By admin 
Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal of 2025 as Chelsea ran out narrow 1-0 winners over Everton at Stamford Bridge to keep their hopes of a top-five finish firmly alive.
The Senegal international struck a wonderful finish – his first in 13 games since returning from injury – shortly before the half-hour mark to give Enzo Maresca’s side all three points to move up to fourth in the Premier League.
Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal pulled off a couple of decent saves in the second half as the hosts withstood a late surge from the Toffees.
But Maresca’s men held on and will go into their Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg against Djurgarden on Thursday off the back of a hard-fought, and important, league win.
For David Moyes’ side, the result leaves them in 13th with 38 points but having played a game more than both Wolves and Manchester United, who are on the same number of points.
A crucial victory! ✊#CFC | #CHEEVE pic.twitter.com/U4OpmPJ8m7
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 26, 2025
How the action unfolded
It was a largely uneventful opening quarter of an hour in the west London sun, but Pickford had to be alert to keep out a curling goal-bound effort from Noni Madueke.
Maresca, absent from the dugout while serving a touchline ban, could be found at the back of the press box. And the Chelsea boss would likely have had more than a few positive words to describe the finish for his side’s opening goal.
On 27-minutes, Beto was dispossessed close to the halfway line by Enzo Fernandez. The Argentinian immediately released Jackson, and the Senegal international drilled the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
It was a sublime goal and Jackson’s first in a Chelsea shirt in 2025 after a 13-game goal drought that came following recovery from a hamstring injury.
What a strike that is 👏
Nicolas Jackson fires Chelsea ahead just before the half-hour mark!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/aEIdJwiM0m
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 26, 2025
It proved to be the last real action of a half in which the hosts were largely comfortable and the visitors rarely threatened.
After the break, Everton started to make inroads as they went in search of an equaliser. A Jack Harrison flick found its way to Beto, and the Toffees front man unleashed a powerful low shot from just inside the box that required from Robert Sanchez at full stretch.
Pickford was then called upon to make an impressive stop of his own, saving again from Madueke, whose low shot looked destined for the bottom corner. But the Everton captain palmed away to keep his side in the contest.
It set up a nervy last few minutes for the home side, with the knowledge that three points would be massive in the hunt for a Champions League place.
Jackson turned in the rebound from Marc Cucurella’s initial shot from distance but he was well offside.
At the other end, Sanchez saved expertly when he tipped away Dwight McNeil’s effort from a Carlos Alcaraz cross as the hosts held on for a crucial victory.