Chelsea picked up an important 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday, October 17, with Pedro Neto scoring both goals to deliver an impressive performance at Stamford Bridge.
According to Football London, the result also ended Chelsea’s nine-month wait for a Premier League clean sheet, giving Xabi Alonso’s side another reason to celebrate.
The Blues have now recorded consecutive league victories after struggling for consistency in recent matches against Arsenal, Brentford, Hull and Bournemouth. Their latest result will come as a welcome boost as Alonso continues to work on improving the team.
Neto Makes the Difference for Chelsea
Chelsea once again lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Josh Acheampong at right-back, Neto and Morgan Rogers operating on the wings, and Cole Palmer supporting Joao Pedro in attack.
However, it was Neto who stole the headlines with two goals that secured all three points for the home side.
His performance earned him the man-of-the-match award, while former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves was quick to praise the Portuguese international for his contribution.
Speaking during commentary, Hargreaves described Neto as an underrated player and highlighted his importance to the team.
“The big moments have belonged to Pedro Neto. He’s definitely an unsung hero in this Chelsea team,” he said.
Neto Answers His Critics
The brace was a special moment for Neto, marking the first time he had scored twice in a Premier League match.
Since joining Chelsea in 2024, the winger has faced criticism over his goal contributions. Despite making 111 appearances for the club, he had scored just 21 goals before his impressive display against Everton.
His latest performance could help silence some of those concerns, especially if he can maintain this level of output in the coming weeks.
Neto also revealed that advice from Portugal’s new national team manager, Jorge Jesus, had influenced his approach to finishing chances inside the penalty area.
Speaking to TNT Sports reporter Jules Breach after the match, he explained:
“This comes a little bit from the new coach of the national team, who says when you are near the area you need to pass to the goal, so really happy with that.”
The advice appears to have paid off, with Neto finding the back of the net twice to help Chelsea secure a comfortable victory.
Chelsea Look to Build on Their Momentum
The win moved Chelsea into fourth place in the Premier League table, although results from other matches over the weekend could change their position.
More importantly, Alonso’s side have now won consecutive league games and finally kept a clean sheet after months of frustration at the back.
Chelsea will now turn their attention to their next assignment against Liverpool in the cup competition, hoping to carry their improved form into another important fixture.
For Neto, the Everton game could prove to be a turning point. After facing questions about his goalscoring ability, the winger delivered when his team needed him most.
If Chelsea can build on this performance, Alonso may finally be getting the consistency he has been looking for.
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