Richarlison boosts Everton’s survival hopes with winner against Chelsea

It was all too much for the Everton legend Colin Harvey, who could not bear any more Chelsea pressure and made for the exit with a few minutes to go. Frank Lampard’s team could withstand it, however, and kept Everton’s Premier League survival prospects in their own hands with a potentially priceless victory over Thomas Tuchel’s team.

Richarlison’s 46th-minute goal brought Everton a fourth successive Premier League win over Chelsea at Goodison Park in what was a must-win fixture given Burnley’s stirring revival under Mike Jackson. Jordan Pickford was immense in the Everton goal, repelling everything that Chelsea threw at him in the second half, while Yerry Mina was commanding in the heart of a defence that embodied resistance. Lampard’s new club live to fight another day.

Evertonians did whatever they could to lift their team before the game. Chelsea players were disturbed in the early hours of Sunday morning by a long and loud fireworks display outside their hotel in Liverpool city centre. When the Everton team bus turned on to Goodison Road 90 minutes before kick-off it was met by thousands of fans who had congregated with banners and blue flares to welcome Lampard’s players. The question was how those with the greatest influence on Everton’s Premier League status would respond? As they had to, was the answer.

Goodison was a beautiful bear-pit, imploring its team on while responding to any Chelsea touch or adverse decision with a chorus of boos. There were plenty of the former. Lampard set up his team to match Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-3 formation but in the knowledge that the visitors, like Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday, would dominate possession. Chelsea enjoyed a 75% share in the first half. Jorginho and Ruben