Chelsea boss rewrites history but his side miss big opportunity in title race

MAURIZIO SARRI set a new Premier League record – but still ended up looking deeply frustrated after a Stamford Bridge stalemate.

The Chelsea boss has not lost in his first 12 Premier League games, which beats Frank Clark’s previous best run of 11 games set in 1994/95 with Nottingham Forest.

But the reality was that it was a missed opportunity for the Blues, two points dropped in the face of Everton’s resilience and brave defending.

Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford was man of the match with a string of spectacular saves (right), particularly from the hosts’ attacking left-back Marcos Alonso. But Chelsea must also look to themselves because they lacked the guile to find a way through.

This was a game Everton would have lost in the past but they stood firm and defied Chelsea at every turn.

Basically, if Eden Hazard is not at his absolute best, they have very few alternatives, and that may ultimately undermine their title challenge.

Alvaro Morata does not look a titlewinning centre-forward and far too often they ran down blind alleys.

In fairness to the Toffees, this was not just about Chelsea’s wayward finishing either. It was also very much about good, strong, disciplined defending from the visitors.

Marco Silva had Everton well drilled, they are harder to beat and are no longer a soft touch which was illustrated by the manager’s touchline theatrics.

Silva was barking orders, complaining about decisions and getting himself involved in an entertaining sideshow with Sarri as the two managers lost patience with each other.

Sarri ( far right) kept telling Silva to shut up, putting his finger to his mouth in frustration, even though it was Everton who were often the victim of some brutal challenges.

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho was lucky to only get a yellow card for a shocking tackle on Gylfi Sigurdsson. Alonso’s challenge on Theo Walcott was not much better but did not even warrant a free-kick.

Referee

Kevin

Friend often looked as if he had lost control, and the niggling nature of the first half spoiled the game as a spectacle.

He completely missed the flare-up between Everton’s pint-sized Brazilian midfielder

Bernard and

Chelsea’s giant centre-half

Antonio Rudiger in first-half injury time.

Bernard was unhappy at Willian’s shoulder charge so took it out on Rudiger. On another day Bernard could have easily got his marching orders for pushing his head towards Rudiger’s.

But Friend saw none of it so just