Steven Gerrard Admits he Has Changed His Mind About Chelsea After Win Vs Everton

According to a report by Football London on Tuesday October 20, 2026, Steven Gerrard has reconsidered Chelsea’s chances of competing near the top of the Premier League following their convincing 2-0 victory over Everton, which delivered their first league clean sheet in months.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso inherited a team that had struggled defensively, with their previous Premier League clean sheet coming in a 2-0 victory over Brentford in January under Liam Rosenior. However, Saturday’s performance offered encouraging signs of improvement.

During Alonso’s first five league matches, Chelsea conceded twice in several games, including a 3-0 defeat against Brentford and three goals in their 4-3 victory over Brighton. Their display against Everton was considerably more disciplined.

Speaking on The Overlap Daily, Gerrard admitted he had doubts about Chelsea’s ability to challenge for major honours before watching them defeat Everton. The former Liverpool captain, who nearly joined Chelsea in 2005, now believes they could compete if their defensive improvement continues.

“Really professional, strong team performance,” Gerrard said. “If Chelsea want to be in the mix come April time, they need more of those performances where they build results on clean sheets.”

He added that Chelsea’s defensive record had previously made him question their chances of remaining in contention late in the season. “Finding it hard to keep clean sheets normally means they won’t be in the talk, come the end of the season,” Gerrard explained.

However, the former England international believes Chelsea possess enough attacking quality to trouble any opponent if they establish greater defensive stability. Their victory over Everton represented their second consecutive Premier League win.

Alonso has also introduced tactical adjustments, continuing with a 3-4-2-1 formation while using Josh Acheampong in a flexible role. During attacking phases, Chelsea can transition into a 4-4-2 shape, with Acheampong moving to right-back and Pedro Neto operating on the right wing. Cole Palmer plays behind Joao Pedro.

Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo remains an important figure in Chelsea’s midfield. The Ecuadorian midfielder returned from a calf injury and captained the team against Everton.

Since joining Chelsea in 2023, Caicedo has made 151 appearances across 183 matches. Chelsea average 1.95 points per game when he features, compared with 1.44 without him, underlining his importance to the team.

Last season, Caicedo recorded 87 tackles, averaging 2.8 per match, more than any other player. His defensive work provides protection for Chelsea’s backline, making his availability particularly important as Alonso attempts to build a more consistent team.

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