Everton 0 Chelsea 0: Hard-earned point for hosts as the Sam Allardyce revival continues

The Sam Allardyce revolution continues apace at Goodison Park. Another unbeaten game, another clean sheet, more to the point, another elevated opponent left scratching their heads as to how they did not seize three points: everything is going right for the Big Man since he arrived on Merseyside.

“We scrapped it out, dug it out, battled it out,” beamed Allardyce afterwards. “Defensively you can’t knock the players in terms of keeping such a talented team at bay.”

He was right there. An Everton side who, for an alarming few weeks in the autumn, gave every appearance of forgetting how to defend, locked out the champions, completely frustrated a sparkling Chelsea front line. And it was not through a surfeit of luck. This was a proper rearguard action, disciplined, organised, effortful, with Michael Keane, Jonjoe Kenny and Jordan Pickford demonstrating that young English players still know precisely how to behave when their backs are to the wall.

What will have pleased Allardyce even more was that it suggested he has a squad, more than just a team. Wayne Rooney, who has been on sparkling form since Allardyce arrived in the Goodison dug out, was laid low with illness, so the home side were obliged to step out shorn of their talisman.

But then Chelsea too were depleted. With Alvaro Morata suspended for his fifth yellow card of the season, Eden Hazard was playing up front for the visitors, in the middle of a front 30, or more precisely a trio of number tens.

This, however, was not playing up front in the manner of, say, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. As became clear from the kick off, Hazard was everywhere, dropping deep, playing on the wings, happy to pick up the ball from his centre-backs.

But if the opposition’s tactics were hidden in the fog shrouding Goodison, this was a Big Sam defence they were taking on. Each man knew his place, each man knew his role. Not least Phil Jagielka, stepping into the team for the first time since Allardyce’s arrival and immediately understanding what was required. He was obliged twice in quick succession to clear off the line with Pickford beaten, first with his feet from Marcos Alonso then his head from Tiemoue Bakayoko.

“Even when they got past the goalkeeper, Jagielka decided Chelsea weren’t going to score,” said Allardyce. “That’s not luck.”

Chelsea, with their swift, intelligent interchanges dominated possession. According to the statistics they had more than 75 per cent of the ball. But, as Everton supporters are all too familiar after watching their team under Roberto Martinez pass themselves to distraction without any tangible success, that sort of analysis means nothing if not translated into goals. Sure, the visitors had opportunities - Pedro, unleashing a fiery shot which Pickford pushed over, perhaps the best of the lot. But the longer Chelsea failed to capitalise on domination, the more the possibility of a Big Sam smash-and-grab lurked on the horizon.

And Everton had chances in the first half. Not least when the endlessly industrious Dominic Calvert-Lewin did brilliantly to dispossess Andreas Christensen as they both chased a hopeful long ball. The Everton youngster then ran into the box, but, ignoring Gylfi Sigurdsson unmarked to his left, was comfortably dispossessed by the always alert Cesar Azpilicueta.

Allardyce switched to a three-man defence at half-time, instructing Keane to follow Hazard on his jaunts. Indeed Keane brought him down at one point on the edge of the Chelsea area, earning himself a yellow card in the process. Which meant the young defender then had to time a sliding tackle to perfection as the Belgian once more barrelled forwards.

Conte brought on Cesc Fabregas in the hope of finding the pass to unlock the stubborn Everton backline. But still it could not be breached. This was not for want of trying: Pickford produced several outstanding saves, from first Hazard, then to cut out Victor Moses’s fizzing cross, then to smother Antonio Rudiger’s stabbed shot. In between the substitute Ashley Williams inadvertently flicked the ball on to his own bar.

As the clock wound down, so the technical area became ever more fraught with tension. It was full pantomime season as Conte and alongside him Everton’s two Sams – Allardyce and Lee – were constantly yelling, constantly semaphoring, constantly warning their players the ball was behind them.

And in the game’s dying moments, there was even a hint there might be an absurd twist to the plot, when a couple of Everton set pieces threatened to have Conte tearing out his expensively acquired hair in frustration. But never mind that Keane headed Sigurdsson’s corner over the bar, the home crowd went home thrilled with this display of tenacity. It may not have been pretty, it may not have been total football, but after what happened to the club this autumn, it was a Christmas present the locals were delighted to unwrap.

2:22PM

FULL-TIME: Everton 0-0 Chelsea

Last chance for Chelsea with a throw... no that's it! Everton's defence holds firm despite an absolute barrage of efforts from Chelsea late in the second half. Sam Allardyce will be delighted no doubt with that defensive display given how Everton leaked goals earlier in the season.

Chelsea certainly missed Morata, a point today moving them four points clear of fourth-placed Liverpool.

2:19PM

90+3 mins

Rudiger now with a cross but Pickford is fouled leaping for the high ball. One minute left. Everton yet to have a shot on target...

2:18PM

90+2 mins

Everton survive again, Sandro doing his best to catch Chelsea out up the other end of the pitch only for Kante to step in. 25 attempts on goal for Chelsea so far with two minutes left.

