David Unsworth rings the changes but Chelsea too strong for Everton
David Unsworth's first match as Everton's caretaker manager ended in a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The club favourite, who has spoken of his desire to permanently succeed the sacked Ronald Koeman, presided over an improved performance - but he will likely require more from his players if he is to succeed.
A vastly-changed team from that which on Sunday lost 5-2 at home to Arsenal, before Koeman's dismissal, played with greater confidence and energy and repeatedly threatened but lost following Antonio Rudiger's and Willian's goals.
Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin responded in injury time at Stamford Bridge - but at a point when the Toffees' elimination had already effectively been secured.
Unsworth, 44, recalled Tom Davies, Kevin Mirallas, James McCarthy and Aaron Lennon, each having become peripheral under Koeman despite providing the pace Everton have obviously missed.
Summer recruits Michael Keane and Gylfi Sigurdsson were also dropped to the substitutes' bench, but Chelsea's Antonio Conte similarly made numerous changes.
The Italian, who has repeatedly revealed concerns surrounded his squad's strength in depth, gave Danny Drinkwater his debut, Ethan Ampadu his full debut, and rare starts to Kenedy, Willy Caballero and Charly Musonda.
After beginning with greater composure and taking the lead, the hosts were stretched by Everton, suggesting Conte is right to be concerned.
Rudiger scored his first for the club since his summer arrival for an initial £29m in the 26th minute.
Willian played a left-wing corner short to Musonda, who then sent a curling cross into the penalty area, from where the unmarked Rudiger did well to leap and send a looping header over Jordan Pickford and inside the far left post.
It took until early in the second half for Everton to create a clear chance - but when they did the impressive Caballero would not be beaten.
From Jonjoe Kenny's cross on the right wing, Mirallas knocked possession down to Wayne Rooney, who struck from directly in front of goal but watched Caballero's reaction save tip the ball wide.
The goalkeeper then rushed out to clear when Lennon ran through on goal almost immediately after, before producing a similarly impressive save from Phil Jagielka's header.
After Caballero had also saved from Mirallas' shot on the turn, Chelsea doubled their advantage in added time.
From another short corner, Willian exchanged passes with substitute Cesc Fabregas before running into the area and, at an angle, superbly curled a shot beyond Pickford and inside the far right post.
Oumar Niasse and Calvert-Lewin had by then already been introduced from the bench, and when Niasse's ambitious run took him into the penalty area and Chelsea struggled to clear, Calvert-Lewin routinely sent the loose ball beyond Caballero and into the back of the net for the visitors' consolation.
