Chelsea’s hopes of making it nine wins in a row in all competitions were halted at Goodison Park, as they played out a 0-0 draw against Everton. Despite the result, the Blues head into Christmas Day sitting in the top two of the Premier League table. Here are the key takeaways from the match:
1. First Clean Sheet in Six Matches
One positive for Chelsea was keeping a clean sheet after a six-game wait. Everton’s defensive tactics, which primarily involved sitting back, played a part. But there were moments when the Toffees tried to push forward.
In one instance, Jack Harrison found himself one-on-one with Robert Sánchez. However, the Spanish goalkeeper made an excellent save to deny him. Later, Tosin Adarabioyo showed composure as he cleared the ball from a dangerously positioned area right in front of the goal.
It’s worth noting that this clean sheet came despite Chelsea missing key players due to injuries and, in Marc Cucurella’s case, suspension.
2. Malo Gusto Struggles in Inverted Role
A recurring issue this season has been Malo Gusto’s inability to adapt to the inverted fullback role. Despite this, manager Enzo Maresca seems determined to persist with Gusto in this position.
When players like Marc Cucurella, Renato Veiga, or even Moisés Caicedo (when deployed at right-back) have played the role, they have effectively linked the backline to the frontline. In contrast, Gusto often opts for sideways or backward passes, even when attackers make runs into space.
The stats further highlight his struggles. Among the starters, only Everton attackers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye completed fewer passes into the final third than Gusto’s three. This starkly underlines how ineffective he was in fulfilling Maresca’s tactical demands.
Adding to the issue, an inverted fullback is expected to provide attacking depth. But Gusto has repeatedly shown that finishing isn’t his strength. Renato Veiga, who has previously excelled in this role, remained on the bench despite the defender's struggles. Maresca’s insistence on wrongly profiling the 21-year-old continues to hinder both the player and the team. Gusto should be allowed to play as a conventional fullback, where he has already proven his quality.
3. Enzo Maresca’s Poor Use of Substitutions
Despite having five substitutions at his disposal, Maresca only used two. He brought Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke for Nicolas Jackson and Pedro Neto. Notably, Neto was one of Chelsea’s better-attacking players on the day.
Jadon Sancho and Cole Palmer struggled, and Maresca could have introduced João Félix and Marc Guiu to inject fresh energy. As mentioned earlier, Renato Veiga could have replaced Gusto, who was visibly out of his depth. Félix’s creativity and quick feet might have unlocked Everton’s stubborn defense. Guiu, fresh from his hat trick on Thursday, could have been a menace to the hosts’ backline. This was a missed opportunity to make the most of Chelsea’s bench strength.
4. Injury Time Discrepancy
One of the notable changes in modern Premier League football is the extended injury time added to compensate for time-wasting, substitutions, and stoppages. However, on Sunday, the referee’s decision to add just two minutes raised eyebrows.
Everton’s goalkeeper was booked for time-wasting in the first half, and numerous delays occurred during free kicks, goal kicks, and throw-ins. With both teams making substitutions as well, a more substantial injury time was expected. While Chelsea may not have scored during additional minutes, they deserved the opportunity to make up for the lost time.
5. Missed Opportunity to Cement Second Place
A win at Goodison Park would have extended Chelsea’s lead over third-placed Arsenal. Instead, the draw leaves Arsenal just three points behind. With Manchester City, famous for their post-Christmas winning streaks, currently outside the top four, CFC cannot afford more slip-ups.
Currently, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa are all above Manchester City and harbor top-four ambitions. Chelsea must avoid performances like the one against Everton to maintain their position.
The Blues must capitalize on their chances, something Nicolas Jackson failed to do with two big misses. Enzo Maresca and his squad need to regroup quickly and deliver a stronger performance when they host Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day.