A strong second-half performance from Chelsea earned them a 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park and strengthened their hold on top spot in the Premier League.
All three goals arrived in the final 25 minutes of the match, beginning with the strike of the game through Pedro who picked out the top corner from range.
Gary Cahill added a second soon after, making the most of some poor goalkeeping from Maarten Stekelenburg, before Willian rounded off the scoring late on from 10 yards out.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park. This is a huge afternoon at the top end of the division, as the Blues can take a giant step towards winning the title should they pick up all three points on Merseyside in what is - on paper, at least - their toughest remaining league fixture.
Second-placed Tottenham Hotspur are in action a little later, taking on North London rivals Arsenal in an equally challenging game, so the complexion at the top could look completely different come this evening. Not quite as much to play for on the surface as far as the Toffees are concerned, but they still have an outside hope of chasing down either Arsenal or Manchester United above them to finish sixth.
TEAM NEWS!
EVERTON XI: Stekelenburg, Holgate, Jagielka, Williams, Calvert-Lewin, Baines, Gueye, Davies, Barkley, Valencia, Lukaku
CHELSEA XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro, Costa, Hazard
Starting with a look at the visiting team, manager Antonio Conte has made one change to his starting lineup from the midweek win over Southampton. In comes the rested Pedro for Cesc Fabregas, joining Diego Costa and Eden Hazard in the three-man forward line. Costa in particular will be a threat today after ending his scoring drought last time out, having scored four and set up two in four league meetings with Everton.
Gary Cahill is now fully fit following his recent spell in hospital, which the centre-back admits he initially feared would rule him out for the rest of the season. Cahill will skipper the Blues today on his 150th start for the club, joining David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta in an unchanged three-man defence. Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso are tasked with providing the width from their wing-back positions, meanwhile.
A 3-4-3 formation named by Conte once again, then, which has worked wonders since their revival back in October - even taking the recent stuttering form into the equation. The decision to leave out Costa and Hazard at Wembley Stadium last weekend worked wonders for the Italian, as not only did Hazard could off the bench and score against Spurs, both he and Costa also looked fresh in the 4-2 win over Southampton five days ago.
In terms of the hosts, Ronaldo Koeman has made a couple of changes from the flat goalless draw with West Ham United last weekend. Morgan Schneiderlin has been ruled out in a major blow for the Toffees, seeing his spot taken by Enner Valencia who missed out at the London Stadium as he was ineligible to face his parent club. A slight rejig required for Everton, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin replacing Kevin Mirallas in the other alteration.
Koeman attempted to match Chelsea man for man by deploying a familiar three-man defence at Stamford Bride, which backfired massively as the Toffees were truly dreadful that day - a 5-0 defeat flattered them, if anything! It is a more-familiar four at the back today, with Leighton Baines, Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka boasting plenty of experience, while Mason Holgate continues to fill in on the right.
I make it a 4-2-3-1 named by Koeman, with Valencia and Calvert-Lewin coming in to partner Ross Barkley just off Romelu Lukaku. Speaking of which - the Belgian has failed to score in all five of his previous league encounters with former side Chelsea, although he did net twice in an FA Cup quarter-final victory here a little over 12 months ago. Aaron Lennon, Ramiro Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman are all still sidelines.
BENCH WATCH!
EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Barry, Pennington, Mirallas, Kone, Lookman, Kenny
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Ake, Zouma, Chalobah, Fabregas, Willian, Batshuayi
Fabregas dropping down to the bench for the Blues, then, having performed well enough in a more advanced role against Southampton but falling victim to squad rotation today. Willian and Michy Batshuayi are the other attacking options Chelsea have available on their bench, while Everton have the experienced head of Gareth Barry and the pace of Ademola Lookman among their back-ups.
Antonio Conte is not afraid to chop and change things as we enter the final weeks of the season, particularly in attack where all three of Pedro, Diego Costa and Eden hazard have been rested of late. Those three men start today, however, with the former taking over from Cesc Fabregas in the only change from last time out. Ronald Koeman's hand has been forced slightly by the absence of key midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, meanwhile, making two alterations from last time out.
Notably no John Terry in the Chelsea squad this afternoon - not that it matters a great deal, as he very rarely gets any meaningful minutes these days. Plenty of focus on the Blues this afternoon, yet Everton know that victory will not only blow the title race wide open but will also see them just about remain on course for a top-six finish. The draw at West Ham eight days ago may have disrupted their flow, but they are still unbeaten in four.
