Calvert-Lewin strikes twice as Everton beat Chelsea in Duncan Ferguson's first game as interim manager
Duncan Ferguson helped Everton kickstart the post-Marco Silva era by beating Chelsea 3-1 at Goodison Park.
The former striker took the reigns on an interim basis after the Toffees suffered a humiliating defeat to Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Wednesday, a result which saw Silva sacked as manager.
Richarlison fired the hosts in front inside five minutes and dominated an opening half despite late Chelsea pressure.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin then struck twice in the second half, either side of a Mateo Kovacic volley, to seal the points for the hosts.
A crucial three points for the home side pushed them away - perhaps temporarily - from the relegation zone while Chelsea suffered their third league defeat in four games.
READ MORE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin dedicates Everton double to Duncan Ferguson
Before many had a chance to speculate as to the impact Ferguson would make on his old club, the Toffees were ahead.
With the hosts urged on by a raucous crowd, club record signing Richarlison picked out Djibril Sidibe on the wing.
The French full-back then played an enticing cross onto the head of the Brazilian forward, who dispatched the ball beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Everton, fresh from a mauling by Merseyside rivals Liverpool and clearly hurt by the defeat, threatened a second through Calvert-Lewin when he was played in by Theo Walcott, but Kepa denied the England youngster.
All the hosts’ hard work might have been undone in a flash when Michael Keane, just shy of the 20 minute mark, conceded possession to Willian and Tammy Abraham.
But the fortunes favoured the home side when the duo contrived to waste the opportunity, allowing Everton to recover as they passed the ball around.
Chelsea were building momentum though and might have felt frustrated at not equalising when Willian beat Lucas Digne and hammered a low cross into the six yard box. Abraham, who managed to flick it on at the near post, could not convert.
The former Aston Villa and Bristol City forward was fractions away from doing so in the 32nd minute but Mason Mount’s cross landed tantalisingly in front of him.
Frank Lampard’s side started to build up momentum and Mount had an effort on goal blocked by Mason Holgate before Digne was forced into a last-gasp interception to prevent Willian from a tap in.
It looked for some time as though the west London side were the obvious candidates to score next, but after the interval Calvert-Lewin shocked them with a second.
Former Everton loanee Kurt Zouma mishit two clearances before the ball fell to the feet of the England Under 21s forward, who slotted underneath the onrushing Kepa.
Proceedings were going to plan on Ferguson’s managerial debut and they might have been in dream territory had Richarlison scored on 50 minutes, having been played into the box by Alex Iwobi.
But he didn’t, they weren’t and Chelsea delivered a sucker-punch by scoring a minute later.
After N’Golo Kante worked a pass into the box, Everton scrambled the ball clear to Kovacic, some 20 yards out, who nonchalantly volleyed into the bottom corner.
That signalled the start of the most open period of play throughout the game, and Morgan Schneiderlin might have done better when he curled an effort wide from range.
Walcott, with his infamous pace, threatened as Chelsea pushed for a leveller. The former England forward burst into the box and forced Kepa into a fine save, albeit from a tight angle.
Youngster Mount, who has impressed this season since returning to Chelsea, then sliced a curled effort wide of the far post from inside the box.
With time running out, Andreas Christensen hammered an effort just wide of Jordan Pickford’s post, before Holgate had to block a goal-bound effort from Mount with ten minutes remaining.
Everton were not to be denied. Tom Davies, on as a second-half substitute, received the ball in the box after another defensive error from Chelsea.
The midfielder jinked past one defender before being tackled - but the ball fell to Calvert-Lewin, who prodded beyond Kepa to seal the three points.
The three points ensured the Merseysiders were propelled up the table to 14th and helped put their midweek misery behind them.
Featured from our writers:
Yahoo Sport UK presents Tailgate