2:17PM

90 mins

Keane with a cracking header wide of the goal! Had time and space on his side but couldn't direct it towards goal. Massive chance gone for Everton.

Chelsea's turn now, Alonso trying to cross it in but Kenny gets in there with a block. Four minutes of added time.

2:16PM

88 mins

Wouldn't this be typical. Everton free kick, into the sun towards Chelsea's goal. Cleared initially by Rudiger. Everton get a corner though.

2:14PM

84 mins

What a point this would be for Everton if they can hold on. Batshuayi trying to turn on the edge of the box but cannot find any space, closed in by Williams and Jagielka.

Another Hazard shot this time comes off Kante to give Pickford an easy save. The Everton keeper has been excellent, Jagielka too. Michael Keane named PL Man of the Match for his defensive work.

2:09PM

80 mins

Sandro not doing a lot upfront but he's worked hard in defence throughout. Zappacosta on for Moses and immediately puts in a promising cross, no Chelsea player near it however.

Hazard right to the byline and somehow that cross isn't turned in. Put it this way, we're now at the point where it seems remarkable that Chelsea have not scored. Fabregas with an effort that gets a deflection, yet another Chelsea corner. Cleared.

2:05PM

77 mins

Chelsea completely on top. Set-piece corner routine ends with Rudiger getting a flick on it which Pickford saves. 

Rare bit of space for Kenny but his cross comes to nothing. Chelsea then get a free-kick after another foul on Hazard. Whipped in by Azpilicueta but Keane gets there, corner to Chelsea.

2:02PM

73 mins

Batshuayi doing well to keep Chelsea's attack going, shrugging off a couple of tacklers. Through to Fabregas but he's offside, firing into the side netting.

So close for Chelsea!! Williams deflects a Moses cross onto his own crossbar! Closest Chelsea have been all day. Conte cannot believe it. Everton clear the resulting corner.

1:56PM

69 mins

Chelsea right on top. Short passes on the edge of the Everton box. All the blue shirts currently back there defending. Williams and Jagielka working hard with clearances and blocks.

Willian opens up his body and tries to curl one towards the right-hand post, but that's comfortably wide. That will be his last action, heading off as Batshuayi comes on.

1:53PM

65 mins

Ball retention not exactly a priority for either side in the last five minutes. Jagielka penalised for a shove on Willian as Chelsea build again, Sandro doing well though to get Everton away after a blocked pass.

Pickford with another save from Hazard! Top dive by the keeper to his left as Chelsea crank up the pressure. Fabregas tries to chip one in towards Bakayoko but that's too high. Goal kick.

1:49PM

61 mins

Corner punched away by Courtois. That's a better run by Hazard, who looks to be back up to full speed, and he picks up a foul for a pull of the shirt. Chelsea starting form halfway, putting in Pedro in some room down the left. In to Hazard before Kante's shot is blocked, Williams clearing. 

Chelsea change coming up, Fabregas on for Pedro.

1:46PM

58 mins

Hazard continues. Moses trying to poke a ball through to Willian, but he's offside. Scrappy second half to be honest but a chance for Everton now with a corner.

1:42PM

53 mins

Sun out for the first time at Goodison, into the eyes of Courtois. Everton's switch of formation working out quite well now they've settled down, not letting the visitors dictate as much in midfield.

Kenny's cross blocked by Rudiger but Everton can use the sun to their advantage here with a few high crosses. Hazard hacked down by Beningime and Keane, with the latter seeing yellow.

Hazard quite slow to get up as he hobbles off. Fabregas warms up but looks as though Hazard is just sore.

1:35PM

49 mins

Keane does very well to chase down Bakayoko and win the ball back, no foul. Everton trying to his back, Kenny with a cross which Chelsea clear.

Gueye down to get some treatment. If he goes off that of course would be Everton's third and final change. He's coming off, replaced by Baningime.

1:33PM

47 mins

Bakayoko probably the best player on the park so far and he gets Chelsea going straight away, Moses' cross cleared into touch. Back come Chelsea and Hazard's effort is saved by Pickford!! That was a cracking chance.

Shift in defence from Everton as a result of those changes and the adjustment process could cost them here. Fizzed across by the box by Chelsea before Willian's effort goes wide. Tons of chances now for the visitors with nothing to show for it. Good block during the passage of an Alonso shot by Williams.

1:31PM

Second half underway

Both teams back out and a couple of Everton changes, Ashley Williams and Sandro Ramirez on for Lennon and Davies respectively.

1:18PM

HALF-TIME: Everton 0-0 Chelsea

And that's the break - that double block by Jagielka off the line the closest we have come to a goal as Everton's defence has just about held firm. They've had chances too, especially at the end there through Calvert-Lewin. No lack of space, possession or territory for Chelsea but the final product hasn't been there. Second half on the way.

1:16PM

45 mins

Huge let-off for Chelsea! Calvert-Lewin fights for the ball and with a three-on-two inside the Chelsea box goes for a shot when the pass was on. Blocked and Chelsea clear, but that was a right mess of a big chance where he never looked up. Sigurdsson fuming.