Koeman's men are seventh in the table, two points adrift of Arsenal who still have a couple of games in hand to play. Man United are leading Swansea elsewhere this afternoon, meanwhile, and will pull nine points ahead. Very unlikely that the Toffees will budge from their current position, then, but still plenty for the Dutchman to be positive about and he will no doubt be keen to get some momentum going into the summer.
It has been a positive first campaign on the whole for Koeman, lifting the Merseyside outfit into the lofty heights of seventh after a disappointing couple of seasons under ex-boss Robert Martinez when mediocrity appeared to be the key word around these parts. The Toffees are very much the best of the rest in the table at the moment, behind the elite six sides but in front of the chasing pack in the less exciting 'Race For Seventh'.
The Toffees are, in the words of their chief executive, gearing up for a "busy" summer of transfer activity, although Koeman has made clear that he is after quality and not quantity - he works far better with a small group. It may have been a different story today had they picked up three points in the capital last weekend, but a real poor attacking display ensured that the teams around them could pull further clear.
Everton are now winless in seven on their travels since beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in January, while going further back it is just the two league wins in 15. That is something Koeman will be keen to rectify in time for next season, with a challenge for a top-four place likely to be the target if they get their transfer spending right. It has been a different story at Goodison Park, though - 12 wins from 17 here in the top flight.
A total of 41 goals scored here so far is also the most that they have managed in any of their past 26 top-flight campaigns, requiring just one more win from making it a club-record tally of 43 points collected on home soil. Reaching that target is a tough ask this afternoon, of course, with Chelsea very much the strongest side in the country, but they also have Watford to face here in a much more winnable fixture.
Everton head to relegation-threatened Swansea next weekend and also have a trip to Arsenal on the final day in a fixture that could - if all goes to plan - have something riding on it. For that to happen, and the Toffees to indeed finish sixth, which will mean a direct route in the Europa League rather than qualifying, they essentially need to win all of their remaining games and hope that the Gunners hit another sticky spell.
Plenty of focus on one man in particular this afternoon at Goodison Park, as Everton striker Romelu Lukaku comes up against former club Chelsea. The Belgian has netted 144 career goals by the age of 23, putting him among the world's best in that category, with 16 of those coming in 55 meetings with the current top six in the Premier League. Many say he has failed to perform in the big games this term, but those stats are not bad at all when put up against other players.
Sticking with Lukaku, the Everton ace recently became his side's first player to score in nine-successive home games since Dixie Dean in 1934, scoring 14 in all during that time. With Costa looking increasingly likely to bow out at Stamford Bridge later this year, you get the impression that Conte will surely - despite playing down talk in the media this week - go all out to get the Belgium international. All eyes on him today!
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Chelsea have lost six of their last 10 away trip to Everton in all competitions, including defeats here in the Premier League and FA Cup last season. The Toffees have beaten today's opponents just five times in the last 32 league encounters overall, however, losing 17 and drawing 10 of those over the past 10 years.
Despite the impression that the wheels are starting to come off the Chelsea title bus, the Blues found themselves second in the form table prior to this weekend - albeit behind Tottenham - and have suffered just three defeats in their last 28 games. Perhaps the most important aspect heading into the final stretch of games is that Conte and his men have won 38 league trophies between them - exactly the type of experience that is required to get over the line.
There is no escaping the fact that Chelsea lost twice in the space of just four games recently, though, including at home to strugglers Crystal Palace, meaning that the title race is still not over just yet. Victory today and surely that will be it, with Middlesbrough, West Brom, Sunderland and Watford left to face - could you pick four better fixtures?! - and even a draw this afternoon would not be the end of the world as far as Conte is concerned.
So two defeats in the space of four league games prior to the midweek triumph over Southampton, compared to one in the previous 22 - Chelsea are no longer an unbeatable force like they were for three months of the season. Defeat to Man United last time out on their travels was on of the worst displays produced since Conte took charge, or at least certainly since the change of formation early in the season, and a repeat today will see four points potentially reduced to just one.
