Everton infuriated Chelsea in a performance familiar to Sean Dyche teams, as the Toffees cooled down red-hot Chelsea with another scoreless draw at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The nil-nil was Everton’s fifth of the season, remarkable in that there have only been nine of the increasingly-rare scoreless splits during this Premier League campaign.
[ MORE: Enzo Maresca’s post-match reaction ]
There was a party atmosphere before kickoff at Goodison Park as Everton took the field for the first time under the Friedkin Group’s ownership.
Title-chasing Chelsea were expected to ruin the celebrations but instead leave with just one point, ending an eight-match winning streak across all competitions. The Blues haven’t lost in 13 matches dating back to an Oct. 20 League Cup exit at Newcastle United.
Chelsea’s 35 points are one fewer than table-topping Liverpool, who have two matches-in-hand and kickoff with Spurs later Sunday.
Everton move 15th with 20 points.
Suddenly finish-challenged Blues saved by Sanchez, Sancho
The Blues created a decent amount of chances given the Toffees’ strong, resolute execution of a typically-stingy Sean Dyche set-up, and Maresca said he was happier with their performances than some winning ones on a windy day at Goodison Park. Everton went full Dyche, and their very physical play drew Chelsea into a little bit of distraction and a big bit of a scrap. Perhaps that’s why the Toffees got a few very good chances themselves, but found themselves denied by Robert Sanchez. The Chelsea goalkeeper isn’t universally admired by made a terrific stop on Jack Harrison on a four-save day as he was asked to do about the same amount of shot-stopping as Jordan Pickford despite only seeing 20 touches of the ball. Nicolas Jackson was a bit off, and Pedro Neto joined Pedro Neto in being a bit quiet. Jadon Sancho was a force for the visitors, but Everton’s play forced him to join Chelsea’s defensive midfielders in getting stuck into challenges more than delivering chances (Sancho won 12 of his game-high 20 duels and drew three fouls). It’s an okay point, not a good one for Chelsea, and they can thank Sanchez for it.
Everton vs Chelsea player ratings
(via fotmob.com)
Everton vs Chelsea player ratings (via fotmob.com)
Everton vs Chelsea player ratings (via fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Chelsea host Fulham at 10am ET Thursday (Boxing Day), then go to Ipswich Town at 2:45pm Monday.
Everton kick off the Boxing Day slate at 7:30am at Manchester City, then host Nottingham Forest for a 10am Sunday scrap.
How to watch Everton vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9 am ET Sunday (December 22)
Venue: Goodison Park — Liverpool
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live on NBCSports.com
Everton vs Chelsea final score: 0-0
Everton vs Chelsea live updates — By Nick Mendola
Toffees denied!
Another rare but huge chance for the hosts.
Robert Sanchez makes a save on second-half sub Jesper Lindstrom, who replaced Harrison, and a juicy rebound is well-blocked by Tosin Adarabioyo.
That would’ve been a gut punch for Chelsea!
Chelsea subs
Noni Madueke and Christopher Nkunku enter for Jackson and Pedro Neto in the 76th minute.
More of the same
If the lack of updates leads you to infer that we’ve still got a Dyche-ian master class on our hands, you’re correct.
Everton comfortably enough en route to another nil-nil.
Huge chance for Everton!
A Chelsea error has led a numbers break for the Toffees, out of nothing!
Jack Harrison is all alone with Robert Sanchez at the post, and the splayed Chelsea keeper gets his leg on Harrison’s would-be opener!
Everton’s first moment. Will it be their last?
Halftime — Everton 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea have produced a few high-danger chances and look best-suited to winning this, but it’s felt more even due to the edginess.
Jordan Pickford saw yellow before the break for a childish protestation to the AR, though Sean Dyche didn’t like it.
Shots are 8-2 for Chelsea, xG is 0.65-0.04, and possession is 76-24.
But it’s 0-0. Dyche is like Bane in Batman, he was born in this, molded by it.
Feisty affair as danger increases
Everton are always up for a fight, but Chelsea are up for one, too, and it’s getting testy.
Levi Colwill barges Tarkowski to the turf in the Everton box, and the latter — and his teammates — are none-too-pleased.
So far this has been a game Dyche would enjoy, but perhaps we’re learning Maresca is prepared for the same so long as it doesn’t distract his Blues from their mission.
Nicolas Jackson down
Nicolas Jackson came together with James Tarkowski, and needed some tending to.
He’ll play on but keep an eye on the Blues leading scorer.
Everton ceding possession
It’s pretty clear. Dyche would take a fourth 0-0 of their Premier League season, as Chelsea are on 75% of the ball and the Toffees are fighting for the ball but seem fine with what’s on display on Merseyside.
All Chelsea early
The Blues are holding almost all of them ball, and have engineered a couple of half-chances, but Sean Dyche will mostly be comfortable with his first 10 minutes at Goodison.
Everton lineup
Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana Gueye, Mangala, Harrison, Ndiaye, Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Disasi, Colwill, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson
Everton vs Chelsea preview — By Andy Edwards
It should be nothing short of a party atmosphere before kickoff at Goodison Park on Sunday when Everton take the field for the first time under the Friedkin Group’s ownership, though title-chasing Chelsea will have one or two ideas about spoiling the party.
The takeover had been a long time coming as the club struggled to stay afloat (and in the Premier League) in recent seasons, and its completion couldn’t have come at a better time with the January transfer window less than two weeks away. Toffees fans will be thrilled to turn the page and build upon some much improved results (and performances) in recent weeks. After conceding 13 goals in 4 games (all defeats) to start the season, Sean Dyche’s side has only given up 8 in the 11 games that followed (3W-6D-2L). Everton (16th place - 15 points) sit three points clear of relegation heading into matchweek 17.
Even though Chelsea (2nd - 34 points) are just two points behind leaders Liverpool, Enzo Maresca spent the week downplaying Chelsea’s PL title credentials this season. “No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title. One of the reasons why is because I think [other] teams know how to compete for titles.” Whether they are “ready” or not, whether Liverpool and Arsenal “know how to compete for titles” or not… the title is there to be won. The Blues are guaranteed to be in the PL’s top-2 at Christmas for the first time since 2016-17, when they last won the title.
Everton team news, focus
OUT: Dwight McNeil (knee), Armando Broja (loan - parent club), Timothy Iroegbunam (ankle), James Garner (back) | QUESTIONABLE: Youssef Chermiti (ankle)
Chelsea team news, focus
OUT: Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Marc Cucurella (suspension), Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (undisclosed), Omari Kellyman (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Romeo Lavia (undisclosed), Joao Felix (undisclosed)
Everton vs Chelsea prediction
If you tell me Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson are both fit, I’m going to have a hard time picking against Chelsea at the moment. 20 goals and 9 assists (many of them to each other) in 17 games is title-winning form. Everton 1-3 Chelsea.
