Chelsea’s three-match winning streak was ended in dramatic fashion by an impressively resolved Everton side at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as the Toffees rallied from a goal down twice to earn a 2-2 draw in Premier League play.
The hosts took the lead shortly after the break. joao felixThreaded finish, for Abdoulaye Doucoure to head the visiting tie with just over 20 minutes to go. However, Reece James’s advance into the visitor’s area was illegally halted soon after, giving Kai Havertz the opportunity to score the resulting penalty kick. Just as Chelsea looked set to claim their fourth successive win, the Toffees substitute ellis simms he shot home an 89th-minute equalizer to secure a share of the spoils for Sean Dyche’s side.
positives
Potter’s defensive trio of Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly and benoit badiashile he looks better with each passing game and, on those solid foundations, Chelsea were able to dominate the first hour, and in attack they showed enough clean one-touch exchanges to suggest that Potter’s training is consistently connecting the points.
negatives
Once again, the Blues were left to lament their indecision in the opposition box. Too many bad decisions in good positions proved costly and allowed the peg to drift for too long. Everton grew in confidence as Chelsea looked increasingly weary and the hosts’ mismanagement of play was exposed in dramatic fashion.
Manager rating out of 10
5 — Potter’s side controlled the game for long periods, but were never out of Everton’s sight. While there were positives to the hosts’ performance, the substitutions made by Potter at key moments did little to help his team’s cause. Christian Pulisic’s withdrawal came just as his influence was growing, while late additions disrupted Chelsea’s control of play and the visitors were able to put together an equalizer without any semblance of pressure on the ball. A learning experience for the boss of the Blues.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players featured after 70 minutes get no rating)
G.K. Kepa Arrizabalaga6 — The Spain international directed his defense well and never wasted possession when it came his way, but he was little involved overall, such was the balance of the game. There’s no fault for Doucoure’s goal from close range, but he could have done better with Simms’ late leveller.
DF Wesley Fofana, 8 — Energetic, proactive and quick at all times from the former France youth international. He had the answer to Everton’s occasional questions and he seems more and more comfortable with Koulibaly. He could have further enhanced his display with a goal, but he headed over the bar from a Ben Chilwell corner.
DF Kalidou Koulibaly, 7 — He reads the danger shrewdly to stifle Demarai Gray’s attempted advance. She provided a comedic moment when Amadou Onana he rebounded off of it dramatically, and he also did very well to beat off Dwight McNeil’s drive late in the first half. Hard yellow card for a foul on Alex Iwobi but it seemed impassable until the later stages, when he tired and allowed Simms to move on and level off.
DF Benoit Badiashile, 7 — He showed his inexperience with an unnecessary foul on Gray in a dangerous position late in the first half, but his mistake went unpunished. That turned out to be perhaps the only blemish on a solid performance as he continues to take Potter’s defense well.
FM reece james6 — The full-back’s passing radar was a bit sketchy at times, but his presence alone makes him the main man on Chelsea’s right flank when fit. He is still not back to his best form, but he grew in the game and made a great contribution by winning the hosts’ penalty.
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FM Enzo Fernandez6 — Always under the visitors’ radar, always looking to make late runs into the box, but his teammates’ supply line wasn’t good enough. Everton could not get close to him to dispossess him when the ball did reach him. He showed brilliant ability to dislodge McNeil in first-half stoppage time, and his cross ball played a big part in Félix’s opening goal, but he tired late in a tangled midfield and lost Doucoure in a key part of the game. Everton draw.
FM matthew kovacic6 — The captain should have broken the tie in five minutes, but he deflected a tempting chance for a wide volley. Other than that, a positive display packed with countless interceptions and clever angled passes that posed a constant threat to Everton’s defensive lines.
FM ben chilwell6 — Involved from the first minute. Strong in the defensive challenge and always on the hunt in attack. He showed boundless energy from him, but Chelsea couldn’t bring him into the game often enough. When they could, he was a constant threat with the delivery of him, both in open play and on set pieces.
F.W. Christian Pulisic5 — Off the pace early on, he wasn’t helped by a free kick shot from Gray to the forehead. She saved her best contribution of the first half for the last seconds of discount when his superb cross went into the bucket. She started the second half with more spirit and had a good finish canceled for offside, but was replaced by Conor Gallagher just before the hour.
FW Kai Havertz, 6 — Despite the recent improvement in his form in front of goal, the youngster still seems happier when he drops deeper to get involved in the game. He too often looked back when he was in possession. He sent a decent opening head straight to jordan pickford in the early bars of the second half. He showed his nerve with a brilliant penalty conversion.
FW Joao Felix, 7 — A mixed first stint featured a frustrating lack of final product alongside some light-hearted snippets of approach gameplay. A small turn made the home fans roar. He had a powerful shot on the half hour mark well fielded by Pickford, but the Portuguese international took his revenge with a well spent first goal. A constant threat until his belated removal.
substitutes
MF Conor Gallagher, 5 — He had a lively late career restricted by michael keane but was unable to help Chelsea control the visitors’ resurgence.
FM Ruben Loftus-CheekN/A — Introduced in place of the exhausting Kovacic at the end, but he couldn’t get into the game.
FW Carney Chukwuemka, N/R — He had very little time to shine and was unable to pick up the pace of the game, as evidenced by his passive role in the visitors’ second equalizing goal.
DF Trevoh ChalobahN/A — Released for the final moments and unexpectedly spent most of his time in the Everton half looking for a last-minute winner.