Chelsea finally halted their difficult December with a vital and composed 2–0 victory over in-form Everton at Stamford Bridge — a result that lifts Enzo Maresca’s side back into the Premier League’s top four and restores a degree of calm after weeks of frustration.

Everton arrived seventh in the table and buoyed by four wins in their previous five matches, but goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto ensured Chelsea avoided extending their four-game winless run. The display was not vintage, but it was professional, disciplined and exactly what Maresca’s team needed.

Here are three things we learned from the win — including the emergence of a new player Maresca may find impossible to drop.

This match was ultimately about one thing: getting three points.

Chelsea’s level of performance has dipped in recent weeks, but the lack of wins had caused even greater anxiety. Maresca joked on Friday that his November Manager of the Month award might not “be coming back” to him this month — and the results had backed that up.

Everton created chances of their own and on another day might have made life far more difficult. But Chelsea’s two first-half goals gave them control, and from that moment onwards they managed the game with maturity — slowing the tempo, defending in structure and showing calmness in possession.

It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t overwhelming. But it was a performance of control and pragmatism — the kind that top-four contenders need during rough patches.

Maresca’s warning on Friday was clear: Cole Palmer cannot handle three full matches a week, and Chelsea will manage him cautiously after two months out. He was “completely bad” physically after just 21 minutes against Leeds — worrying words for supporters desperate to see him back.

But fit enough to start against Everton, Palmer immediately reminded everyone of his importance.

He orchestrated Chelsea’s opener, instructing Fofana to play wide to Gusto before darting between the lines. Gusto returned the favour with a smart pass, and Palmer — ice-cold as ever — deceived Jordan Pickford with a disguised finish at the near post.

Out came the Cold Palmer celebration, almost as if he’d never been away.

Palmer lasted 57 minutes before being replaced by Andrey Santos, with Chelsea taking no risks. His creativity, movement and unpredictability remain irreplaceable — and his return could be the difference between Chelsea simply staying afloat and pushing Arsenal and Manchester City again.

If Palmer is Chelsea’s magician, Malo Gusto is rapidly becoming their ironman.

His performance against Everton was arguably his best of the campaign — and one of the most complete displays of his Chelsea career. Already buoyed by scoring his first senior goal just before the November international break, he produced another outstanding outing filled with energy, precision and aggression.

Gusto contributed directly to both goals:

With Reece James once again deployed in midfield due to Moisés Caicedo’s suspension, Gusto took full ownership of the right flank — pressing high, breaking up play, and repeatedly launching Chelsea forward. His work rate never dipped, even as the game slowed in the second half.

This was more than a good performance. It was the performance of a player who looks undroppable in Maresca’s system.

In our view, some may argue that Everton could have punished Chelsea on another day, the nuance is that Chelsea finally found a blend of control, maturity and clinical moments — qualities missing during their earlier winless stretch.

Gusto has emerged as the biggest development: his blend of defensive reliability and offensive surprise is rare. A fair counterpoint is that competition intensifies when Caicedo returns and Reece James back to his position, but Gusto’s performance demands a starting role somewhere in Maresca’s XI.

Chelsea travel into the festive schedule with renewed confidence and a strengthened top-four position. With Palmer returning to fitness and Gusto in peak form, Maresca finally has momentum on his side again.

👉 Chelsea fans — is Gusto now first-choice no matter who is fit?