Chelsea's 2-0 victory against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium was tempered by an injury to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was taken to hospital for precautionary tests following a concussion. The Argentina international, signed from Aston Villa for £7.5m, was substituted after an eight-minute stoppage in the 68th minute when he collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while trying to claim a cross from a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall free-kick. Blues head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed that Martinez departed the stadium conscious, though the club faces an anxious wait regarding the severity of the head injury.
Before his departure, Martinez helped Chelsea register their first Premier League clean sheet in nine months and 23 matches, a drought dating back to a 2-0 victory over Brentford in January. Two goals from Pedro Neto propelled Alonso's side to victory, effectively answering critics following concerns over defensive frailty after the club had conceded a league-high 13 goals prior to the fixture. Chelsea deployed a back three of Josh Acheampong, Maxence Lacroix, and Levi Colwill, flanked by wing-backs Neto and Jorrel Hato, while Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson provided midfield stability. In a combative match where £117m record signing Morgan Rogers squared up to James Tarkowski, Everton were restricted to just six shots and a season-low 0.45 expected goals against (xG).
"We needed to show that we can win in this way," Alonso remarked after his side combated their previous poor record in the north, where they had lost 19 of their past 41 fixtures north of Luton. "We looked solid, we played solidly, we were strong and we stayed in control. In the first half there were difficult periods with throw-ins, corners and pressure from Everton. You have to overcome those moments. In the Premier League it is very hard to have complete control in an away game, but you cannot lose your shape or your conviction."
The concussion raises doubts over whether Martinez will be available for an upcoming demanding run of fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester United in the Premier League, along with a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool, particularly with standard concussion return-to-play protocols often taking at least 14 days. His absence thrusts 21-year-old Mike Penders into the spotlight. The 6ft 7in Belgian, signed from Genk for £17m in 2024 before spending time on loan at Strasbourg, became Chelsea's youngest goalkeeper to feature in the Premier League after closing out the final stages at Everton.