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27 min: Pulicic does so well to keep the attack alive before he’s upended. Then Joao Felix, who is having some game, produces a delicious turn to leave his marker. Chelsea build but the final ball isn’t there and Everton repel them once more. It’s pretty, but it’s at arm’s length.
26 min: A monstrous tackle from Koulibaly wins the ball back off Onana who goes down in a heap. Joao Felix does really well, from his knees, to keep the ball in play. But the recycled attack fizzles out.
24 min: A poor Iwobi clearance allows Chelsea to keep the pressure on. It’s worked to Joao Felix on the right byline and his little chip to the back post drifts out over the bar.
23 min: An Everton free kick from their own half is launched into the Chelsea box. That’s route one for sure. A second dink in the mixer almost finds Tarkowski at the far post but it’s out for a goal kick.
That was Coleman, by the way, who put in the decisive touch to deny Joao Felix from cantering through after the break earlier.
21 min: Pickford in the action again. He gathers a low cross from the right but how close was Joao Felix from making contact?! Millimetres from the opener as he slid in at the near post.
20 min: A shot from Havertz. He collects the ball on the inside left and no one closes him down. So he sets himself and shots, looking to curl it in. There’s no power so it’s a comfortable save for Pickford.
19 min: A poor pass from Kepa puts James under pressure but the right back recovers well. That opens space in midfield and Chelsea are in here. But the pass back in field to Joao Felix is behind him and Everton clear it away.
18 min: McNeil takes a pop shot from distance and it’s a mile over the bar.
17 min: Chelsea’s attack breaks down on the edge of the Everton area and the visitors counter. It’s a long ball again but Gray does well to win a throw-in deep in Chelsea territory.
14 min: Chelsea with 87.2% possession. Surprised it’s not higher. They have a free kick in their own half and Badiashile carries it forward. But Everton get it back only to launch another hopeful ball up the field. Bit stodgy at the minute. Everton won’t mind that.
13 min: Havertz on the right wing now gets into a tussle with Godfrey and gives away a free kick deep in Everton territory, but that was good hustle from the Chelsea forward. He’s started brightly.
13 min: It’s all Chelsea. When Everton win it back a nothing long ball gives Gray no chance of keeping it under control. He’s looking isolated already.
11 min: Havertz, from a standing start, jumps and headers the corner over the bar. Just couldn’t climb high enough to keep it down.
10 min: Good work from Kavacic sees him wriggle out of a tight spot and keep the ball alive. Enzo Fernandez gets involved too. Havertz down the left is staying quite wide. James’ cross from the right is too deep but it’s still Chelsea’s ball. Joao Felix is put into space in the box, he turns and shoots but it’s blocked for a corner. Chelsea looking good.
8 min: Chelsea look composed with a back three. They’re well set to stifle Everton’s build up and the mifdield in front of them look assured too.
Pulicic darts down the left and it’s cleared for a throw in. Chelsea keep the ball.
7 min: Everton swing in a free kick from the left. Chelsea break with Haverts up the flank. But Everton snuff out the danger.
6 min: Kovacic lashes a volley wide! Big chance. The corner isn’t cleared and sits up for the midfielder. He perhaps tried to hit that too hard and sliced it off his boot. In the end it’s well wide.
4 min: Chelsea have a free kick out on the left. It’s a good angle to whip in a cross. Chilwell’s left foot it is. It’s a good ball and Keane nods it behind for a corner.
3 min: There’s a shot blocked from the edge of the Everton box. That was fired in by Enzo Fernandez. An appeal for a handball is ignored.
1 min: Cagey start – aren’t they almost always so? A stat has just come up that Everton are the league leaders under Dyche at playing the ball long. Chelsea’s back three exchange the ball a few times before they launch it long.
Peeeeep! The whistle blasts out and Chelsea, in their royal blue, kick off with Everton in pink.
Not long now. They’re lining up in the tunnel. Chelsea start this game out of the top half of the table. They’re 11th. A reminder that an Everton win would take them 12th. Can we call this a six pointer? Does that pass the threshold?
Everton have won just once away from home this season. Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 27 home games in the league against the Toffees (W 15 D12) since they lost 1-0 in November 1994.
Stats are for the birds but that’s quite something.
Graham Potter speaks before the game:
We’ve been a little more positive, more aggressive in our approach. A little but of luck as well. Pleasing for the boys. We;’ve had a tough time and stuck at it.
Wins help [with the mood]. Performances weren’t as bad as the results we were getting. We need to keep going. There is confidence and belief there.
Did you catch this strange plot twist? Chelsea could buy another football club! Weird, right? Ed Aarons & Romain Molina reveal all:
A recap of the other Premier League games on today:
Aston Villa 3-0 Bournemouth
Brentford 1-1 Leicester
Southampton 3-3 Tottenham
Wolves 2-4 Leeds
That’s a big point for Southampton who snatched it at the death with a 93rd minute Ward-Prowse penalty. More misery for Spurs.
The Saints are just a point behind Bournemouth now but still bottom of the log. Leicester are in trouble as Leeds climb all the way to 14th.
As for our game, a point at least would seriously help Everton who are now down to 17th, though a win could lift them to 12th.
Wolves v Leeds has descended into anarchy. It’s 4-2 to Leeds after a 97th minute goal for Rodrigo and two red cards for Wolves.
Follow along here:
For those of you counting, Ben Chilwell reaches his half century for Chelsea today.
Something has definitely shifted at Chelsea. Potter was caught on camera swearing, like a real person, as he bantzed with some fans at an event. But was does this really mean? Barney Ronay gets to the bottom of this:
Not sure if you’ve seen this, and also not sure if you feel like welling up, but if the answer to those questions are ‘no’ and ‘yes’, take a quick peep.
He’s copped a lot of heat since he settled in the hot seat at Chelsea, and he’s even received death threats after some poor performances, but Graham Potter seems to have found a rhythm now.
Karen Carney says that this once stuttering Chelsea side is starting to play to their manager’s beat.
Everton unchanged
Sean Dyche has clearly seen something he likes and starts the same team that beat Brentford.
Everton: Pickford; Tarkowski, Keane, Godfrey, Coleman (c); McNeil, Onana, Doucoure, Iwobi, Guyeye; Gray
Replacements: Begovic, Holgate, Mina, Coady, Mykolenko, Davies, Garner, Maupay, Simms.
Pulicic given chance to shine
The American magician starts as Potter goes in search of a fourth straight win. N’Golo Kante returns and will start on the bench.
Chelsea: Kepa; Badiashile, Koulibaly, Fofana; Fernandez, Kovacic (c), Chilwell, James; Pulicic, Joao Felix, Havertz
Replacements: Bettinelli, Chalobah, Cucurella, Chukwuekmea, Gallagher, Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Madueke, Murdryk
Preamble
Good afternoon folks and welcome to this MBM of a game between two teams who have felt the blues for various reasons this season. Everton have produced a load of ol’ dross and find themselves just one point above the relegation zone. Depending how other results go they could end the weekend bottom of the log.
Chelsea haven’t exactly lit the place up either but three wins on the bounce for Graham Potter, as well as progression to the Champions League quarterfinals, has the manager in a chipper mood.
Three points won’t see them catapult up the table (though they will nudge ahead of Fulham in ninth who are occupied with the FA Cup). Still, league tables are less important right now than vibes and those have been good at Stamford Bridge of late.
My name is Daniel. Thanks for joining me. Do drop a line if you fancy.
Kick off at 17:30. Teams and other bits to come.
English (US)