Sarri makes history but Chelsea are held by Everton

» MAURIZIO Sarri extended his unbeaten start in Premier League management to a record 12 games as Chelsea were frustrated in a bad-tempered encounter with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian is undefeated in competitive games at Chelsea, but must have wondered how his side missed out on a ninth league win as Jordan Pickford denied Marcos Alonso, Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard in yesterday’s 0-0 draw.

Referee Kevin Friend doled out seven yellow cards in a tetchy contest, two coming following an off-the-ball incident between Bernard and Antonio Rudiger.

The height difference of one foot and Rudiger’s amateur dramatics might have helped Bernard escape with a booking for motioning his head towards the defender. Jorginho and Alonso could also be considered fortunate to avoid greater punishment for bad challenges.

The visitors started well in their quest for a first win at Chelsea in 24 years, with Bernard shooting narrowly wide and the intensity of their press troubling the Blues.

At the other end, Alonso curled a free-kick just wide, before the full-back went even closer near half-time. Willian floated a freekick to the left side of the area and found Alonso, who struck a sweet volley which Pickford was equal to.

Eleven seconds after the restart, Pickford saved Everton again as Morata tried to turn in Hazard’s cross at the near post.

Everton had chances of their own. Gylfi Sigurdsson saw a drive saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga, before Bernard fluffed a great opportunity, failing to control a Sigurdsson cross at the back post.

As Chelsea countered, Hazard freed Willian with a fine pass, but the Brazilian shot wide across goal. Pickford twice saved from Hazard, the second after a deflection off Yerry Mina, before Alonso hit the outside of the far post and Morata had a strike ruled out for offside.