Chelsea kept the pressure firmly on Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United with an efficient victory.

The Blues cut United's lead at the top to just two points with this win, with a virtual title decider awaiting the pair at Stamford Bridge on April 26.

Michael Essien's 41st-minute strike was enough to smother Everton's hopes, and the Toffees have now virtually lost all hope of catching Liverpool in fourth spot - they are now five points adrift, with an inferior goal difference.

But Chelsea now know United must get something at Blackburn on Saturday - or they will be waiting to pounce a week later.

Grant made five changes from the side held at home by Wigan on Monday, the likes of Joe Cole - only a substitute against Wigan - were needed for a game with so much at stake.

Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Shaun Wright-Phillips also returned, with Wayne Bridge, Alex, Florent Malouda, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti dropping out.

Everton brought back Joseph Yobo for Leighton Baines - enabling the defender to make his 200th appearance for the club.

Chelsea started with purpose and possession. It took 20 minutes for Everton to even get into the visitors' box, and that was from a corner.

Chelsea showed movement and passing that Everton found it hard to cope with. Twice in the opening spell Wright-Phillips had chances, with one charged down and the other curled over.

But Everton had the first real chance when Manuel Fernandes saw a stinging free-kick palmed away by Petr Cech - the ball bouncing up alarmingly in front of the goalkeeper.

At the other end Nicolas Anelka came in off the left flank to fire a low shot into the side-netting, before Carvalho was booked after 23 minutes for bringing down Joleon Lescott in full flow down the left.

On the half-hour, Everton were thwarted by a fine saving tackle from Essien, after Lescott had found Andrew Johnson on the penalty spot with time to work.

Wright-Phillips wasted a glorious chance when Salomon Kalou threaded a superb ball into the box for the winger to run onto.

Wright-Phillips needed to shoot first time but instead tried to drag the ball round Tim Howard, and the chance was lost.

Five minutes from the break, Chelsea made the decisive breakthrough.

Neat passing involving Kalou, Essien and Wright-Phillips ended with the ball deflecting off Phil Jagielka straight into the path of the Ghanaian - who lifted the ball into the top corner with clinical ease.

The pattern changed little after the break, with Everton trying their best but meeting stern resistence from John Terry and Carvalho.

Paulo Ferreira was booked for catching Steven Pienaar with his arm as the South African's pace surprised the Chelsea full-back.

Phil Jagielka dangerously allowed a long ball down the middle to bounce on the edge of the box, and almost headed over as Howard tried to retrieve the situation.

With Chelsea moving efficiently towards victory, Everton had to change things and Thomas Gravesen and Victor Anichebe took over from Johnson and Pienaar.

Everton at last made an impression and Fernandes produced a stunning, dipping free-kick which missed the far post by a coat of paint,

With the hosts daring to venture forward, the gaps were there for Joe Cole and Wright-Phillips to exploit.

Essien fired a dipping drive just over before Malouda replaced Joe Cole after 76 minutes.

Chelsea sent on Claude Makelele for Wright-Phillips with 10 minutes left - giving Everton another midfield obstacle to negotiate.

Slowly the life was squeezed out of the hosts, with Ayegbeni Yakubu getting precious little out of Terry as the visitors clinically ran down the clock.

Teams

Everton Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Neville,Carsley, Fernandes, Pienaar (Anichebe 63),Johnson (Gravesen 62), Yakubu.

Subs Not Used: Wessels, Baines, Rodwell.

Chelsea Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole,Wright-Phillips (Makelele 81), Obi, Essien,Joe Cole (Malouda 76), Anelka, Kalou.

Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Alex.

Booked: Carvalho, Ferreira.

Goals: Essien 41.

Att: 37,112

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).