Chelsea's bid for the Premier League identify changed into dented with the aid of a past due Jarrad Branthwaite equaliser as Everton held the Blues to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea started out with a real intent and should have gone in the front inner five mins. Reece James changed into sent via via a clever Jorginho pass, however the England global ought to best curl his effort huge of the near post.
Thomas Tuchel changed into without the services of Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi in attack, but there was no troubles in threat creation inside the early exchanges.
Mason Mount aspect footed an attempt inches beyond the publish after being threaded through with the aid of James earlier than Mount should best lower back heel the ball into the thankful arms of Jordan Pickford after Hakim Ziyech picked the England worldwide out within the penalty region.
Ziyech drew every other fingertip stop from the Everton goalkeeper and Mount, again, turned into denied through Pickford simply shy of the 1/2-hour mark. Marcos Alonso scampered down the left and whilst his pull returned reached Mount within the penalty place he could handiest aspect foot his effort immediately into the location of his England teammate.
The Blues then carved out their biggest danger of a remarkably one-sided first 1/2, with Mount over again left together with his arms on his head. The midfielder seemed sure to score while he changed into sent via through Antonio Rudiger following a wreck down from a corner, however Pickford changed into off his line swiftly to deny Mount along with his toes.
Chelsea persisted to pour forward after the c programming language, and went near thru an not going supply in Cesar Azpilicueta. The Toffees did not clear a James unfastened-kick but, after the ball fell invitingly to the Spaniard, he balooned his attempt over the bar.
The Stamford Bridge crowd have been starting to develop restless as Everton squandered a promising counter-attacking opportunity thru Alex Iwobi's indecision.
However, Mount eased the Chelsea trustworthy's worries at the 70th minute mark. With the Toffees stretched, James picked up ownership and sent Mount thru on goal with acres of space. After spurning several chances in the first half of the England global made no mistake this time, curling his effort spherical a helpless Pickford.
Just as Stamford Bridge began to exhale in concord, Rafa Benitez's side spoke back 3 minutes later. Anthony Gordon flighted a sumptous free-kick towards the a ways publish and 19-yr-antique Jarrad Branthwaite stuck out his leg to prod the ball beyond Edouard Mendy to send Chelsea returned to rectangular one.
