Chelsea FC News

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher dissects the flashpoints from the weekend’s action, including Aleksandar Mitrovic’s red card as Fulham imploded against Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Man Utd 3-1 Fulham

INCIDENT: Aleksandar Mitrovic is sent off for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during Fulham’s 3-1 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “He had no option but to send him off.”

DERMOT SAYS: “You cannot manhandle a referee.

“We spoke the other week about Bruno Fernandes against Liverpool when I was of the opinion it wasn’t a red card offence, but I did say I don’t condone anyone touching a referee.

“However, in Mitrovic’s case, I think it is much more aggressive. He’s got hold of the ref and pulled him back. He’s been given a red card and what you saw after the red card was so aggressive and so nasty towards Chris Kavanagh, and that is why I think he has done an absolutely fantastic job for himself and referees in general because he kept his cool.

“He didn’t react to it or get sucked into it. He kept his composure and I really admire him. He stood up for what referees stand for.

“I said at the time that I didn’t condone what Fernandes did. I don’t think it is wise to touch a match official.

“However, I don’t think that is aggressive. It is petulant from Fernandes, and he could have easily been given a yellow card for that. People would have accepted that.

“I still don’t think the Fernandes incident is a red card offence, but the Mitrovic incident is.”

Asked if Mitrovic should receive an additional ban for his behaviour, Dermot said: “It’s not for me to decide.

“There is a process and it is for the FA to decide once they’ve seen Chris Kavanagh’s report, once they’ve seen the video.”

Mitrovic’s sending off – Have your say

A selection of your best comments discussing Mitrovic’s red card…

Man Utd 3-1 Fulham

INCIDENT: Was Fulham forward Willian rightly sent off for handball which resulted in Manchester United’s penalty?

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “I thought it was handball.”

DERMOT SAYS: “Once the referee gives a penalty it has to be a red card because the ball is going in the net. He’s stopping a goal.

“The key decision is whether it is handball.

“He goes to the screen and gives handball. Once he gives handball, he’s got to send Willian off. That’s a given.”

INCIDENT: Fulham head coach Marco Silva was also sent off for his reaction on the touchline. What line has to be crossed for a referee to brandish a red card to a manager?

DERMOT SAYS: “We’re guessing and that is an area I’m not willing to go. The manager has encroached into an area where he’s not meant to go.

“The VAR is cordoned off and the referee can go and look at the monitor himself so that he’s under no pressure. Marco Silva definitely goes into that area but if he’s said something, I don’t know.

“Referees don’t give red cards willy-nilly so it must be something he’s done or said that has upset the referee.”

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Newcastle

INCIDENT: Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was confused why Elliot Anderson’s goal against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Friday was ruled out for Sean Longstaff being offside in the build-up. Was this the correct decision?

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “I don’t know why the VAR got involved. The goal should have stood.”

DERMOT SAYS: “One of the biggest clues was that Nottingham Forest set to kick off and they were waiting to kick off again when there was the delay checking the goal.

“I don’t really see why the VAR got involved because for me, Felipe clearly goes to kick the ball out for a corner. Jacob Murphy, who isn’t in an offside position, behind him would intercept the ball and he knows that.

“If we go through the laws, has the ball travelled from distance? Definitely. Has the player had a clear view? Definitely. Was the ball moving quickly? Not particularly. Was the direction of the ball unexpected? It’s come to him, and he’s gone to intercept the ball. Has he had time to co-ordinate his body movement? He’s gone to kick it out for a corner, which you’d expect a defender to do in that position.

“It ticks all the boxes so for me it’s a goal.”

Stephen Warnock: “It should have stood. It was really bizarre why it even got to that point.”

Sue Smith: “I completely agree. I still don’t understand why it wasn’t given as a goal.”

Southampton 3-3 Tottenham

INCIDENT: Southampton were awarded a late penalty during Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham after Pape Sarr made contact with Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the box as he tried to clear the ball. Was there enough contact?

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “Sarr definitely does catch him.”

