Chelsea boosted their Champions League prospects with a thumping 4-0 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Academy product Mason Mount opened the scoring on 14 minutes on a day when Frank Lampard handed another rising star his chance in Billy Gilmour, who excelled in the Blues’ FA Cup win over Liverpool.
Pedro made it 2-0 midway through the first half and Everton had no way back, with Willian making three on 51 minutes before Olivier Giroud made it four.
The result solidified Chelsea’s position in fourth and moved them to within two points of Leicester in third, while Everton’s bid for European football next season took a dent with Carlo Ancelotti’s men ending the day in 12th.
Everton coach Ancelotti received a warm welcome from the Chelsea fans as he returned to Stamford Bridge, where he won the double with the club in 2010.
And the home fans were nearly on their feet six minutes in when Willian found Mount in the area, but his fierce drive was well kept out by Jordan Pickford.
Chelsea didn’t have to wait long for the opener, though, with Mount receiving the ball from Pedro and finishing superbly on the turn, burying the ball into the bottom corner for his first goal in 18 matches.
Pickford did well to deny Willian moments later but could do nothing to stop Pedro doubling the lead on 22 minutes. Former Everton midfielder Ross Barkley played Pedro through and he made no mistake, slotting the ball home to deepen the away side’s misery.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin wasted a glorious opportunity to respond five minutes later but he screwed his shot wide when through on goal.
It was a familiar story in the second half, with Willian netting his fifth league goal of the season with a fine arrowed drive that gave Pickford no chance and put the game beyond doubt.
Willian then turned provider, sending over a teasing ball that Giroud met to flick the ball home moments later.
The only sour note on an otherwise positive afternoon for Lampard came when Mount was substituted on the hour mark, clutching his hamstring as he walked towards the dressing room.
