Beto's Chelsea Masterclass: Europe Now a Real Possibility for Everton

Beto finally looked like the striker Everton paid £25 million for last summer. Against Chelsea on Saturday, the Portuguese international was a revelation, bagging two goals and providing an assist in a dominant 4-0 victory at Goodison Park. This wasn't the Beto who struggled for consistency through much of the season, often looking isolated or simply out of sync with his teammates. This was a man possessed, a player unleashing the potential Sean Dyche has talked about for months.

His first goal, a thumping header from a Dwight McNeil cross in the 23rd minute, set the tone. His second, a poacher's finish after Conor Gallagher spilled a shot in the 56th, highlighted an instinct many thought he lacked. Beto even played a clever one-two with Abdoulaye Doucoure, leading to the Malian midfielder's goal just before halftime. It was a complete performance, a stark contrast to his previous best of a single goal against Burnley in December. He finished the match with 5 shots, 3 on target, and a pass accuracy of 82%, a significant uptick from his season average of 68%.

Look, before Saturday, Beto had only four Premier League goals in 27 appearances. That's not exactly Champions League form, is it? But this Chelsea game felt different. It felt like a corner turned, a psychological barrier shattered. Everton, sitting seventh in the table with 44 points, are now just two points behind fifth-place Tottenham and a mere four points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth. Remember, they started the season with a 10-point deduction. That they're even in this conversation is remarkable, a testament to Dyche's organizational genius and the squad's resilience.

Here's the thing: everyone wrote off Everton for Europe. Most pundits had them pegged for a mid-table finish, maybe even a relegation scrap again. But the underlying numbers have always been good. They've conceded just 36 goals all season, the fifth-best defense in the league. Jordan Pickford has been immense, making 107 saves, second only to Alphonse Areola. If Beto can sustain this level of performance, if he can truly be "reborn" and add a consistent goal threat, then suddenly, that top-four race gets a lot more interesting.

And it’s not just Beto. The entire team has found a gear. Their home form, particularly, has been excellent, with 8 wins and only 3 losses at Goodison. This kind of fortress mentality is what you need for a European push. The schedule ahead isn't easy – they still have to face Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City – but the confidence from dismantling Chelsea, a team that had beaten them 3-0 in their previous encounter in March 2023, is immense.

My hot take? If Beto scores five more goals in Everton's remaining seven league games, they will finish in a Champions League spot. He's got the talent; he just needed the belief. Saturday proved he has it.