DERMOT SAYS: “With a light touch, it’s not as big a foul as we’ve seen this season, but he definitely catches him. What you would say in referee Simon Hooper’s defence is that he was very close.

“Maitland-Niles is very clever because he comes in and gets the ball, and the defender comes in behind him.

“Sarr doesn’t see him coming and he does catch him. The referee has a clear view and he will also hear the impact.”

Sue Smith: “I was really torn on this one. I don’t know if there was enough contact.

Stephen Warnock: “He’s given the referee a decision to make. It was clever of Maitland-Niles and there was slight contact.”

Wolves 2-4 Leeds

INCIDENT: Wolves defender Jonny was given a red card in the 4-2 loss to Leeds after referee Michael Salisbury was sent to the monitor.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “It’s a good intervention from VAR”

DERMOT SAYS: “This is similar to the Casemiro red card the other week against Southampton where the player goes over the top of the ball and plants his studs into his shin.

“For me, it is a red card for Jonny and a good intervention to send the referee to the monitor. “

INCIDENT: Wolves were left fuming again in the second half. They felt Adama Traore should have been awarded a free-kick in the build-up to Leeds’ fourth goal. What did you make of that?

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “I think it is a foul and the referee should give it.”

DERMOT SAYS: “VAR intervenes correctly, and he’s sent to the screen. When I was watching it live I thought it was an opportunity for the referee to reverse his decision.

“He chose not to which is his prerogative, but I think a foul would have been a more acceptable decision.”

Motherwell 2-4 Rangers

INCIDENT: During Rangers’s win at Motherwell, there was a really tight call for a potential offside on Kevin van Veen’s opener. What are your thoughts on this?

DERMOT SAYS: “Look at the cut of grass. That is what gives it away. There is a defender at the top of the screen and that is who plays him onside.

INCIDENT: Motherwell were then unhappy with Rangers’ third goal in the game. Was Fashion Sakala offside?

DERMOT SAYS: “The optical illusion comes because people look at the body shape but the defender on the near side plays him onside.”

INCIDENT: There was a red card in this match as well. A second yellow for Callum Slattery for making contact with Todd Cantwell. Was this a bit harsh?

DERMOT SAYS: “This may well have been accumulation. He had a yellow card and committed another two or three fouls before this.

“The referee probably spoke to him and the next one he had to go.”

Celtic 3-1 Hibernian

INCIDENT: Hibernian went down to 10 players in their defeat at Celtic. Elie Youan caught Cameron Carter-Vickers but will he feel it was a bit harsh?

DERMOT SAYS: “This is a strange situation because Carter-Vickers goes to head the ball and he will say high boot.

“Is the attacker entitled to put his boot that high? Well, some would say Carter-Vickers is leaning down but how high does a boot have to be?

“It was a second yellow card, so it was a reckless challenge rather than a dangerous one.”

Chelsea are not treating Mason Mount with the respect he deserves, says Paul Merson, who believes the midfielder would greatly enhance any team in the Premier League if he were to call time on his Blues career this summer.

Mount has just over a year left on his current contract with speculation over his future beginning to swirl and Liverpool rumoured to be among the clubs interested.

Merson says letting the 24-year-old go to a rival team would be ‘bad business’ by Chelsea, who are believed to be in a standoff with Mount over the possibility of a new and improved deal.

Chelsea should give ‘top-class’ Mount anything he wants

Mason Mount was by far Chelsea’s best player last season. He was outstanding. It’s different when you come through the ranks at a football club because you cost nothing. When you get bought for a lot of money you’re viewed as more of an asset.

Whoever gets Mason Mount has got the biggest result ever. The kid can play. It’s bad business by Chelsea – they should give him what he’s asking for. You don’t offload your best players. There are so many players that need to get shipped out of this Chelsea squad before Mount. When you hear whispers of the teams that want to buy him that tells you everything you need to know.

