FULL TIME EVERTON 0-1 CHELSEA: Michael Essien's first half strike keeps Chelsea's slim title hopes alive as they move two points behind Man United, while Everton, who improved after the break, stay five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

Phil Neville pumps a cross up to Ayegbeni Yakubu in the area but he can only divert it to Petr Cech and Chelsea breathe a sigh of relief.

Henriques Manuel Fernandes tries his luck from distance but it is well wide of the Chelsea goal and the visitors get a goal kick.

Florent Malouda tries to break down the left side of the Everton area but good play by Tony Hibbert who gets in a vital tackle to dispossess him.

Phil Jagielka progresses up the park and then his attempted pass goes flying out of play in the Chelsea half of the field and the move breaks down.

Everton have just dropped off the pace in the last few moments here and that will give Chelsea heart as they look to see out this game with their lead intact.

Chelsea are on the attack now but Ashley Cole and then Nicolas Anelka both fail to deliver good balls into the Everton area and the home side clear.

Claude Makelele is now coming on to shore things up for Chelsea with the more attack-minded Shaun Wright-Phillips the player to make way.

Panic over as Michael Essien is back on despite looking a little groggy and we progress into the final 10 minutes.

The game is held up momentarily as Michael Essien is laid out on his back on the pitch and in need of smelling salts which is a little worrying.

Joe Cole is the man going off for Chelsea with Florent Malouda coming on in his place for the final 13 minutes.

Thomas Gravesen knocks the ball to Henriques Manuel Fernandes who volleys an effort high and wide of the Chelsea goal.

Michael Essien has a dig at goal from a good 30 yards out which drops just wide of Tim Howard's goal.

Chelsea's passing in this half has been disappointing as they appear a little nervous as we approach the final 15 minutes.

Ricardo Carvalho almost diverts the ball into the path of Ayegbeni Yakubu with his tackle and John Terry has to make another last-ditch tackle to prevent the Nigerian getting a chance on goal.

Joseph Yobo does very well to get in a sliding tackle and knock the ball away from Salomon Kalou who looked like he was about to get through on the Everton goal.

Chelsea seem to be dropping a lot deeper as Everton press on and they could be punished once again if they are not careful as the home side have definitely picked up as a result.

Henriques Manuel Fernandes again takes the kick but his effort is a lot closer as it curls inches away from the top left corner of the goal.

John Terry brings down Ayegbeni Yakubu on the edge of the Chelsea area so a good chance for Everton from the free kick.

Over 20 minutes of the second half and Everton have improved this half but not really looked like scoring while Chelsea lead thanks to their only real attempt on goal.

Another waste by Chelsea as Renato Paulo Ferreira has all the time in the world to get in a cross from the right as five players waited in the middle but he waits too long and his cross is blocked.

A second change for Everton with Victor Anichebe coming on in place of Steven Pienaar.

Striker Andrew Johnson is being taken off with midfielder Thomas Gravesen coming on for Everton.

Joe Cole takes too long on the ball in the centre circle and Phil Neville's block tackle sends the ball flying out for a Chelsea goal-kick.

Chelsea nearly capitalise on Everton's decision to let a high ball bounce in their own area as Tim Howard jumps high to gather Salomon Kalou's flicked header.

Henriques Manuel Fernandes takes the free kick but it hits the Chelsea wall and is booted away by the defence.

Renato Paulo Ferreira picked up a booking for dissent after not agreeing with the referee's decision.

Renato Paulo Ferreira is harshly adjudged to have fouled Steven Pienaar 30 yards out and almost central to the Chelsea goal.

Henriques Manuel Fernandes' flag kick comes in but Joseph Yobo cannot keep his header from going over the top.

Everton have just not seemed able to get beyond the Chelsea defence so far tonight as Salomon Kalou concedes a corner in a rare chance for the Toffees.

Andrew Johnson beats John Terry for pace as he sprints through towards goal but Ricardo Carvalho rescues his skipper with an excellent sliding tackle.

Michael Essien bursts up the pitch again but he should really have played a better pass in to Nicolas Anelka as his actual ball runs through for a goal kick to Everton.

Great stuff from Chelsea as they are dominating possession with Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka combining but the cross into the middle is hacked clear by Joseph Yobo.

Petr Cech comes out to take the ball after it just bounced off Ayegbeni Yakubu and into th area with Steven Pienaar loking to get on the end of it.

The second half is underway with Chelsea possibly looking to add to their lead as to avoid a repeat of Monday's late equaliser by Wigan, while Everton need to do more in attack this half if they are to get into this match.

HALF TIME EVERTON 0-1 CHELSEA: Michael Essien's late goal in the half with Chelsea's first effort on target rewards the Blues for their attacking attempts as they have slightly edged the opening 45 minutes.

