Alex Iwobi was the standout player in a poor Everton side as they lost their opening Premier League fixture to Chelsea at Goodison Park tonight.
The Super Eagles star was brilliant in central midfield, impressively slotting into the deep-lying playmaker role, and playing the full game.
However, his excellent performance could not earn his side at least a point as the visitors won through Jorginho’s penalty.
The Italy midfielder’s goal settled the scrappy contest, the goal his 20th in the Premier League and his 18th from the spot.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel introduced summer signings Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling from the start but it was Jorginho who calmly converted past Jordan Pickford in first-half stoppage time following Abdoulaye Doucoure’s foul on Ben Chilwell.
Everton were without a recognised striker following the sale of Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury, and they lacked any real quality apart from Iwobi.
Ben Godfrey then suffered a serious injury to compound Everton manager Frank Lampard’s woes as the defender was stretchered off after a tackle on Kai Havertz.
The win was Chelsea’s first at Goodison Park since 2017, with Sterling showing some flashes of brilliance and Koulibaly solid in central defence.