If Liverpool go and get Mount and then Jude Bellingham, who could also go to Liverpool, you’ve got a title-contending team. Why would you want to chance that? Why would you make them stronger? I’m a huge fan of Mount, he’s a top-class player. He’s not playing at the moment because of his contract situation. With the size of the squad, they aren’t going to select a player who won’t sign a new contract.

Spurs plan flawed – Conte rant proves it

This has been waiting to happen. It’s not spur of the moment. It’s a build-up and Antonio Conte has exploded. He’s had enough. You’ve got to say the blame lies with the manager because of the way he sets up. There are only seven teams in the league who have conceded more goals and they play a back three, with two holding midfielders. That shouldn’t happen. The idea of playing three at the back is to make you more solid.

If I’m a Tottenham fan I’m thinking we’ve got one of the best strikers in world football in Harry Kane, two wingers in Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski who were unplayable last season, you have to play to their strengths.

Those two are shadows of the players they were – that’s got to be down to the manager. Richarlison never gets a game. The plan is flawed. They set up not to lose, rather than setting up to win games of football.

You can’t have that, what just happened. That rant should happen in the dressing room, not in front of the world. This is what happens in management – emotions run high. He isn’t fussed if he gets the sack so he can say what he wants.

Kane doesn’t need Spurs – they need him

I’m not sure Harry Kane goes. I think he stays at Tottenham. Does he deserve to win something? Of course he does. He’s different class. There is only one club in this country where you’re assured of winning something and that’s Man City. He could go to Man Utd and win nothing, easily. Trophies are not a shoo-in at Man Utd.

Kane has got the advantage. He holds all the cards. Tottenham need Kane more than Kane needs Tottenham. Whatever he does, he’s given that club everything. I don’t think Spurs fans would have a qualm if he went to Man Utd, if he went to Chelsea, yes. But his legacy will stay in tact even if he moves elsewhere.

Arsenal ‘Rolls-Royce’

Arsenal’s destiny will be decided when the TV fixtures get released, in terms of who plays first on a weekend. I say that because if Arsenal play first they could go 11 points clear at the top.

I know Man City would have two games in hand but it’s a huge swing. 11 points is massive, you can’t make any mistakes. The pressure can get to you. It’s a really big advantage to be able to play your game without distractions.

I see Arsenal winning it from here. The way they are dismantling lesser teams is unreal. You’d have thought Arsenal were playing against nine men at Fulham last week, that’s how dominant they were. The same against Crystal Palace. Arsenal are Rolls-Royce. I don’t see them getting caught.

Trossard walks into Man City team | Jesus like new signing

£28m for Leandro Trossard. Arsenal must have been thinking ‘is that all?’. It’s a cup of tea in football terms. The lad could go and play for Man City tomorrow morning. There’s an art to playing for Man City, not every player could do it, but he could. He is two-footed, he’s a special player. You cannot knock Edu and Mikel Arteta for the way they have put this team together.

Gabriel Jesus doesn’t play at the moment, for me. He’s been out a long time. Trossard has come in and hit the ground running. Look at Arsenal’s last three league games – three goals, three goals, four goals. It’s not like they are short of goalscorers. Jesus is an unbelievable player to have on the bench, he’s got to be patient. It’s like having a transfer window now and Arsenal buying Jesus – it’s huge.

Simms announces arrival at perfect time for Toffees

It’s far too early to anoint Ellis Simms as Everton’s answer at No 9 but the way in which the 22-year-old announced his arrival onto the scene was a welcome boost for the goal-shy Toffees.

Only Crystal Palace have scored fewer Premier League goals than Everton’s 22 this season and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin apparently unable to stay fit and Neal Maupay out of favour, Sean Dyche has felt the need to start Demarai Gray, a winger, as his striker in recent weeks.

But Simms, recalled from a productive loan spell at Sunderland in January, showed he could play a pivotal role in the closing stages of Everton’s campaign during his cameo against Chelsea.

With 11 minutes to go and his side staring defeat in the face, Simms was thrown on to try to save the game for Everton – and he did just that.