That loss at Old Trafford was just the second on their travels in 14 outings, however, and they have constantly managed to respond to setbacks of late. The win over Southampton was a bit gritty at times, but they deservedly picked up the three points, just a few days on from the biggest win of the season yet when overcoming Tottenham in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. The double is still on for Conte in his first season outside of Italian club football.
DID YOU KNOW? Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 11 Premier League games, which is their worst run since they went 13 matches in 1996. The Blues have shipped 14 in their last 13, compared to just four in 13 during their winning streak of 13 between October 1 and the end of December. Still, they have the third best defence behind United and Spurs, conceding seven and five more respectively.
With kickoff at Goodison Park now a little over five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Ronald Koeman: "Maybe we need to change our mentality a bit because I felt a bit less intensity in the game last week, maybe a bit less motivation. It is always difficult if you have already the seventh position in the pocket and maybe they get a little bit more holiday or end-of-season feeling. That is what I don't like. We like to keep momentum at home."
Antonio Conte: "I wouldn't change my players with any other players. I think that Lukaku for sure is a really good player, he's scoring a lot of goals this season. You have to pay him great attention but it's always the same, we study the opponent and we try to find the best solution to stop them, about single players and about the team."
Koeman admits that his side have perhaps lacking motivation, which was certainly evident at the London Stadium last weekend. The Toffees are unbeaten in four matches but are now well off the pace in terms of finishing higher than their current standing of seventh, but even so this has been a very impressive first campaign for the Dutchman. Three points today and their season will be back alive with a few games to go.
Conte was talking specifically about potentially bringing in Lukaku during the summer should Costa depart, but he pretty much said the only thing he could - he would not swap any of his current squad. This is very much the toughest of his side's remaining fixtures; three points today taking them a giant step closer to lifting another league title, while also remaining on course for an historic double.
KICKOFF! We are up and running at Goodison Park and there was very nearly a dream start to the match for Everton. Calvert-Lewin drifted down the left and drilled an effort which came back off the post, before Cahill blocked away.
SAVE! A lively start to the match on Merseyside, as Stekelenburg is now tested by a well-struck Cahill shot from distance. The rebound fell kindly as far as the Toffees are concerned, with the ball being cleared to safety.
One decent attempt apiece in the opening five minutes or so of the match, then, which hopefully provides a sign of what is to come. Chelsea win a corner which is worked to Hazard, but the ball was again blocked aside.
Both teams pressing for a goal here, with Everton not happy to simply sit back and soak up the pressure. The Toffees now looking to build from the back, buoyed by that early opening that saw them come within inches of scoring.
Things have calmed down a little following that fairly explosive start to the match, which saw both teams come close to opening the scoring. Chelsea just beginning to find their rhythm a little more over the past couple of minutes.
CHANCE! Big chance for Hazard to open the scoring, timing his run perfectly to get on the end of Costa's ball in behind. After rounding the keeper he failed to find the net from an angle, though, instead picking out the side-netting.
The Blues' front-three trip started to look really lively now, but it is still that one Hazard chance between them for all their efforts. The hosts seeing a fair bit of the ball themselves but not doing a great deal with it.
Really good challenge from Davies to prevent Costa from taking on the shot on the edge of the box. The youngster had to get it spot on, which he did. Costa down in a little pain, holding his knee but seemingly OK to continue.
Everton had the first sight of goal very early on in the match, with Calvert-Lewin picking out the post, but since then it is Chelsea who have been turning the screw. One shot on target and a chance that Hazard maybe should have done better with.
Willian has been sent to warm-up by Conte due to that knock picked up by Costa a little earlier. A corner is won by the hosts, which Barkley sends into a dangerous zone where Costa is the man waiting to head it clear.
Hazard peels away at the back post but cannot quite hook the ball back into a dangerous zone. It may have come at a cost, too, as he appeared to slide into the hoardings around the pitch and is the second Chelsea player to hobble on.
SAVE! Another shot on goal for Chelsea, this time after Matic was allowed to run and run towards the opposition box. Rather tame attempt in the end, though, and one that Stekelenburg easily got behind down the middle.
CLOSE! Lukaku's first sight of goal ends with the big Belgian sending a bullet attempt narrowly wide of goal. Nine attempts so far this afternoon for both sides combined, three of which have found the intended target.
CHANCE! The chances are starting to fall Chelsea's way now! A long ball over the top is not dealt with by Jagielka, allowing Costa to swipe a shot over the bar from close range. Far from easy, but you'd back him to score from there.
