Chelsea drop points as Everton earn draw at the Bridge

 

Eden Hazard played following his recovery from a recent injury. [Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire]

Chelsea 0 Everton 0


Chelsea remain unbeaten under Maurizio Sarri but were unable to find a way past Everton.

Both teams threatened during a frenetic second-half spell at Stamford Bridge, where Marcos Alonso hit the post shortly after the hour mark.

Antonio Rudiger’s ball forward was directed towards Alonso by Eden Hazard, and the Spaniard’s shot from the left-hand side of the penalty area beat Everton keeper Jordan Pickford and clipped the woodwork.

Earlier, Alonso steered a free-kick narrowly wide and, late in the first half, had the game’s first effort on target when Pickford kept out his volley from Willian’s right-wing cross.

Pickford also kept Chelsea at bay after the interval, denying Alvaro Morata after the striker had been found by Hazard.

Morata also had a goal disallowed, having strayed offside before tapping in from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.

Ross Barkley featured against his former club – but only as a late substitute after boss Sarri opted to start with Mateo Kovacic.

Chelsea: Kepa, Alonso, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Kante, Jorginho (Fabregas 64), Kovacic (Barkley 82), Willian (Pedro 68), Hazard, Morata.
Subs not used: Caballero, Giroud, Zappacosta, Christensen.