The way in which Simms breezed past Kalidou Koulibaly – one of Europe’s standout centre-backs before joining Chelsea – was striking and, while Kepa Arrizabalaga could perhaps have done better in trying keep out his effort, Simms deserves credit for getting his shot on target and ultimately showing his fellow forwards how to find the back of the net.
Joe Shread

Chelsea undermined by lack of ruthlessness

Chelsea’s three-game winning run relieved the pressure on Graham Potter at the opportune time after his job was seemingly on the brink following a run of one win in 11 matches in all competitions, but nobody should have been fooled into thinking the manager has fixed all his side’s problems.

While Potter is finally getting a tune from his forward line following a profligate start to the year, Chelsea still lack a ruthless streak, too often failing to finish off opponents when they’re there for the taking.

The Blues deserve credit for ending their wretched run of form against Leeds at the start of the month and overturning a 1-0 deficit to progress past Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, but both results were only secured after nervy endings.

Chelsea dispatched Leicester last weekend but they were guilty of throwing away a lead at West Ham last month and they can only have themselves to blame for repeating the trick against Everton.

Potter admitted after the game that his side’s defending was sloppy and he will know Chelsea cannot afford to continue making the same mistakes if they have any hope of returning to the Champions League next season.
Joe Shread

Gnonto back in the team and having an impact

Wilfried Gnonto was dropped to the bench for the games against Chelsea and Brighton but having been restored to the starting line-up he was a difference maker for Leeds in their 4-2 win against Wolves. It was Gnonto who set up the opening goal for Jack Harrison.

His cross made Harrison’s task fairly straightforward and it was the third time that the winger had troubled Wolves despite the goal coming in only the sixth minute of the match. Allowed to isolate his marker, the Italy international is a real weapon for Leeds.

That freedom has not always been there for Gnonto. It had become so obvious that the team were reliant on him to create that he was receiving a lot of attention. Perhaps those two games out of the team helped because Wolves were not ready to deal with him.
Adam Bate

Will returning Isak fire Newcastle to the Champions League?

One wonders how much higher up the table Newcastle United would be right now had Alexander Isak been fit for the whole season?

The Sweden striker, bought for £63m from Real Sociedad last summer, scored on his debut at Liverpool in August, only to then suffer a serious hamstring tear just as he was settling in at St James’ Park.

That injury sidelined Isak for the rest of 2022, with the forward missing 16 games in total, before he finally returned in January.

However, since regaining full fitness, the 23-year-old has begun to show the type of form we were seeing from him before his layoff, and after Friday’s night double at the City Ground, he has four goals in his last two matches for the club.

His manager Eddie Howe now seems to have decided to go with Isak ahead of trusted frontman Callum Wilson for the run-in, and you can see why given his impressive scoring rate for the Magpies.

Isak has now scored six Premier League goals in just 10 appearances for the club this season at an impressive rate of a goal every 115 minutes.
Richard Morgan

Leicester show their quality in second-half turnaround

The writing seemed to be on the wall for the visitors in west London. Leicester’s first-half performance had exhibited their recent issues: a lack of cutting edge in attack and uncertainty at the back.

But a wonderful team goal for the equaliser early in the second half was a reminder of the quality in this squad. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was brilliant in midfield, holding off challenges, James Maddison did what he does best in the pocket, feeding a through pass into the box, and Harvey Barnes was dynamic and then deadly with his finish.

Brendan Rodgers threw both arms up into the sky in delight and in relief. It was the kind of move he relishes.

The goal breathed confidence back into his team and, while there was no winner, which would have substantially boosted their standing in the relegation fight, they denied Brentford a shot on target in the second half to secure the result. This will go down as a positive step for a side surely too good to go down.
Peter Smith

Brentford have raised expectations

Brentford have gone unbeaten in 10 Premier League home games in a row. They are level on points with seventh-placed Brighton in the race for Europe. Yet the feeling at full-time in their draw with Leicester was one of frustration. That’s a mark of how Thomas Frank has raised the standards for this side.

