Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that Everton are not at the same level with Chelsea after his club were beaten at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, saying: “We have to be honest, we are not at the same level.”

Chelsea scored twice in the match to consolidate their grip on the fourth position in the Premier League.

Everton’s performance brought them back to reality and showed they will need further improvement if they are to break into the top four.

They had to wait until first-half injury time before they could test home goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and he saved a 25-yard low strike from Andre Gomes – the visitors’ only shot on target.

“They played better than us. They deserved to win,” he told BT Sport. “We were good defensively for 30 minutes. When they scored the game became difficult for us. They are a good team.”

Everton clearly came to west London to soak up a much pressure as they could. It went well for half an hour but the goal changed everything.

And the Italian tactician confessed that his side cannot compete with the class Chelsea had on view.

“The game that we planned was what we got for 30 minutes. We didn’t have a lot of opportunities,” he added. “Richarlison had a chance. But we have to be honest, we are not at the same level.

“We cannot play an open game against this kind of team. It was the plan to play the same way as we played against Liverpool, but against Liverpool we scored early.”

The priority now for the Goodison Park outfit is to maintain their challenge until May. Ancelotti insists they will do just that and is determined to draw a line under a disappointing night.

“We are looking to fight for Europe. This is good for us,” he continued. “We will be there until the last game. We are disappointed for this defeat but no tragedy. We look to the next game.”