The home side still seeing plenty of the ball in the middle of the park, but there is no doubt that Chelsea have been the more threatening. Decent chances squandered by both Hazard and Costa ensures we are still locked at 0-0.
A quiet spell in the game now, which goes against the grain in terms of what we have seen so far. Been a real lively affair on Merseyside, with both teams coming close to opening the scoring in a game that is somehow goalless.
Half a chance for Lukaku, although in his case that tends to mean the ball hitting the back of the net. After bringing down an awkward long ball, the Belgian saw his first-time attempt sail high over the crossbar.
YELLOW CARD! Around 10 minutes to go until half time at Goodison Park and the game still remains tight. Cahill has just been booked for handling the ball and preventing Lukaku from potentially bursting through.
Kante now operation in the final third of the field as Chelsea press a little higher. Not a great deal of urgency from the Blues at the moment, but it will be interesting to see if that changes the longer this game goes on.
YELLOW CARD! Dominic Calvert-Lewin's turn to enter the referee's book, pulling back on Moses down Chelsea's right-hand flank and rightly being punished. Half time now fast approaching on Merseyside and we remain all square.
YELLOW CARD! A third caution in a little over five minutes, this time shown to Cesar Azpilicueta for halting the midfield run of Enner Valencia. Play has been massively disrupted as a result of the constant fouling.
Chelsea almost the victims of their own downfall, as a clearance deflects horribly and Everton have two-on-two all of a sudden. Poor pass to Lukaku in the end, who could not get on the end of it near the penalty spot.
Two minutes of added-on time to be played at Goodison Park. The first quarter of the match was very lively; not been quite as good since then but certainly been gripping enough. Plenty to play for in the second half.
HALF TIME: EVERTON 0-0 CHELSEA
Referee Jonathan Moss blows his whistle for half time, bringing a close to a fairly eventful first half at Goodison Park. The post was hit early on by Everton and Chelsea squandered a couple of decent openings, but as it is we are level at 0-0 at the midway point.
Everton almost opened the scoring with less than two minutes on the clock, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin - in for the injured Morgan Schneiderlin - drifted down the left and blasted a shot that came back off the post, while Gary Cahill was there to block the follow-up attempt from Romelu Lukaku. A minute later it was Chelsea's turn to come close to a breakthrough, with Cahill forcing Maarten Stekelenburg into a fairly routine stop on his 150th outing for the Blues.
The home side were seeing plenty of the ball but failing to truly threaten, while their opponents created decent openings through Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, neither of which were converted. Hazard timed his run perfectly to get in behind the Toffees' backline but could only pick out the side-netting from an angle when rounding Stekelenburg, while Costa smashed over the bar from close range after Phil Jagielka failed to truly deal with a ball over the top.
There was plenty of attention on Lukaku pre-match, but his best opening in the first half saw him send a bullet shot wide of the target from 20 yards out, while up the other end Nemanja Matic was allowed to bring the ball forward and test Stekelenburg with another straightforward stop. An entertaining enough first half on Merseyside, then, with the scoreline locked at 0-0.
It is unlikely that either manager will make a change at the break although, that said, Costa and Hazard did pick up knocks fairly early on. Willian was sent to warm-up and is the most likely to be introduced if a slight tweak is indeed required.
EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Barry, Pennington, Mirallas, Kone, Lookman, Kenny
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Ake, Zouma, Chalobah, Fabregas, Willian, Batshuayi
RESTART! We are back up and running at Goodison Park, where the two sides remain unchanged from the first half. The Toffees trailed by three goals at this point the last time they met, with this game proving to be far tighter.
Davies charges towards the byline but cannot quite the ball in play, ending what was shaping up to be a positive Everton attack. The Blues yet to find their rhythm in the opening couple of minutes of the second period.
As touched upon a little earlier, it will be interesting to see what approach Chelsea take if it remains this way come the 70-minute mark - stick or twist? Tottenham host Arsenal later today and can close the gap to two points if the Blues draw.
CLOSE! Pedro spins away and very nearly spots the run of Hazard, but Idrissa Gueye cut out the ball. The Blues with a corner, which is inventive to say the least. Hazard picks out Matic at the near post, who lays it off for Moses - narrowly wide with the shot.