Brentford have not won a game they have had more possession in this season and again on Saturday they were unable to turn their extra time on the ball into victory. Frank admitted afterwards his forward players had failed to fire and perhaps that leads onto questions about the creativity behind them.

But in the first half they caused chaos in the Leicester box with their direct play and perhaps the second-half drop-off can be attributed in part to the exertions in midweek.

Frank looked tired in his post-match press conference and maybe the international break has come at a good time for Brentford, providing the chance to refresh their minds and bodies for the final 11-game push, where they will hope to at least consolidate their high league position.

“Yes and no, because I know what this group of players are capable of,” said Frank when asked if his team were exceeding expectations. He and his team are ambitions but in the bigger perspective, Brentford’s tremendous season needs to be appreciated.
Peter Smith

Emery’s vision starting to come to life at Villa

“The last two matches against Crystal Palace and today, they are the best two matches we’ve played here in the style I want to create.”

It may have taken some time, but Unai Emery is finally starting to see his vision come to life at Aston Villa. His side are now unbeaten in four Premier League games and level on points with Chelsea.

It was an impressive display from Aston Villa too. They look devastating going forward, playing some wonderful one-touch pass with speed and accuracy.

They did not always have it their own way either, but look solid at the back. Blocks and clearances from Matty Cash and Tyrone Mings spring to mind, while Emi Martinez looked unbeatable in goal at times.

But perhaps a player who has benefitted the most from Emery’s arrival is Douglas Luiz. He scored the opening goal and the later two were sparked from his set-piece delivery.

Luiz has been directly involved in six goals in 14 appearances in the Premier League this season under the Spaniard (2 goals, 4 assists), having provided one goal and one assist in his 12 games this season under Steven Gerrard and Aaron Danks.

Emery described Aston Villa’s win as confirmed his side’s Premier League status, and now they can very much start looking up. A crack at Europe is potentially only six points away – and don’t forget, Emery has won the Europa League three times as a manager.

But even if European football is a stretch too far this season, there’s no reason why Aston Villa fans cannot dream of it in the near future.
Charlotte Marsh

Bournemouth’s soft underbelly exposed

Confidence would have been high among the Bournemouth squad after impressive performances against Arsenal and Liverpool. They are still very much in with a chance of surviving relegation – but defeat at Aston Villa will be bruising.

They were undone by a slow start to the game – Douglas Luiz scoring inside seven minutes – and a lack of concentration in the final quarter of an hour as Jacob Ramsey and Emi Buendia wrapped things up for Villa.

But for the bits in between, Bournemouth often matched an Aston Villa side looking up rather than down. The home defence needed to be sharp and made some crucial interceptions, while Emi Martinez’s superb save from Philip Billing’s free-kick served a timely reminder of his World Cup-winning pedigree.

Aston Villa simply looked like a high quality, slicker team and they punished Bournemouth for their errors. The Cherries’ defending from set-pieces in particularly certainly left a lot to be desired at times.

While the big results and wins are crucial – as well as core memories for fans – it is the weekly grind of trips to teams like Aston Villa or Brentford, for example, that can make or break a season. You have to perform in each of them to have any chance of survival.

While Bournemouth’s soft underbelly was certainly exposed at Villa Park, they showed they do have the quality to stay up. They must now put those positives to good use.
Charlotte Marsh

Wolves must focus on their own mistakes

Julen Lopetegui pointed to the decision not to award Wolves a penalty for a foul by Junio Firpo on Nelson Semedo that even injured the right-back and was left just as baffled that the referee did not overturn Leeds’ fourth goal despite being asked to go to the monitor.

The shirt tug on Adama Traore was clear and with this frustration coming so soon after the non-award of a penalty for Nick Pope’s foul on Raul Jimenez at Newcastle, Lopetegui probably has a fair claim when he says that the margins are going against his side.

