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Rosenior analyses Chelsea’s crushing defeat at Everton
22nd March, 2026 06:51 AM
Manager Liam Rosenior has admitted that Chelsea FC had a tough outing against Everton FC on Saturday, March 21, 2026, acknowledging that both the performance and the final score fell well below the club’s usual standards.
Post-match report
The match marked Chelsea’s first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but it ended in disappointment for the visitors with a 3-0 defeat. Everton opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark when James Garner delivered a precise pass to Beto, who calmly lifted the ball past goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
Chelsea had opportunities to draw level before halftime, with their clearest chance coming when Enzo Fernández tested goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who produced an outstanding save to maintain Everton’s lead.
Fernández was again denied early in the second half, a moment that proved costly as Beto soon netted his second goal of the game. Later, Iliman Ndiaye sealed the victory with a well-taken finish, ensuring the hosts secured a comfortable win on Merseyside.
Ronenior’s analysis
After the final whistle, Chelsea’s squad acknowledged their travelling fans by applauding them for their continued backing despite the result.
Reflecting on the performance, Rosenior explained:
“In terms of the things we’ve spoken about, not gifting goals away, making sure we’re in the game, getting control of the game, it wasn’t there,” Rosenior reflected after the game.
“It turned into a really difficult evening where the result and performance were nowhere near what we expected or wanted.’”
He went on to describe how the team initially struggled but gradually found their rhythm before conceding:
“We had an edgy start in terms of the cheap giveaways, then we managed to gain control of the game, were in their half, arriving and creating moments which we didn’t take – we weren’t clinical enough.”
The coach added that conceding first had a visible impact on his players’ mindset:
“But then, it feels like out of nowhere, they score. That isn’t the first time that’s happened, and what happens if you’re in a difficult run of games is that your energy and confidence levels can drop when the other team scores first. That’s what happened.”
Rosenior also pointed to key turning points that influenced the outcome:
“Pickford makes a world-class save at 1-0, then we come out in the second half and have control of the game, but we make a mistake and they’re 2-0 up, which gives them even more energy. It’s about flow and momentum, and we didn’t have that in the game today.’”
Despite the setback, which marked the team’s fourth consecutive loss in all competitions, Rosenior defended his players’ commitment and insisted their effort has not been lacking.
“I don’t think there’s a lack of effort, I don’t think there’s a lack of belief and determination in the team,” he explained.
“I am aware that when you’re on a run of defeats and performances that we’ve had, those things get levelled at you but I don’t think that’s the issue in this moment.”