Davies with acres of midfield space to run into, but he hit the ball too far ahead and loses possession. Luiz and Azpilicueta, the former of whom appears to be limping along, handled that very well.
YELLOW CARD! A weak backpass from Jagielka is chased down by Costa, who fails to get to the ball and follows through on Stekelenburg. Home fans wanted a red but Jonathan Moss keeps a cool head and opts for a yellow.
Valencia had players over but decided to go for the shot, which deflects heavily off Alonso and goes out for a corner. Baines sends it in and Courtois just about gets his fists to it to punch clear. Valencia booked for stopping the counter.
Everton seem to be winning everything in midfield at the moment, but again the final ball is lacking as Barkley fails to slide it through for Lukaku, taking a little too long. Chelsea really struggling to find their feet since the restart.
SHOT! Lukaku picks up possession out on the left, drifting past one man and then another but sending a weak shot down the middle. By his standards, that has to go down as a chance for the Belgian ace.
No man marking job on Hazard today, but he has been absent for the past 20 minutes after struggling to get on the ball. Conte will surely be thinking of bringing on Willian or Fabregas in the next few moments.
GOAL! EVERTON 0-1 CHELSEA (PEDRO)
Pedro with an absolute gem, working a yard of space and curling the ball out of Stekelenburg's reach from 20 yards out. Just how important could that strike be, with Chelsea far from their best in this second half
A little over 20 minutes to go at Goodison Park and, while this one is clearly far from over, that strike will no doubt give the visitors massive confidence. Second best in this second half but it is they who lead the match.
Into the final quarter of the contest and we have still yet to see either manager turn to their bench. Conte tends to shore up his midfield when ahead in a match, so maybe Chalobah or Fabregas will be introduced in the next few minutes.
EVERTON SUBS! Valencia and Calvert-Lewin are replaced by Mirallas and Kone, the latter of whom is making his first Everton appearance in seven months. When play resumed Luiz appeared to tweak his groin, which will require some treatment.
YELLOW CARD! Barkley thought about taking on the volley from 25 yards out, but instead brought it down and attempted to play the ball out wide. Hazard caught him, earning a yellow and giving away a free kick in a dangerous area of the pitch.
Lukaku not far away at all with the resultant free kick, sending it over the wall but also over the crossbar. Azpilicueta, already booked, a little fortunate not to be dismissed for his protestations before the set-piece was taken.
YELLOW CARD! Booking number seven of the afternoon goes to Idrissa Gueye, who gets his challenge on Hazard all wrong. Further punishment may follow - Chelsea have a free kick in good crossing position.
GOAL! EVERTON 0-2 CHELSEA (GARY CAHILL)
Yet another goal for Cahill, who bundles the ball over the line to surely get Chelsea over the line - not just today but also in terms of the title. Hazard's free kick was parried by Stekelenburg, with the ball hitting Cahill and crossing the line.
CHELSEA SUBS! Pedro got the ball rolling for Chelsea this afternoon, scoring a sublime goal to open the scoring, and his afternoon is over as Fabregas is introduced. Ake also on, taking over from Luiz in central defence.
CHELSEA SUB! Smart management from Conte, who breaks up play a little more by bringing on Willian for Hazard in his final change. The departing player far from his best today, but he has played his part in this likely title success.
GOAL! EVERTON 0-3 CHELSEA (WILLIAN)
The two subs, on the field for a matter of moments, combine to add a third. Fabregas was played in behind and kept his cool to pick out Willian, who was waiting 10 yards out to fire into the back of the net. Huge win for the Blues!
Everton pressing for a late consolation goal, but this one is all over. The Blues' toughest remaining test has been overcome with relative ease, although for the first quarter of this second half it was anyone's game.
CHANCE! Willian played through but opted against taking on the shot first time, which cost him as Jagielka managed to get back and get a foot to the ball. Not that it will matter - Chelsea two minutes from three more points.
FULL TIME: EVERTON 0-3 CHELSEA
Referee Jonathan Moss blows for full time at Goodison Park, and potentially full time on the title race. Chelsea now know that victories in their three remaining home games - all simple enough on paper - will get them over the line. Everton put up a good fight for an hour or so, but in the end the title favourites simply proved to be too strong.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Goodison Park. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while updates from the North London derby showdown between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are available here. Thanks for joining!
