Joao Felix shines but usual failures cost Chelsea in Everton draw – 5 talking points

CHELSEA 2-2 EVERTON: Joao Felix scored at Stamford Bridge for the first time, but Everton twice came from behind to rescue a late point to help their relegation fight

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Chelsea V Everton: Pictures

Chelsea thought they had survived some nervy moments against Everton, but the Champions League quarter-finalists got pegged back by a last-gasp equaliser from youngster Ellis Simms.

The Blues looked to prolong their winning run, but Everton held firm for the opening 45 minutes to send the two teams in level at half-time. The impressive Joao Felix eventually broke down the visitors, scoring his first Stamford Bridge goal to break the deadlock early in the second half.

Christian Pulisic thought he’d doubled the lead, only for an offside in the build-up, and Everton grabbed a vital equaliser when James Tarkowski’s header was nodded over the line by Abdoulaye Doucoure. The hosts’ lead was restored minutes later, though, with Kai Havertz converting from the penalty spot after Reece James was fouled, but they couldn’t hold on as Simms fired in his late leveller

Chelsea came into the game off the back of three straight victories, beating Leeds and Leicester in the league either side of a Champions League triumph over Borussia Dortmund. They appeared to have taken confidence from the run of results, attacking with flair early on but lacking an immediate cutting edge.

Felix was at the centre of most of the hosts’ good early work, regularly creating space for himself despite the attentions of an organised Everton defence. The Portuguese also brought the first real meaningful save from Jordan Pickford, drilling a low shot too close to the England keeper.

He got the breakthrough less than 10 minutes into the second half, firing into the far corner after the visitors failed to properly deal with a Ben Chilwell cross. Everton briefly drew themselves level through Doucoure, but home nerves were settled when the calm Havertz converted from 12 yards.

It wasn’t over, though. Just as Chelsea thought the points were safe, Simms silenced the home crowd with a shot which crept into the back of the net.

1. Felix taking the reins

Can Chelsea afford not to sign Joao Felix permanently? Have your say in the comments section.

Joao Felix’s goal was his first in front of his home fans (

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Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

If Chelsea are unable to make Joao Felix’s loan move permanent, one of the problems they’re closer to solving might be back on the table. The January arrival led by example, even when his finishing was lacking early on, and Everton defender James Tarkowski clearly saw the threat when taking him down off the ball.

It felt like when the deadlock was broken, he would be involved. Sure enough, the loanee opted to do it all himself, collecting a half-cleared cross and finding the bottom corner of Pickford’s net.

With a bloated squad, balance has been a challenge for Potter, but a fluid front three featuring Felix, Kai Havertz and a rotating cast vying for the third spot seems to have borne fruit. Lose the Portugal international, though, and it will be back to square one.

2. Potter’s call for focus not heeded

Graham Potter’s pre-match press conference came amid the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals. Chelsea will face Real Madrid, the side who knocked them out of last season’s edition, but their manager wasn’t getting ahead of himself.

“We will focus on Real Madrid when we get there but at the moment our thoughts are on tomorrow and Everton,” Potter said on Friday. “I’d rather focus on Everton because the other stuff is a long way away.”

Chelsea certainly didn’t begin like a team distracted by next month’s action, taking the game to their visitors. Some will argue it was ‘only’ Everton and that the strugglers were always likely to invite pressure, but the recent goalless run under Potter shows how tough it has been for the Londoners to break down teams of that ilk.

There were positives, but wasteful finishing and struggles in the final third let them down. On another day, it might still have been enough for three points, but not this time.

3. Everton find answer to Calvert-Lewin absence Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the first of Everton’s two goals (

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AP)

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin still missing, it was up to Demarai Gray to lead the line for the visitors. While the former Leicester man is not lacking in other areas, there is a big difference between him and his absent team-mate when it comes to going up against an imposing Chelsea back three.

Calvert-Lewin has played less than 800 minutes in the league this season, but had been on the pitch for two of his team’s six wins and eight of their 25 points going into the trip to West London. The victory over Arsenal in Sean Dyche’s first game demonstrated the striker’s importance, but he hasn’t featured since.

Dyche, however, still knows how to set up a team to be a threat from set-pieces. Only time will tell if that will be enough to keep them in the Premier League, but Doucoure’s goal did at least give fans a reminder that there is more than one route to goal, while if Simms can build on this goal it could be a real bonus.

4. Kante’s timely return N’Golo Kante is closing in on a first-team return (

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PA)

The opening-day victory at Everton brought one of just two appearances for N’Golo Kante in the first half of the season, and remains the only time he has completed a full 90 minutes this term. Injury has kept him out of much of the campaign, while also ensuring he played no part in France’s run to the World Cup final, but he was named in a Graham Potter squad for the first time for Everton’s visit.

With the game closer than Chelsea might have liked, it was Ruben Loftus-Cheek rather than Kante who came on for Mateo Kovacic 10 minutes from time. Simply having the Frenchman available was important, though.

With some time off for the international break, Kante will be able to work on his fitness ahead of a return to action in April. Considering how important the former Leicester man was to the Champions League run in 2021, maybe it’s becoming easy to see why Potter has talked up the chances of further European glory.

5. Pulisic making his case Christian Pulisic made his first start since January (

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Getty Images)

Another player who has spent time on the sidelines is Christian Pulisic. The American returned from two months out to face his former club Borussia Dortmund, but this was his first start since the January 5 defeat against Manchester City.

Pulisic had a hand in an early chance for his side, sending in a low cross which Chilwell’s touch took within inches of Joao Felix. He linked up well with his attacking colleague again in the second half, finding the top corner with an impressive finish, only with an assistant’s flag to get in the way of his celebrations.

The 24-year-old made way for Conor Gallagher just after the hour mark and may be frustrated at the international break preventing him building up some momentum at club level. There is plenty of play left in the season, though, and plenty of time to have an impact at the business end.