Chelsea missed the opportunity to climb to the top of the Premier League as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton in challenging conditions at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Striker Nicolas Jackson came closest to breaking the deadlock for the visitors, striking the post with a close-range header and later being denied by an outstanding point-blank save from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
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The Toffees' resolute defense recorded their fifth clean sheet in six matches, frustrating Chelsea's attack throughout the game.
The result ended Chelsea’s eight-game winning streak across all competitions, including five consecutive league victories. Despite dominating possession, the Blues managed only five shots on target, with none significantly troubling Pickford.
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"It was very difficult. Everton are one of the best teams at keeping clean sheets, and we are one of the best at scoring," Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo said. "The first half was tough with the weather, but we showed fighting spirit. We are full of confidence and will keep pushing."
Everton, buoyed by the fervent home crowd and playing their first match since being acquired by the Friedkin Group, created several clear opportunities. Orel Mangala and Jack Harrison were both denied by Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez, who made crucial saves to keep the match level.
Defender Adarabioyo also produced a key block to prevent Iliman Ndiaye from scoring late in the game. Everton’s defensive resilience has been their cornerstone, with James Tarkowski praising the team's recent form.
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"Another clean sheet on the board, and we are building at the minute," Tarkowski said. "We're stopping top teams from scoring against us."
Chelsea will aim to regroup as they face a challenging schedule ahead, while Everton looks to build on their growing defensive stability.
