This fixture promised to be a tight affair, as in spite of an early season stutter for the visitors, both sides approached the match in fine form. Hosts Chelsea were still unbeaten in the league so far, while Everton had won 4 of their last 5 games in all competitions.
As first halves go, the opening 45 minutes of the encounter between Chelsea and Everton were rather tame.
Neither side managed to muster a host of clear cut chances, but nevertheless, there were still a number of talking points to mull over at the interval.
The visitors made a surprisingly bright start to this fixture, as they mounted the first attack of the game in the opening few minutes. An early spell of high pressing led to the first corner of the game, and what should have been the first effort on target. However an in-swinging cross from Lucas Digne could only be directed wide of the net by the on-rushing Andre Gomes.
Everton followed up this early effort with another soon after, as Brazilian Bernard took aim from the edge of the area. The strike was well hit, but unfortunately for the visitors, it curled off target at the very last moment.
The flurry of early chances for the visitors did not seem to phase hosts Chelsea, as they proceeded to take control of possession and looked to attack their opponent’s back line.
Returning winger Eden Hazard picked up his excellent form where it had been halted due to injury, as he did his best to inspire his teammates into creating offensive openings.
Indeed, it would be one of Hazard’s trademark winding runs that would present Chelsea with their first true sight of goal. The Belgian was chopped down just shy of the penalty area by an Everton defender, and thus the hosts had the chance to take aim at the Everton net.
As expected, Spaniard Marcos Alonso stepped up to take the set piece, and if it were for a slight bit more top spin, he would have fired the hosts into the lead. As it was, Alonso’s effort curled agonisingly wide of the bottom left corner of the goal.
November 11, 2018
The half hour mark arrived and still no clear cut chances had been made. Both sides were seeing plenty of the ball, but were unable to use it to good effect, as possession lingered near the centre third of the pitch.
A consequence of this constant ball exchange was the booking of three of the four central midfielders on the pitch. Kante, Jorginho, and Andre Gomes were all penalised for cynical fouls which halted opposing attacks.
As the half drew to a close, there was just enough time for Chelsea to test the Everton rearguard once more. Again Eden Hazard drew a foul from a swarm of Everton midfielders, which presented the hosts with another set piece opportunity.
The quick thinking of Willian and Marcos Alonso alone deserved to break the deadlock. The Brazilian played a quick lobbed pass into the left channel, which was met superbly by the on-rushing Alonso. But the Spaniard could only draw an excellent save from Toffees stopper Pickford.
One last moment of controversy would reign before the interval. A host of small fouls and stoppages stewed a partial air of bad blood between the sides, none more so than between Chelsea’s Rudiger and Everton winger Bernard. After a tussle on the ball, the play continued up the field, and the two were left behind.
However replays showed that the series of shoves had led to the two squaring up to one another, and Brazilian Bernard appeared to flick his head into the face of Rudiger.
Upon contact, the German defender fell to the floor holding his face. Yet the only retribution that his adversary would face was a yellow card. Bernard was perhaps a tad fortunate to escape a more serious punishment for what was a very silly reaction.
Official Kevin Friend brought the first half to a close with the scores locked in stalemate.
November 11, 2018
The second period of the match showed much early promise.
In particular, hosts Chelsea came flying out of the gates in the first few minutes, keen to assert some dominance in the otherwise even contest. Alvaro Morata had the only clear chance of a strong spell; the Spaniard just managed to latch onto an Eden Hazard cross, but his front post prod was tipped wide at the last by a sprawling Jordan Pickford.
After this initial shock at the beginning of the second period, Everton replied with a number of opportunities themselves. But for a better piece of control, winger Theo Walcott would have been one on one with Chelsea stopper Kepa. However the Englishman could not sort out his feet, and under the pressure from recovering defender Alonso, the ball bobbled away from him at the last.
Gylfi Sigurdsson was the next to try his luck. The Icelandic international did one better than his teammate, as he managed to get a shot away and hit the target. Unfortunately, Chelsea’s Kepa was in inspired form, and parried the rasping drive over the bar.
In a chaotic ten minute spell, both sides would have penalty claims waved away. First, an Everton corner kick seemed to strike the arm of defender Toni Rudiger, but the referee adjudged the incident to have been accidental, and as such, nothing was awarded.
Then, soon after, Chelsea would launch a counter attack, which culminated in Alvaro Morata lying flat out on the turf. Again the Spaniard seemed to have been locked in a battle with centre half Yerry Mina. And after having a clear view of the incident, Kevin Friend waved away the appeals from the home fans and players.
The match became stretched as proceedings drew to a close, with both sides desperate to nick all three points for themselves. However it was not to be.
November 11, 2018
Overall, neither side managed to grind out any clear cut chances throughout the entirety of the tight contest; and as such, the stalemate, and the share of the spoils, was probably an even result.
Nonetheless, both teams will take heart from the fact that they took at least a point from the contest. Perhaps title-chasing Chelsea will be the more disappointed team, as they dropped points at home, in a game they would have expected to win. In contrast, Everton will view the result as one point gained; as they continue their rise back up the table, with a point away from home against a top quality side.