Jon Obi Mikel tries his luck from 25 yards which Tim Howard is forced to tip over his own cross bar.

That was Chelsea's first effort on target but reward for their attacking efforts in this opening half.

EVERTON 0-1 CHELSEA: MICHAEL ESSIEN plays a one-two with Shaun Wright-Phillips via a deflection off a defender and scores from close range in the area.

Chelsea seem to be enjoying more freedom down the right but once more the final cross into the penalty area is letting them down.

Joe Cole has ample time to put in a decent cross to his strikers down the right but again it lacks quality and Phil Jagielka is on hand to clear again.

Michael Essien plays a ball through for Shaun Wright-Phillips who goes into the Everton area but Phil Jagielka puts in a great tackle to deny him.

Everton win a corner which is played in by Henriques Manuel Fernandes but John Terry gets up well to clear as Everton have come back into the game.

Michael Essien loses the ball cheaply but Everton cannot punish them as Henriques Manuel Fernandes flashes a shot across the face of goal and behind.

Everton have a rare foray up the field and Joleon Lescott, despite being clearly offside, plays the ball into Lee Carsley but Michael Essien manages to get in a block and clear.

Steven Pienaar lunges in on Renato Paulo Ferreira and Chelsea win a free kick down the right flank just outside the penalty area. The free kick again does not beat the first man and Everton clear.

Phil Jagielka concedes another corner which is played in by Joe Cole but this time it does not beat the first man and Everton clear.

Salomon Kalou dances his way into the left side of the Everton area but his low cross into the middle is cut out by Joseph Yobo as Chelsea step up a gear here.

Nicolas Anelka wins another corner for Chelsea off Phil Jagielka. Joe Cole takes it but it is cleared away eventually by the Everton defence, although Joseph Yobo looks like he has a fair amount of John Terry's shirt.

Ricardo Carvalho nicks the ball but takes out Joleon Lescott in the tackle and is the first player booked in the game.

Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole try and get a move going down the left flank but this time Steven Pienaar cuts out the danger.

The noticeable observation from the opening 20 minutes is both sides' inability to play a killer final ball in the last third of the field.

Some good passing play by Everton but Phil Neville gives the ball away as Chelsea break up field only for a pass through to Joe Cole be cut out by keeper Tim Howard.

Henriques Manuel Fernandes takes the free kick and it dips in front of Petr Cech who manages to divert it away from goal for a corner which Chelsea clear.

Chelsea don't clear a corner well and Everton win a free kick in a good position just on the left side of the Chelsea area.

Ashley Cole's cross is knocked behind by Joseph Yobo but the resulting corner played in drops to the back post and Ricardo Carvalho cannot keep the ball in.

Shaun Wright-Phillips wins a corner which is played in by Joe Cole but just drops over the head of John Terry who is bustled out of the way by Joseph Yobo.

Chelsea have a fair amount of the ball down the right flank but Shaun Wright-Phillips' attempt at a cross is poor as it drifts out for a goal kick.

Chelsea's midfielders get the ball stuck under their feet and Everton clear up field as we await a first real chance in the game.

A fairly open five minutes as Everton seem up for it and that will suit Chelsea who have players who can hit them on the break.

Salomon Kalou plays the ball to Shaun Wright-Phillips on the edge of the area and his effort goes out for a corner off Phil Jagielka. The resulting kick is headed clear by Lee Carsley.

Joe Cole lays the ball through to Renato Paulo Ferreira on the right side of the area but his cross is poor and does not beat the first defender in the area.

A good early pace to the game as Everton have come flying out of the blocks here as they look like they are going for an early goal.

We are underway at Goodison Park as Everton look to move to within two points of fourth-placed Liverpool, while Chelsea must win to keep alive their slim hopes of pipping Manchester United to the Premier League title.

Chelsea starting XI: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Obi, Essien, Joe Cole, Anelka, Kalou.

Wayne Bridge, Alex, Florent Malouda, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti are the men who drop out of the side from the Latics game.

Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole return to the starting XI after either missing or starting the 1-1 draw against Wigan at Stamford Bridge on Monday on the bench.

Chelsea boss Avram Grant is again without striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Frank Lampard so starts with Salomon Kalou in attack with Jon Obi Mikel joining Michael Essien in the centre of midfield.

Everton starting XI: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Neville, Carsley, Fernandes, Pienaar, Johnson, Yakubu.

Everton boss David Moyes is again without midfield duo Mikel Arteta and Leon Osman for the visit of Chelsea to Goodison Park due to respective stomach and hamstring problems. Joseph Yobo comes into the defence in place of Leighton Baines.