The Friedkin Group’s era at Everton started as Farhad Moshiri’s tenure ended, with a goalless draw against a London club with designs on the top of the Premier League, and a strengthening of Sean Dyche’s case for the stabilisation job that the new owners require. Chelsea missed the chance to go top of the Premier League as their eight-match winning run in all competitions came to a halt at Goodison Park.
Enzo Maresca’s insistence that Chelsea lack the experience and pedigree for a sustained title challenge was given credence as his players toiled against a resolute Everton defence. Dyche’s side had the clearer opportunities and, despite failing to take any, departed the more satisfied team at the end of a momentous few days for the club.
The inaugural game of Everton’s new era kicked off in atrocious weather and with no respite on the pitch until Chelsea constructed their first meaningful attack after 26 minutes. Dyche’s team offered control but little creativity, as is so often the case, while the visitors struggled to stretch a compact Everton defence. Idrissa Gueye was an added complication for Chelsea, sticking close to Cole Palmer throughout as Dyche sought to contain the playmaker who destroyed his side at Stamford Bridge last season.
Chelsea’s patience was almost rewarded when Moisés Caicedo and Pedro Neto combined to finally release Palmer down Everton’s left. Nicolas Jackson connected powerfully with Palmer’s low centre only for Jordan Pickford to save with his legs. Malo Gusto, switched to left back in the absence of the suspended Marc Cucurella, headed over from the rebound.
That breakaway started a dominant spell for Maresca’s team but clear-cut opportunities remained scarce. Jackson headed against a post when Axel Disasi flicked on an Enzo Fernández corner. The ball rebounded towards Gusto, whose shot deflected wide via a slight touch off Pickford. It was fortunate for the Everton goalkeeper that he did make contact with the ball having launched himself into the challenge. He would have been in serious trouble otherwise.
Pickford’s opposite number, Robert Sánchez, was tested only once before the break, tipping away an Orel Mangala drive that was heading for the bottom corner after Everton broke through Iliman Ndiaye and Abdoulaye Doucouré.
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A series of petty confrontations – Levi Colwill and Pickford, James Tarkowski and Jackson, Tarkowski and Fernández, Tarkowski and Disasi – interrupted the momentum of an uneventful contest. Chelsea at least performed with greater urgency in the second half, but not the guile or cutting edge required of a team seeking to go top of the Premier League, however briefly. The best opening fell to Everton’s Jack Harrison when found completely unmarked inside the Chelsea penalty area by Ndiaye’s clever cross. Harrison had time to control and pick his spot, but was unable to beat Sánchez from close range.
Everton created another excellent chance to break the deadlock when two substitutes, Beto and Jesper Lindstrøm, combined with Mangala to pierce the Chelsea defence. Sánchez diverted Lindstrøm’s low shot into the path of Ndiaye, who appeared certain to convert until Tosin Adarabioyo produced a vital block on his goal-bound shot.
