Neto double beats Everton as Martínez is stretchered off and taken to hospital

Pedro Neto scored twice as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 on Saturday, but the win was overshadowed by a serious head injury to Emiliano Martínez, who was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

The goalkeeper was hurt in a clash of heads with Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite as the pair challenged for a free-kick on 75 minutes, according to TNT Sports. Chelsea's own match report said Martínez collided with Branthwaite and Thierno Barry while clearing an inswinging free-kick.

Play was halted for a lengthy stoppage while Martínez received treatment, and 11 minutes were added at the end of the match. Branthwaite was also treated but carried on.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso told BBC Sport the injury was a concussion.

"It was a concussion, but beyond that I do not know. I have only seen one clip of the incident, so we need to wait," he said.

"What we know is that he left the stadium conscious and is now in hospital undergoing precautionary tests."

Penders handed his debut

Mike Penders came on in Martínez's place for his Premier League debut. At 21, ESPN reported, he became the youngest goalkeeper Chelsea have fielded in the competition.

He kept the goal intact through the closing stages, and that mattered more than usual. ESPN and TNT Sports both noted it was Chelsea's first Premier League clean sheet in 23 matches; Chelsea's official report described it as their first since January. Either way, it had been a long wait.

Neto's goals came at either end of the second half. The first arrived 43 seconds after the restart, according to Chelsea's report, after Jorrel Hato's work down the left. The second came in the 90th minute, when Jordan Henderson's free-kick was blocked and Neto turned the loose ball in from 12 yards.

"We are really pleased. Shame for Emi but we wish you all the best. This win is for him," Neto told TNT Sports.

"We needed a clean sheet to be honest. I think we did a very good game."

What it means for the table

Chelsea moved up to fourth on 13 points, level with third-placed Brighton, according to TNT Sports, and climbed above Everton before the rest of the weekend's Premier League action. Everton sit seventh on 10 points.

The result ended Everton's unbeaten start to the season, ESPN reported. TNT Sports pointed out it was also the first time since February, when they lost 1-0 to Manchester United, that Everton had failed to score in a Premier League home game.

It was Chelsea's first win against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, according to the club, and a change of direction in a fixture that had recently favoured Everton. ESPN's record of the previous five meetings showed three Everton wins, one Chelsea win and one draw.

A crowd of 52,271 watched the match, which was refereed by Paul Tierney.

Brighton have the chance to move clear of Chelsea again when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday at 13:00 UTC.

For Chelsea, the bigger question is who will be in goal next weekend. They host Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 24 October, with a 5.30pm kick-off, and whether Martínez is available will depend on the outcome of the tests he is undergoing in hospital.