EPL: Fabregas, Morata lead Chelsea to 2-0 win over Everton
Everton offered little to show that it could win at Chelsea for the first time in the league since 1994, a run which now spans 23 matches.
Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata guided Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over Everton on Sunday as the Premier League champions further banished memories of their opening-day loss.
Fabregas put Chelsea in front after 27 minutes and Morata headed in a second goal before halftime.
Everton offered little to show that it could win at Chelsea for the first time in the league since 1994, a run which now spans 23 matches.
Chelsea, champions in May, lost on the opening day to Burnley, prompting suggestions of crisis with manager Antonio Conte seeking further squad strengthening and striker Diego Costa in exile.
Two weeks and two games later, Chelsea have beaten two sides with high aspirations for this season. And the four remaining days of the summer transfer window could see the Blues augment their squad.
The victory over Tottenham at Wembley was followed up by a convincing win over Everton, which was second best throughout.
Fabregas, back from a one-match suspension, and Pedro returned in place of Andreas Christensen and Tiemoue Bakayoko. And both Spaniards were influential. Pedro's pace and movement tested the Toffees and Fabregas' guile proved instrumental with N'Golo Kante dominating midfield.
Wayne Rooney, concentrating on domestic duty following his England retirement, cut a frustrated figure at times as he tried to rouse Everton, which might have been reduced to 10 men inside 10 minutes.
Idrissa Gueye was booked after his studs met Fabregas' shin, but the card could have been red.
Chelsea had a flurry of chances. Pedro's overhead kick went over. Willian had a deflected effort clear the target and Jordan. Pickford saved from David Luiz and Pedro. Everton were holding firm, but then Fabregas found an opening.
Willian, on the right, played the ball in for the Spaniard, who played a one-two with Morata. The return reached Fabregas at the second attempt after a ricochet off Ashley Williams and he struck the ball on the volley inside the far post.
Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored spectacularly on Thursday against Hadjuk Split, dragged an effort wide across goal as Everton made a rare foray forwards, but soon afterwards it was 2-0.
Morata went down inside the area and Williams remonstrated with him before offering a hand to help him up.
That offer was withdrawn when Williams realized Chelsea was still on the attack after Everton failed to clear as Kante applied pressure. Next Victor Moses went down on the edge of the box, but referee Jonathan Moss played advantage.
The ball broke for Cesar Azpilicueta, who had time to cross and Morata had space to send a free header in. Everton's defenders were too busy appealing for offside to mark Morata. Mo Besic replaced Tom Davies at halftime as Everton sought a midfield foothold.
Sandro Ramirez should have done better when found by Rooney, but Antonio Rudiger covered the danger. The first-half order was soon restored as Chelsea pushed the visitors deep into their own territory.
Pedro fired narrowly wide and then Moses weakly shot at Pickford when he had time to pick his spot. Rooney mishit a volley and was booked soon afterward for dissent as another Everton attack disintegrated.
Williams hooked an effort on to the roof of the net as Chelsea struggled to clear an Everton free kick and the defender next headed a Rooney cross wide. Gueye came close soon afterwards, but Chelsea's defense would not be breached as they recorded a first clean sheet of the season.