Blues make case for the defense

Thomas Tuchel became the first coach to secure clean sheets in each of his first five home games in the English Premier League when Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 - a feat the German put down to his players' "trust and courage."

The Londoners have only conceded two goals in an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions that began when Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge in January, and one of them was an own goal.

"It's about principles, it's about being reliable, it's about trust that your back is covered if you step out and attack up front," Tuchel said.

"It's a high quality of defending right now in the group and of course they're super hungry to fight to not give chances away."

As well as snuffing out Everton, Chelsea have also recently stopped Liverpool and Manchester United from scoring in the league. Atletico Madrid also failed to get past the Blues' back line in the Champions League. That defensive consistency belies how Tuchel has chopped and changed who plays in front of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, alternating Marcos Alonso and Ben Chilwell at left-back and yesterday replacing Antonio Rudiger with Kurt Zouma in the back three.

"It's not about having clean sheets and parking the bus in front of a goal," the German said. "It's about a certain style of defending and we try to defend up as high as possible ... It's about trust, it's about courage."

Kai Havertz, given a rare start by Tuchel, inspired the win over Everton. Havertz's shot was deflected in for a Ben Godfrey own goal in the first half and he earned the penalty that Jorginho converted.

"I'm very happy with his performance," Tuchel said. "He needs to adapt to the Premier League at a club where the highest standards are normal."

Chelsea are two points ahead of fifth-placed West Ham, who have a game in hand, in a tense race to qualify for next season's Champions League via a top-four finish.

Goals from Jesse Lingard and Craig Dawson gave Hammers a 2-0 home victory over Leeds.

"We need to hang in and see what we can do," West Ham boss David Moyes said of his side's chances of finishing in the top four.

- Milan Skriniar's second-half goal gave Inter Milan a 1-0 win over Atalanta, sending Antonio Conte's side six points clear at the top of the Italian Serie A.