Enzo Maresca has maintained that his Chelsea team should not be considered Premier League title contenders just yet, despite an eight-game winning run in all competitions suggesting otherwise.
On the evidence of this goalless draw, the Chelsea head coach is right as his youthful side had their resolve tested in unwelcoming conditions and showed they are not quite at the standard to master everything that is thrown at them.
With the chance to leapfrog Liverpool into first place, at least until the leaders faced Tottenham Hotspur later in the day, Chelsea struggled to assert themselves at a wind-swept Goodison Park against a combative Everton.
Apart from two chances for Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea hardly went close and, overall, this was a frustrating afternoon for the visitors who were far from their best. The rough-and-tumble nature of the game seemingly didn’t suit them.
Everton had worked hard for a 0-0 draw away at Arsenal last weekend and another battling display kept the league’s top-scorers and most in-form team at bay. Another gutsy point will be considered valuable in their fight to remain out of the bottom three.
The hardy qualities that Sean Dyche’s players exhibited will have been well received by the members of the Friedkin Group who were present for Everton’s first game under the new ownership.
Incoming executive chairman Marc Watts was in attendance having given his assurances to Dyche on Friday that he and his staff have their “full backing”. Results like the past week will do Dyche no harm at all but more besides will determine whether his contract is extended beyond next summer.
A victory would have capped a positive week for the club and had Jack Harrison not been denied by Robert Sanchez or Tosin Adarabioyo not produced a crucial block to halt Iliman Ndiaye, who was the home team’s most creative spark, they would have clinched one.
But, still, a game that was far from easy on the eye will have gone down far better with the home crowd than those of a Chelsea persuasion.
Story of the game
Chelsea will have realised there were battles to be had on numerous fronts early on: a strong wind swept cones onto the pitch and made setting up free-kicks an arduous task; James Tarkowski and Axel Disasi, in for the suspended Marc Cucurella, were in perpetual confrontation; and the visitors’ passing lanes were often clogged.
Chelsea remained patient in their build-up despite Cole Palmer not often being found in the positions they would have hoped. Their control increased after a slow start but so too did their frustrations as the half wore on.
Their best opening came when Palmer was released down the right by Pedro Neto. Although the 22-year-old’s centre into the Everton area was slightly behind Jackson, the Chelsea striker fired an effort from close range that tested Jordan Pickford’s reflexes as the Everton ‘keeper saved with his legs. Malo Gusto headed the rebound over the crossbar.
Jackson also planted a header against the upright from a corner that bypassed a crowded penalty area and found him at the back post. Pickford flying out to thwart another follow-up attempt from Gusto was whole-hearted to say the least and he was lucky not to be pulled up for it. The needle only increased from there.
It was as Chelsea’s play started to gain momentum that Everton upped their game either side of half time. They drove forward through Abdoulaye Doucoure after Ndiaye’s pass instigated the counter and Orel Mangala’s shot was pushed away by Sanchez at full stretch.
Sanchez would make an even better save five minutes into the second half when he was quick off his goalline to deny Harrison after Ndiaye had waltzed past Disasi to create the opening. There was little doubt that the Senegal international was key to Everton’s limited creativity.
A testing afternoon for Maresca’s side was getting no easier and the head coach should be commended for the attacking changes he made with 15 minutes left. However, Dyche’s own substitutions were far quicker to make an impact.
Beto won a tussle with Levi Colwill and Mangala took the ball forward before Jesper Lindstrom whipped a low cross in from the right that Sanchez repelled. Adarabioyo’s magnificent block halted Ndiaye as he set up to strike the loose ball.
Chelsea were unable to create a late chance of their own as Maresca and his players were left to settle for a share of the points after being held to a first shutout in the league since the opening day of the season.
