A week like no other. The Friedkin Group has officially been installed as owners after final approval was given on Thursday. That was quickly followed by the symbolic handing over of the keys to our new Everton Stadium. A tide of optimism is rising but the little requirement of playing football matches has to be addressed so that the new dawn can take shape.
The last five games played between Everton and Chelsea has been evenly split. Everton have won two of the last five matches, Chelsea have also scored two victories and there has been one draw. Chelsea will head into this game with confidence sitting second in the table and having thrashed Everton 6-0 the last time the two teams played each other. Although, Everton have won five of their past six Premier League home games against Chelsea, as many victories as from the previous 17 meetings at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche named the same starting eleven that drew against Arsenal last time out. Dwight McNeil remained out with a knee injury but there was space on the bench for Youssef Chermiti. Armando Broja was ineligible to face his parent club.
Chelsea made two changes to the side that beat Brentford last weekend. Marc Cucurella was suspended after his sending off, so Alex Disasi came into the side, with Levi Colwill moving to left back. The other alteration saw Pedro Neto replace Noni Madueke, who was on the bench.
Everton FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
As the teams emerged from the tunnel, new Executive Chairman Marc Watts was proudly wearing his new Everton scarf. Chris Kavanagh was the man in the middle as the match kicked off in the Liverpool 4 rain. Chelsea were wearing their England knockoff kit and Everton were wearing their classic royal blue.
The early exchanges were timid and Cole Palmer should have done better from 25 yards out. Chelsea were controlling the play but the outlet to Ndiaye was clearly the path forward on the counter . Kavanaugh heard jeers from the Evertonians when he asked for a retake of the kick because the wind was blowing the ball. The wind was swirling and the rain started to lash down.
FBL-ENG-PR-EVERTON-CHELSEA Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
A surging run by Jarrad Branthwaite resulted in a free kick just outside the Chelsea box. Ashley Young stood over it but his effort was easily handled by Sanchez. Chelsea continued to probe around the Everton box but could not penetrate. Their first real chance saw Palmer to cross the ball into Jackson but Jordan Pickford was quick to react.
Nicholas Jackson should have scored when a corner made it all the way through the box to the Senegalese striker but his header from 5 yards hit the post. Pickford was then quickly off his line to put pressure on Fernández who pleaded for a penalty but was ignored by Kavanaugh.
FBL-ENG-PR-EVERTON-CHELSEA Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
A lovely through ball from Ndiaye to Doucoure fell to Mangala whose shot was goal bound before Sanchez got down to make a smart save. Moments later Pedro Neto wriggled between Ndiaye and Mykolenko and was pulled down by Ndiaye which resulted in a free kick and a yellow card.
It was all handbags when Tarkowski was taken down by Colwill and Pickford then jumped into his England teammate. One minute of added time was announced and Everton were happy to slow things down. Jordan Pickford made some form of gesture to the assistant referee and was given a yellow card for his protestations. The Everton keeper was incensed as he headed to the dressing room for half time.
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The second half kicked off with Everton kicking towards the Gwladys Street End with no changes to either team. Chelsea were moving the ball much quicker but Everton were matching them defensively. Ndiaye was getting on the ball more and a lovely cross from him fell to Harrison who could not squeeze it by Sanchez.
Everton FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Ndiaye was at it again and it took a foul from Jackson to slow him down. The free kick was taken and Tarkowski and Disasi got all tangled up before the Chelsea defender bumped his knee into the fallen Everton captain. The Goodison crowd voiced their displeasure and raised their voices in support of their team.
The fast pace of the first fifteen minutes of the half was slowed down by a series of fouls from both teams. It was all very disjointed with neither team able to tame the blustery conditions. A driving run from Palmer saw him fouled on the edge of the box and the young Chelsea star prepared to take the free kick but the Everton wall stood firm.
FBL-ENG-PR-EVERTON-CHELSEA Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea were buzzing around the Everton box but the final pass was being suffocated by the Everton back line. A nice break from Harrison saw him cross the ball to Ndiaye but he could not get a shot away. Doucoure then had a shot blocked which set up Everton’s first corner which was taken by Ndiaye but the corner was poor.
Dyche’s team was working so hard and it was time to freshen things up with Coleman, Beto and Lindstrom coming on for Young, Calvert Lewin and Harrison. The Everton captain received a rousing reception. Chelsea also rang in the changes and decided to throw on Madueke and Nkunku up front for Jackson and Neto.
FBL-ENG-PR-EVERTON-CHELSEA Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Somehow Everton did not score when Lindstrom broke down the right after some good work from Beto. Sanchez got a hand to eat but it was Tosun who was able to block the shot from Ndiaye.
It was all happening as Palmer then threw down Branthwaite probably from his frustration as much as anything. Coleman was then breaking down the right and earned a corner which was taken by Lindstrom but it was poor. Disasi was given a yellow card when he dragged down Ndiaye.
Everton FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
Evertonian hearts were in their mouths when Gueye slipped on the ball and Sancho knicked the ball from him but Gueye recovered well and nullified the chance. Everton were then on their bike with Ndiaye driving forward and the follow up shot from Mangala was easily saved by Sanchez.
Two minutes of added time was announced to the roar of the Goodison crowd. They were pushing their team to the finish line and when Kavanaugh blew his whistle the Chelsea heads dropped and the Everton boys raised their fists.
Everton MOTM - Vitalii Mykolenko - After the first four games of the season where the young Ukrainian struggled, there has been a growing maturity in his defensive work. Today, he was up against Pedro Neto and Christian Nkunku. His defensive work was meticulous and the wingers were nullified. One block, six clearances, two headed clearances and three interceptions were enough to contribute to another clean sheet.
Boring to watch for some, perhaps, but for Evertonians this was another point gained in this very difficult festive period. Sean Dyche has his team defending as a team from front to back. Chelsea had an xG of only 0.77 after having an average of more than 2.1 this season. We didn’t score but we did have chances.
With the arrival of Dan Friedkin on Thursday and the appearance of new Executive Chairman Marc Watts at the match today, there was always going to be a greater excitement at Goodison Park. It should be said that the fervor of anticipation has been tempered in a very impressive way by the Friedkin Group in their initial communications, ?They announced that they intend to “strengthen the men’s first-team squad through thoughtful and strategic investment” which has to be the path forward after eight years of chaos and mismanagement under Moshiri. Today was the first game under the new owners and
Today, Everton were up against the highest scoring team in the Premier League. To contain Palmer and Jackson, Everton had to adapt to their movement. Palmer and Jackson were dropping into the centre circle to receive passes out from the defence, before a first-time interchange set one of the forwards away through the Everton defence. To counter this, Everton were in a flat three midfield to stop that initial pass from making it to Palmer and Jackson. This forced the play wider but neither Neto or Sancho could break down the fine wide play of Mykolenko and Young. The clean sheet was the first time Chelsea were held scoreless since the first game of the season.