The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge held a strange mix of relief and concern on Saturday, as Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory over Everton, ending a frustrating winless streak. But for Everton, the match quickly turned sour, overshadowed by a devastating injury to their in-form midfielder, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Dewsbury-Hall, a player who had recently found his stride with three goals and two assists in his last five games, was back at his old stomping ground, hoping to make an impact against the team that had let him go. The return, however, was tragically short-lived, lasting a mere 16 minutes.
The injury occurred off the ball, a sudden, sharp intake of pain as Dewsbury-Hall clutched the back of his leg. A grimace contorted his face, and it was immediately clear this was no minor setback – a suspected hamstring injury had brought his promising run to a halt.
Reece James, a former teammate and captain at Chelsea, was quick to offer comfort, accompanying Dewsbury-Hall as he hobbled off the pitch, replaced by Carlos Alcaraz. The sight of the midfielder leaving the field visibly distressed cast a shadow over Chelsea’s growing lead.
Manager David Moyes revealed after the match that Dewsbury-Hall had been carrying a slight tightness before kickoff, a premonition of the misfortune to come. The full extent of the injury remains unknown, but the initial signs are deeply worrying for both player and club.
Everton’s challenges don’t end with Dewsbury-Hall’s injury. The team now faces a demanding schedule, including a home match against league leaders Arsenal, followed by trips to Burnley and Nottingham Forest. The new year brings further tests against Brentford and Wolves.
Adding to Moyes’ concerns, key players Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye are set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations. While acknowledging the importance of these players, Moyes accepted the inevitable, stating that signing African players means accepting their participation in the tournament.
The defeat at Chelsea leaves Everton in eighth place, and the loss of key personnel threatens to derail their momentum. The coming weeks will be a true test of their resilience and depth as they navigate a difficult run of fixtures and international absences.
