Everton's 3-0 victory over Chelsea culminated a miserable 10 days for the London club, who saw Liam Rosenior's side lose for the fourth time in succession. Beto scored in each half to become the first Everton player to score twice in one match at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Ndiaye sealing victory late in the second half.
In the space of just over a week, Rosenior's side suffered an 8-2 aggregate Champions League exit to Paris St Germain, lost at home to Newcastle before being outworked and outperformed by the Toffees, a team who had won just five times in 15 previous home league games. The visit to Merseyside represented a genuine opportunity for Chelsea to climb back into contention for the top four.
Rosenior's side were sluggish from the outset, unable to match Everton's intensity, with Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia both losing the ball in dangerous areas. The breakthrough goal came when James Garner, called into the England squad for the first time, threaded a wonderful ball through the defence and Beto had the acceleration and quality to dink the ball over the onrushing Sanchez.
The second-half proved no more encouraging for the visitors. Idrissa Gueye played Beto in down the right channel and although his shot was struck firmly, it went straight at goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose failure to keep it out ended any real hope of a comeback. Sanchez had taken a back pass earlier in the match and made a heavy touch before deciding to dribble out of it as Beto closed in.
Iliman Ndiaye capped off a special night for the Everton supporters with a stunning third into the top corner. Bolstered by a superb goalkeeping display from Jordan Pickford, the Toffees are up to seventh in the table.
With Manchester United drawing and Liverpool losing earlier in the day, Chelsea had the chance to go fourth, four points behind the Red Devils, but they blew it in spectacular style. Chelsea stay sixth, only two points ahead of Everton. Chelsea's troubles were compounded by the absences of newly injured Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah, with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez struggling with the ball at his feet and between his legs throughout the match.
Back-to-back home wins give Everton hope of a first European campaign in eight years, but Chelsea's dismal form continues. The Toffees will sense genuine momentum heading into an international break, while Rosenior faces mounting pressure to reverse an alarming trend that has seen his side lose eight goals in recent fixtures.