Chelsea’s Portuguese midfielder Pedro Neto (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, northwest England, on October 17, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP)
Pedro Neto’s double condemned Everton to a first defeat of the season as Chelsea won 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium despite the loss of goalkeeper Emi Martinez to a head injury.
Neto opened the scoring inside the first minute of the second half and secured the three points during the 11 added minutes following the lengthy treatment given to the stricken Martinez.
The Argentine international was involved in a sickening head clash with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and was taken to hospital.
“As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious. Right now he’s in the hospital doing the precautionary tests, so let’s see,” said Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso.
A first away win of the season lifts Chelsea above the Toffees into the top four, and the Blues also recorded a first clean sheet in 23 Premier League games.
“We needed one of these wins away. We have played very professional, very serious, looking solid. It is a very good win,” added Alonso.
“We need to get many more clean sheets for the rest of the of the league games, but for sure the first one of the season feels good, and now we need to keep going this way.”
After a slow start, a fiery-tempered encounter sparked into life when Everton midfielder Harrison Armstrong launched into a tackle on Josh Acheampong for the first of five first-half yellow cards.
