Cole Palmer led Chelsea to a crucial 2-0 win against Everton, marking his return to Stamford Bridge with a memorable performance. Palmer put the hosts ahead in the 21st minute, somewhat against the flow of play, after receiving a pass from Malo Gusto. The 23-year-old netted his first Premier League goal since September, in what was his first appearance at home since August.

Gusto then added his name to the score sheet shortly before half-time. Pedro Neto outmanoeuvred Vitalii Mykolenko before setting up Gusto, whose shot proved too powerful for Jordan Pickford. In the second half, Chelsea sought a third goal but remained cautious of the counter-attacking threat posed by the visitors. No further goals were scored in the second half, with the home team securing a vital three points at Stamford Bridge. Here's how we rated the performances of the Chelsea players...

Robert Sanchez

Sanchez made several crucial saves in the first half. His progress this season has been remarkable. 7.

Malo Gusto

Returning to the team as right-back, Gusto often found himself playing more like a No. 10.

He delivered an excellent pass from an inverted position to assist Palmer's goal. His energy and determination were greatly appreciated by the Stamford Bridge crowd.

His goal was even more celebrated. A brilliant run into the box followed by a smart first-time finish past Pickford. An unlikely matchwinner. 8.

Wesley Fofana

Back in the squad following a recent injury scare. Particularly impressive when in possession and played a significant role in Palmer's goal.

Made a vital block at the 71-minute mark to prevent a dangerous cross from the opposition. A stellar performance from the Frenchman. 8.

Trevoh Chalobah

A constant presence in Enzo Maresca's line-up, and that trend continued this afternoon. Solid performance.

Demonstrated strength on the ball and aggression in his duels. 6.

Marc Cucurella

Cucurella was noticeably fired up - more so than usual. His typical aggressive self off the ball.

Showed a marked improvement compared to his performance in Italy earlier this week. 6.

Reece James

Despite playing two full matches back-to-back, James, somewhat surprisingly, started his third consecutive match. Passed well in midfield but didn't particularly stand out. 6.

Enzo Fernandez

Started off rather sloppily, needlessly giving away the ball on several occasions. Improved as the match progressed but hasn't been at his best recently. 5.

Pedro Neto

Began on the right wing. Was one of the few attacking players attempting to take the game to Everton during a sluggish start at Stamford Bridge.

Delivered a superb assist just before half-time, outmanoeuvring Mykolenko before finding Gusto in the box. 7.

Cole Palmer

It was a delight to see Palmer back in action - his first appearance at Stamford Bridge since 17 August. It was fantastic to see him return to form, scoring with a composed finish past Pickford to give the Blues the lead.

A solid 58 minutes on the pitch. 8.

Alejandro Garnacho

He returned to the starting line-up, taking up position on the left wing. He missed an absolute sitter around the 23-minute mark.

He should have done better. Defensively, he was caught napping at times.

Everton's most significant threat often came from the right-hand side with Jake O'Brien overlapping Iliman Ndiaye, and Garnacho needed to be more alert. 5.

Joao Pedro

The Brazilian was dropping deep to try and get involved in the game, but he struggled to do so. He performed well in aerial duels against the robust Everton centre-backs. 6.

SUBS

Andrey Santos (on for Palmer 58')

He came on with just over half an hour of normal time remaining. He was neat and tidy in midfield. 6.

Jamie Gittens (on for Garnacho 65')

He appeared lively during his time on the pitch. 6.

Estevao Willian (on for Joao Pedro 81')

He didn't have enough time to make an impact. N/A.