1:14PM

43 mins

Willian with an audacious backheel in the Everton box to absolutely no one. Schneiderlin averts any danger with a clearance. Chances of a breakthrough for either side feel pretty slim.

1:11PM

39 mins

Dangerous cross from Willian but nobody there in the box for Chelsea, just Morata's ghost. Rudiger blasts from a mile out, blocked by Gueye. Pedro with a tricky effort first-time cannot connect. Edging towards half-time.

1:08PM

36 mins

Willian's corner aimed towards Christansen but he cannot get the header on target. Everton respond, Kenny whipping in a cross that Chelsea deal with easily. 

1:04PM

34 mins

Game in a bit of a lull. Poor pass though picked off by Bakayoko who feeds Pedro, forcing Pickford to work as he punches that behind following the shot from the left. Corner.

1:01PM

30 mins

Everton, through Schniderlin, trying to get back some control in midfield. Nine efforts for Chelsea thus far to Everton's two.

Martina battling with Hazard and give up a throw deep in Everton's half. Kante out wide to Moses... easy for Pickford who tries to get Everton away on the break. Davies with an effort from long-range, but wide. Could have had another touch. 

12:58PM

26 mins

Quality ball to Alonso but that's a hand ball as he goes to control it. Then Willian loses control on the touchline. Those moments just seem weird because Chelsea have been phenomenal in the first half hour so far and have done everything but score.

12:54PM

23 mins

Pedro can't quite connect with an effort on the edge of the box. Chelsea's passing has been excellent... until a Hazard laser over to the right finds absolutely no one and bounces into touch. Sorry, Eden.

12:51PM

19 mins

Kante and Bakayoko at their best there, boxing Everton in before winning the ball back and threading it right to Moses. Foul by Martina who sticks out a leg, good position for a free-kick here which Marcos Alonso will whip in (possibly a shot). Martina gets a booking.

Willian instead goes for it aiming for the top right corner, but it's high and wide.

12:49PM

16 mins

Chelsea's turn to be pressed back. Gueye trying to find Lennon over the top but too much on it.

12:43PM

13 mins

Booking for Calvert-Lewin. Everton's defence getting a right test here as Chelsea exploit the space out on both wings. 

12:40PM

11 mins

Double block off the line from Jagielka! Instinctive defending there and incredibly Everton stay level. Cross from Hazard, efforts from Bakayoko and Willian both denied.

12:38PM

9 mins

Bright start from Davies, filling in for Rooney today. Martina with a cross in towards Calvert-Lewin but he can't quite connect with the header.

12:36PM

7 mins

Chance for Everton but Lennon's cross from the right is blocked by Azpilicueta, Sigurdsson threatening there. That's got the crowd going.

12:35PM

6 mins

First corner, Azpilicueta's cross turned behind by Keane. Pedro strikes from outside the box but it's wide to the left of the goal.

12:33PM

4 mins

Rudiger finding Moses again deep in Everton's half. Hosts have barely crossed the halfway line in fact.

12:31PM

2 mins

Early danger for Everton as Moses whips in a cross from the right, although it's beyond Hazard. Moses with a ton of space however early on.

12:30PM

Kick-off

And we're underway. The fog, thankfully, has lifted over Goodison.

12:21PM

Missing top scorers

19 goals in the league so far this season between Wayne Rooney (10) and Alvaro Morata (9), which puts the pressure on the rest of their respective sides to step up with both strikers absent.

Next highest PL scorers this season for each club

Eden Hazard (CHE) - 5
Oumar Niasse (EVE) - 5
Marcos Alonso (CHE) - 4
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (EVE), Pedro (CHE), Gylfi Sigurdsson (EVE) - 3

12:09PM

Everton's last win over Chelsea was...

Don't worry, I know you all said the FA Cup 6th round victory at Goodison in March 2016. 2-0 that day, both goals coming from Romelu Lukaku within five minutes.

Chelsea have since won the last four, with three of those wins coming in the league: 5-0, 3-0 and at the start of this season, 2-0. Which is fairly comprehensive.

11:50AM

Pay day for Courtois

One from earlier in the week - Matt Law revealing that Chelsea are set to make Thibault Courtois the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world.

11:44AM

Latest on Barkley

Timothy Abraham here with an update on Ross Barkley's future, after he played in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week following his comeback from a ruptured hamstring.

11:37AM

Chelsea XI

And here's Chelsea. Rudiger getting a start in place of Cahill, no Morata of course after his suspension.

11:34AM

No Rooney - Everton XI

Ignore all that below on Rooney's revival - he is out of today's game with Chelsea due to illness. Lennon and Sigurdsson up top supporting Calvert-Lewin, Tom Davies in the Rooney role.

11:28AM

Welcome

Hello there! Ninth hosting third then to kick off today's Premier League action from Goodison Park, with Everton unbeaten in the league going back to the end of November.

Wayne Rooney's purple patch has been a key factor in that run, leading to comparison from Jason Burt to... Jay-Jay Okocha? It all makes sense here.