Everton lost ground in the race for a Champions League spot against Chelsea.

The hosts took the lead in the 31st minute, when Marcos Alonso’s fierce cross was turned home by Kai Havertz, aided by a Ben Godfrey deflection.

Jorginho inflicted further misery on the Blues just past the hour mark from the penalty spot after Havertz had been brought down by Jordan Pickford.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side dropped to sixth in the Premier League table with this defeat and now sit four points behind Chelsea despite having a game in-hand.

Here were the key talking points from Stamford Bridge:

Three-game week takes its toll

 

Going overboard in criticising Everton’s performance here would be unfair.

More than anything, they just looked tired. That much should probably have been expected after their third Premier League game in the last seven days.

Carlo Ancelotti was also hardly spoilt for choice with Abdoulaye Doucoure joining Coleman, Yerry Mina, James Rodriguez on a growing injury list.

As a result, his full compliment of nine substitutes included two young goalkeepers and four outfield members of Everton’s under-23 side.

Truthfully, the efforts that a threadbare squad put in to the gritty wins over Southampton and West Brom left them short of gas at Stamford Bridge.

Passes were often under-cooked and sluggish, while a speculative Andre Gomes strike just shy of half-time was their first – and only – shot on target.

In that respect Ancelotti may be relieved that, barring an extended FA Cup run, Everton may only have two remaining midweek games this season.

An easing up of the schedule should be hugely beneficial if the Italian is to squeeze every last drop out of his team in their quest to reach the top four.

Iwobi toils in unfamiliar role

 

As such an attack-minded player, it’s easy to have sympathy for Alex Iwobi after being deployed as an auxiliary right wing-back in the capital.

The Nigeria international has only played there once before for Everton, in November’s win at Fulham, when he shone and look liberated in the new role.

Unlike the Cottagers that day, however, Chelsea went for their visitors’ throats from the start which meant a greater defensive workload for Iwobi.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, he struggled to get to grips with his responsibilities, and was arguably at fault for their opening goal midway through the first half.

Iwobi was not helped by Mason Holgate’s abenteeism, but appeared oblivious to the run of Marcos Alonso in behind him to assist Kai Havertz unmarked.

Ancelotti opted for a similar back five setup in Everton’s win over Liverpool a fortnight ago, albeit with the now-injured Seamus Coleman stewarding.

By contrast, this game accentuated Iwobi’s defensive deficiencies, and showed why, long-term, this probably shouldn’t be the position for him.

No new lessons to learn

 

This game marked the one-year anniversary of Everton’s previous visit to the Bridge: a gutless 4-0 defeat which remains Ancelotti’s biggest defeat to date.

They were nowhere near as feeble this time around, but it may irk their manager how old, bad habits came back to rear an ugly head in West London.

Quite what Ancelotti will have learnt about his squad from this loss that he wasn’t already full aware about is difficult to ascertain at this stage.

It was already apparent that Everton need a new right-back this summer with their lack of present down that flank against Chelsea being further evidence.

Likewise, it was clear that their midfield without Doucoure and Rodriguez looks soft and one-dimensional and aren’t quite good enough yet on the ball.

Chelsea surging into a lead meant Everton had to impose themselves more than they may have liked – yet their hosts still finished with 65% possession.

That Ancelotti’s side did so little with their paltry share of the ball felt indicative of how far they still have to go as a creative force in these games.

In short, no new problems of Everton’s presented themselves here. Instead, these same shortcomings which have let them down before did so again.

War wounded, but Blues’ fight goes on

 

Much as this may feel like a galling and potentially costly loss for Everton against a top four rival, it’s important to keep sight of the bigger picture.

To be four points off a Champions League place with 11 games remaining and another still in-hand is surely better than many supporters will have expected.

This always looked an arduous task, not because of a hectic schedule, being win-less at Chelsea since 1994, or even failing to score there in five years.

Under Thomas Tuchel, the Londoners have become reborn. In 11 games, their new boss is still yet to lose and his side outclassed Everton at times.

Rather, it is the upcoming set of top-flight games which may define how this season will ultimately pan out for the Toffees than a half-expected reversal.

Burnley and Crystal Palace travel to Goodison Park before a trip to Brighton; matches which, on paper at least, are considered to be relative bankers.

As Newcastle and Fulham proved, though, that brings its own pitfalls.

Given they finished 12th last season, the success of this campaign does not hinge solely on whether or not they qualify for the Champions League.

It is still another disappointing return to the Bridge for Ancelotti, but definitely far less to be concerned about than in Everton’s recent home defeats at least.