Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, and Pedro Neto scored both goals. Yet the image that will stay with most people who watched it is Emiliano Martinez lying motionless in the Chelsea penalty area before being carried off on a stretcher.
Neto strikes straight after the break
It was goalless at half-time. Neto changed that almost as soon as the second half began, putting Chelsea in front in the 46th minute, just 43 seconds after the restart according to Sky Sports. Everton spent the rest of the afternoon chasing the game.
The lead also came with a side order of argument. Sky Sports' Dean said Morgan Rogers should have been shown a straight red card for a tackle on Garner, and the debate was still running as the match went on. Chelsea stayed at eleven.
Martinez and Branthwaite clash in the box
The game stopped in the 66th minute. Martinez and Jarrad Branthwaite both went for the ball in the Chelsea area and collided heads. Branthwaite was soon sitting up and going through concussion protocols, and he got to his feet and appeared to be fine. Martinez did not move for a long time, medical staff worked on him for around five minutes, and a stretcher was brought on.
Mike Penders came on to replace him for his Premier League debut. At 21 years and 78 days he became the youngest goalkeeper ever to play in the Premier League for Chelsea. Martinez was reported to be taken straight to hospital, and there was no official update on his condition at the time of writing. Jordan Pickford walked to the other end of the pitch to check on his opposite number, a small gesture of solidarity that the live reports picked up.
Everton push, Neto finishes it
After the lengthy stoppage Everton took control of possession. Jack Grealish and Harrison Armstrong made way for Christian Norgaard, who made his Everton Premier League debut, and Brennan Johnson. Norgaard was booked soon after coming on for a foul on Cole Palmer. Palmer then tried a first-time effort from distance that flew wide of Pickford's post.
The second goal came in the first minute of stoppage time. Chelsea won a free-kick in a dangerous position, Jordan Henderson and Palmer discussed it at length, and the ball was eventually whipped into the wall. It bounced loose and Neto slid it into the bottom corner. Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves called it a great finish on TNT Sports, and Pickford had no chance.
What it means for Chelsea
The result keeps Chelsea moving through a run of awkward fixtures: Tottenham and Manchester United at home, with a Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool in between. They will face it without captain Reece James, who is out for three months after knee surgery, and striker Emmanuel Emegha was not fit enough to feature at Everton. Now there is a goalkeeper question as well, and it will depend on what the medical staff say about Martinez.
Match facts: Everton 0-2 Chelsea, Premier League, Hill Dickinson Stadium, Saturday 17 October 2026. Half-time 0-0. Goals: Neto 46', Neto 90+1'. Attendance 52,271.
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