Chelsea missed the possibility to go prime of the Premier League as they have been held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Goodison Park.
The windy situations performed their half in a scrappy affair, which noticed The Blues fail to attain within the league for the primary time in 16 matches.
Chelsea’s finest probabilities of the sport fell to Nicolas Jackson within the opening interval, with the ahead being denied at close-range by Jordan Pickford earlier than seeing his header from a nook look the upright.
Everton didn’t create something of be aware within the first half however went shut within the second as Robert Sanchez produced an outstanding cease to disclaim Jack Harrison from contained in the field earlier than Tosin Adarabioyo’s heroic block saved out Iliman Ndiaye from a matter of yards.
The end result sees Chelsea miss the possibility to leapfrog Liverpool into first forward of The Reds’ journey to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Enzo Maresca’s males as an alternative stay behind the leaders, having performed twice extra.
As for Sean Dyche’s aspect, they transfer up fifteenth forward of Crystal Palace on purpose distinction and with a recreation in hand on The Eagles. They’re now 4 factors away from the relegation zone.
It marks one other constructive end result for Everton after their goalless draw at Arsenal final week whereas issues are trying up off the pitch too after the Friedkin Group’s accomplished takeover of the membership this week.
Dyche’s aspect will likely be hoping to proceed this spectacular run towards the league’s elite as they journey to Manchester Metropolis on Boxing Day.
Maresca’s aspect, who missed the possibility to increase their profitable run within the league to 6, return to Stamford Bridge to host west London rivals Fulham.
Speaking Level – Chelsea stutter as Everton stay powerful nuts to crack
Chelsea got here into this conflict as prime scorers within the Premier League and with probably the most away objectives within the division however it was a largely irritating afternoon for his or her assault.
Jackson was saved quiet following his couple of possibilities within the opening interval, whereas Cole Palmer didn’t reveal his regular high quality within the last third.
The end result won’t be overly regarding for Maresca however he’ll take not of his aspect failing to deal with a low block, a behavior which turned acquainted final season underneath Mauricio Pochettino.
In the meantime, after trying defensively weak within the opening levels of the marketing campaign, Everton have now saved clear sheets of their final three leagues ties and in 5 of their final six.
Regardless of Everton scoring simply as soon as of their final six, Dyche has made them an extremely powerful aspect to face and so they look nicely drilled to keep away from relegation, with solely 5 sides within the division conceding fewer this season.
Participant of the match – Iliman Ndiaye
In a match missing high quality, Ndiaye was one of many few gamers to showcase some composure and leading edge within the last third.
The summer season signing triggered issues all through for Axel Disasi down Everton’s left and it was his cross that picked out Harrison for his golden likelihood earlier than being denied by the heroics of Tosin.
Participant rankings
Everton: Pickford 7; Younger 7, Tarkowski 7, Branthwaite 6, Mykolenko 7; Doucoure 7, Gueye 7 Mangala 6; Harrison 6, Calvert-Lewin 6, Ndiaye 8*.
Subs: Beto 5, Coleman 6, Lindstrom 6.
Chelsea: Sanchez 7; Disasi 5, Tosin 7, Colwill 6, Gusto 6; Caicedo 7, Fernandez 6; Neto 6, Palmer 6, Sancho 6; Jackson 5.
Subs: Madueke 5, Nkunku 5.
Key moments
26′ – BIG CHANCE FOR JACKSON: Neto drives in the direction of the realm earlier than feeding Palmer into the proper of the field. The Englishman picks out Jackson on the sting of the six-yard field however he’s denied at shut vary by Pickford.
32′ – JACKSON GOES CLOSE AGAIN: Disasi will get a small flick on an inswinging nook from the left which sees the ball run by to Jackson on the again put up however the striker’s header hits the upright.
50′ – GREAT SAVE BY SANCHEZ: Ndiaye picks it up on the left and delivers an inswinging cross that reaches Harrison on the again put up. He has the house to take a contact however as he seems to be to tuck dwelling along with his left foot, Sanchez comes out and spreads himself fantastically to disclaim the Everton man.
78′ – GREAT BLOCK BY TOSIN: Everton win the ball in midfield and might feed Lindstrom into the proper of the field. His ball throughout the face of purpose drops to Ndiaye a matter of yards out however Tosin places his physique on the road to make a vital block.
