he remained unpunished.

The captain finally talked his way into the referee's bad books in the 65th minute, and he should have seen another come his way after a late lunge on Branthwaite.

Merlin Rohl is a true speed machine

Merlin Rohl has gone from zero to hero in the space of a few months on Merseyside, and is starting to establish himself after securing his fourth league start of the campaign.

Starting out on the right wing, he dropped back to right-back, and it was an impressive display from the 24-year-old at the Hill Dickinson.

He covered 10.9km, had a hugely impressive top speed of 35.1km (the second quickest of any player on both sides behind only Neto), had one shot on target, attempted three dribbles, made four clearances, won 50 per cent of his eight duels, and was absolutely everywhere [FotMob].

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