Chelsea tightened their grip on a Champions League place with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s first goal since December.
The Blues started brightly and were rewarded before the half-hour mark when Jackson drove home past Jordan Pickford.
Chelsea controlled the remainder of the first half but faced a major scare just after the hour, with Robert Sanchez producing a vital stop to deny Beto.
Noni Madueke almost put the game to bed with a dazzling solo run, only to be thwarted by Pickford once again.
Jackson thought he had doubled his tally late on, but his 84th-minute tap-in was ruled offside.
Sanchez then made another outstanding save in the closing stages to preserve Chelsea’s slim advantage and secure three vital points.
The victory lifts Chelsea to fourth place with four matches remaining, but their position is precarious.
Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United have games in hand and could leapfrog the Blues if they capitalize.
Enzo Maresca’s men now face a daunting run-in: Liverpool (H), Newcastle (A), Manchester United (H) and Nottingham Forest (A).
