Thomas Tuchel angry after depleted Everton ‘punish’ Chelsea in shock draw
This time there was no late penalty to spare Chelsea’s blushes. The pressure was aimless and Thomas Tuchel made no attempt to hide his displeasure as the minutes ticked away. Carelessness had afflicted his side once again and unless Chelsea find a ruthless streak soon, it will not be long before they have fallen out of the title race. On current form Tuchel’s side, who have won three of their last seven games, do not look ready to fight with Manchester City and Liverpool. The killer instinct is missing. Champions do not squander this many opportunities.
The harsh reality is that City and Liverpool would not have drawn with Rafael Benítez’s spirited but depleted Everton side, especially after going ahead. Chelsea could have no excuses, even though they were without four forwards because of positive Covid-19 tests. There were far too many missed chances again and although Tuchel argued that Everton scored from their sole chance, Chelsea had only themselves to blame after failing to build on Mason Mount’s 70th-minute goal 20 minutes from time.
“We got punished again,” Tuchel said, bemoaning the shoddy defending that allowed Jarrad Branthwaite to haul Everton level in the 74th minute. The German went on to call it a freak result, although these slip-ups are starting to form a pattern for Chelsea. After all, Branthwaite’s first goal for Everton was the ninth that Chelsea have conceded in their last five games.
There is a lack of focus all over the pitch. Chelsea had 23 shots but only 10 troubled Jordan Pickford. Everton, eight points above the bottom three, could hardly believe their luck.
For Benítez, this was a satisfying return to his former club. At the end the Spaniard ambled over to join his players as they lapped up the acclaim of an appreciative away end. Earlier a couple of Everton fans had held up a banner calling for Benítez to go; 90 minutes of hard graft later the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager was celebrating a crucial point.
“We had so many issues with injuries, with illness,” Benítez said. “The way the team reacted when the goal was conceded showed character. After you could see the celebration with the fans, everybody could see how important it was.”
It was a battling performance from Everton – something for their manager to build on after a torrid spell. Yet it was not a defensive masterclass. Creating chances was not an issue for Chelsea; the problem was taking them.
Consequentially the European champions made a meal of another winnable game, just as they did when they needed a last-minute penalty to beat Leeds last weekend. Everton were there for the taking. Branthwaite, 19, accompanied Michael Keane in central defence and problems in attack, where Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Salomón Rondón, Richarlison, Demarai
Gray and Andros Townsend were all unavailable, meant a debut for Ellis Simms. Predictably enough, the young forward barely had a kick.
For all Chelsea’s superiority, though, they somehow managed to complicate matters. The game went ahead despite Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday – Kai Havertz was awaiting a result on his test and was not risked, while Mateo Kovacic’s quarantine ends today – but Chelsea still had enough to take advantage of Everton’s frailties.
There was no shortage of chances. Reece James and Mount fired wide from inviting positions and Christian Pulisic, who led the line, was denied by Pickford. At times it seemed Pickford was taking on Chelsea single-handedly. James and Ziyech were denied and Pickford’s best moment came when he stuck out his legs to frustrate Mount, who finished tentatively after skating on to Antonio Rüdiger’s pass.
Everton, who were unable to fill their bench, gradually settled. Abdoulaye Doucouré drove through midfield before being fouled by Ruben LoftusCheek, who was booked, and at the start of the second half it seemed that Benítez’s cautious plan was working.
Jonjoe Kenny, playing out of position at right midfield, was helping Everton’s right-back, Mason Holgate, deal with Ziyech. Mount went close, but the chances had dried up. Loftus-Cheek was labouring in central midfield, while
Pulisic was poor.
Tuchel responded, bringing Saúl Ñíguez and Ross Barkley on for LoftusCheek and Marcos Alonso. Chelsea’s intensity returned. With 20 minutes left, Thiago Silva robbed Doucouré and started a counterattack. Barkley found James and the right wing-back released Mount, who drew Pickford before scoring his fourth goal in as many games.
It should have been enough for Chelsea but they have given away the lead seven times in five games. Everton soon jabbed at that weakness. The tireless Anthony Gordon delivered a free-kick from the left and Branthwaite peeled away from Saúl before beating Mendy. Stirred into action, Chelsea tried to rouse themselves and Pickford was forced to make a stunning save from Silva. It seemed a storm was coming. In the end, though, it all fizzled out.