Chelsea’s eight-game winning streak came to an end in our final league fixture at Goodison Park after a hard-fought contest in tricky conditions ended goalless.
The Blues had the better of the chances in the first half, with Nicolas Jackson hitting the post and drawing a fine save from Jordan Pickford as we handled the wind, rain and Everton's physicality well.
Our hosts grew into the game either side of the interval. Robert Sanchez had already been called upon to deny Orel Mangala when he made himself big to magnificently thwart Jack Harrison, who looked set to score from close range.
It needed a similarly brilliant intervention from Tosin Adarabioyo to stop Iliman Ndiaye converting a loose ball from six yards out. For all our possession and territory, clear chances were at a premium in the second half, meaning a point apiece was the fair outcome as the Blues displayed our battling qualities on Merseyside.
The teams
There were two alterations to our last Premier League starting XI, against Brentford a week ago, with Axel Disasi and Pedro Neto coming into the side. The suspended Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke made way.
Gusto shifted across to left-back, with Disasi on the opposite side and Tosin and Levi Colwill in the heart of defence. Cole Palmer played his 50th Premier League game for us, while Neto lined up on the right of the three behind Jackson.
In swirling wind and rain, the Blues settled well. Inside the opening ten minutes, Palmer dragged a shot wide, Jackson nearly caught Pickford out after reaching a long pass first, and Neto fired straight at the England keeper.
Judging the weight of passes in wind that ranged from moderate to extreme and continually changed direction was the biggest challenge facing the 22 players on the pitch. Everton’s typically solid shape also proved tough to break down.
Going close
With 25 minutes on the clock we managed to do just that. A trademark Caicedo steal opened up space for Neto to feed Palmer down the right, and he crossed low for Jackson. Only a fine Pickford save prevented the striker opening the scoring in front of the Gwladys Street End.
On the half-hour, Pickford again denied Jackson, although this time from a much tougher angle. Enzo Fernandez, excellent all afternoon, had played the incisive outside-of-the-boot pass that penetrated the Toffees’ backline.
From the resulting corner we had a great chance to take the lead. Enzo’s set-piece was flicked on and Jackson nodded against the post from point-blank range, with Pickford charging out to thwart Gusto from the rebound. Following through on our full-back, Pickford was fortunate he got the slightest of touches on the ball.
Sanchez to the rescue
It wasn’t until seven minutes before the break that our hosts threatened Sanchez’s goal for the first time, Mangala drawing a fine full-length stop from the Spaniard.
Sanchez produced an even better save when the action resumed, spreading himself to keep out Jack Harrison’s close-range effort. A deep Ndiaye cross had found the former Leeds man unmarked at the far post.
Chelsea cranked up the pressure in response, winning a series of corners and free-kicks in dangerous positions as the contest became scrappier and the wind continued to howl.
Despite our territorial dominance, it was Everton who continued to create the more dangerous opportunities. Moments after Madueke and Christopher Nkunku replaced Neto and Jackson, Everton broke down our left. A sub of their own, Jesper Lindstrom, fired in a cross-shot Sanchez did well to get a hand to, with Tosin reacting brilliantly to block the follow-up effort from Iliman Ndiaye. It stopped a certain goal.
As the rain returned late on, Chelsea battled hard in search of a moment of quality that could break down an Everton defence renowned for their durability on home soil. It did not prove forthcoming, so even though we fired a rare blank on our travels, we still return to London with something to show for our efforts.
What it means…
Chelsea will be second in the Premier League table at Christmas.
What’s next…
We welcome Fulham to the Bridge for a very local Boxing Day affair. Kick-off on the 26th - Thursday - is at 3pm.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Sanchez; Disasi, Tosin, Colwill, Gusto; Caicedo, Fernandez (c); Neto (Madueke 75), Palmer, Sancho; Jackson (Nkunku 75)
Unused subs Jorgensen, Acheampong, Veiga, Casadei, George, Joao Felix, Guiu
Booked Disasi 82
Everton (4-3-3): Pickford; Young (Coleman 73), Tarkowski (c), Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure; Harrison (Lindstrom 74), Calvert-Lewin (Beto 73), Ndiaye
Unused subs Joao Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Armstrong, Chermiti, O'Brien
Booked Ndiaye 40, Pickford 45+1, Young 57, Neto 88
Referee Chris Kavanagh
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