Cole Palmer ended his goal drought as Chelsea snapped a four-game winless run with a deserved 2-0 victory over an in-form Everton side at Stamford Bridge.
The 23-year-old forward, still managing a groin injury that sidelined him for more than two months, opened the scoring after 21 minutes with England manager Thomas Tuchel watching on.
Malo Gusto, who supplied the assist, then doubled Chelsea’s advantage shortly before half-time.
Everton started brightly and controlled the opening exchanges, with Iliman Ndiaye testing Chelsea twice and James Garner also going close.
But Palmer settled the hosts after a difficult start to December that had seen defeats to Leeds and Atalanta, along with a draw at Bournemouth.
Played in behind the defence by Gusto, Palmer took a composed first touch before guiding a low finish past Jordan Pickford at the near post. From that moment, Chelsea grew in confidence and began to take control.
Alejandro Garnacho squandered several opportunities, including a glaring miss when he shot wide from close range after capitalising on a poor back pass from substitute Carlos Alcaraz.
This came shortly after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was forced off injured against his former club.
Both Enzo Fernandez and Jack Grealish had chances before Chelsea struck again just before the interval, Gusto reacting quickest to turn in Pedro Neto’s cross.
Everton pushed in the second half but lacked cutting edge.
Garnacho scooped a close-range effort over the bar before being replaced by Jamie Gittens, while Grealish saw a header saved and later volleyed wide when well placed.
Ndiaye struck the post late on and Trevoh Chalobah produced a crucial block to deny Alcaraz inside the area.
Chelsea’s superior finishing proved decisive as they strengthened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League.
Everton remain eighth, having played a game more than most of the sides around them.
This was a significant moment for Palmer, whose goal drought had stretched to 87 days and whose last Premier League strike came back in September.
It was only his seventh appearance of the season, following a lengthy absence and two understandably subdued performances on his return.
His recurring groin problem still requires careful management, with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca revealing pre-match that Palmer is among the players unable to start twice in the same week.
That made this contribution all the more important, particularly with Tuchel in attendance as he assesses potential World Cup contenders.
Competition for attacking midfield roles remains fierce, with Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze all staking claims.
Palmer must now maximise every opportunity to boost both Chelsea’s ambitions and his international prospects.
Everton delivered a competitive performance but signs are emerging that their squad depth could hinder a sustained push for European qualification.
Thierno Barry and substitute Beto offered little threat, while Grealish was wasteful and Ndiaye struggled to find clear openings.
The biggest blow was the injury to Dewsbury-Hall, who has been outstanding since his £27m summer move and is among the club’s leading contributors for goals and assists.
His withdrawal with a suspected hamstring injury came just minutes before Chelsea opened the scoring, and replacement Carlos Alcaraz looked vulnerable.
With Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye also set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, Everton could be without key figures during a demanding period.
David Moyes has been open about targeting European qualification, but with limited depth and the risk of further injuries, maintaining that challenge will be a significant test.