However, it is their own failings rather than those of the officials that should be a bigger concern for the Spaniard. Wolves had enough openings against Leeds to get something from this game despite conceding four at the other end but still lack a cutting edge.

They scored two, a 41-yard lob and a deflected shot, but it was the misses that will linger – Raul Jimenez failing to find the net from inside the six-yard box, Pablo Sarabia passing wide with the goal gaping. It has been going on too long now to expect it to turn.

Such wastefulness means Wolves must be solid defensively to win matches – the majority of their wins this season have been 1-0. But once Craig Dawson was substituted, organisation at the back was lacking. Bad in both boxes. It is a combination that risks relegation.
Adam Bate

Ellis Simms scored his first Everton goal in the 89th minute at Stamford Bridge to claim a vital point in the Toffees’ relegation fight and halt Chelsea’s recent resurgence.

Chelsea had bounced back from a horrendous run of form at the start of the year by winning their last three matches in all competitions and they should have made it four in a row after twice taking the lead against Everton.

Joao Felix rolled the Blues’ first past Jordan Pickford via the post seven minutes after the break only for the hosts to allow complacency to creep into their game, resulting in Abdoulaye Doucoure glancing a header just over the line to level for the visitors in the 69th minute.

Chelsea managed to hit back through Kai Havertz seven minutes later when he converted a penalty after a foul on Reece James, but the Blues again threw it away, with Simms easily bursting past Kalidou Koulibaly before seeing his shot squirm past Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Toffees continued their spirited fight against the drop.

How Everton battled back to deny Chelsea

After appearing to be careering towards relegation under former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard at the end of January, Everton’s revival under Dyche continued in west London thanks to another impressively gritty performance.

The Toffees took just two points from their final eight Premier League games under Lampard but have earned 11 from Dyche’s first eight matches in charge, a clear demonstration of the positive impact the former Burnley boss has made.

Everton frustrated Chelsea throughout their Saturday evening encounter, with a defender seemingly in the way of the ball every time it went near Pickford’s goal during a first half of few clear chances.

The visitors’ resistance was finally breached by Felix after he collected Michael Keane’s weak clearance to guide the ball into the far corner but Everton’s battling qualities were on display as they fought back to level through Doucoure, who turned James Tarkowski’s header past Kepa from close range.

A rare mistake from Tarkowski and Ben Godfrey, who combined to trip James, allowed Havertz to score his third goal in as many games from the spot, but Everton were not to be denied as Simms charged into the Chelsea area and ended their three-game winning run.

The result moves Dyche’s side up to 15th and two points clear of the drop zone, while Graham Potter’s team missed the chance to close the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham and lie 10th, 11 points off the top four.

Simms announces arrival at perfect time for Toffees

It’s far too early to anoint Simms as Everton’s answer at No 9 but the way in which the 22-year-old announced his arrival onto the scene was a welcome boost for the goal-shy Toffees.

Only Crystal Palace have scored fewer Premier League goals than Everton’s 22 this season and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin apparently unable to stay fit and Neal Maupay out of favour, Dyche has felt the need to start Demarai Gray, a winger, as his striker in recent weeks.

But Simms, recalled from a productive loan spell at Sunderland in January, showed he could play a pivotal role in the closing stages of Everton’s campaign during his cameo against Chelsea.

With 11 minutes to go and his side staring defeat in the face, Simms was thrown on to try to save the game for Everton – and he did just that.

The way in which Simms breezed past Koulibaly – one of Europe’s standout centre-backs before joining Chelsea – was striking and, while Kepa could perhaps have done better in trying keep out his effort, Simms deserves credit for getting his shot on target and ultimately showing his fellow forwards how to find the back of the net.

Dyche hails ‘growth in mentality’

Dyche chose to praise his players for avoiding defeat away from Goodison Park for the second match in succession following a run of four defeats in a row away from home.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Everton boss said: “I’m really pleased with the growth in mentality. There’s been a lot of questions about Everton’s away form and the mentality around that but it’s been improving all the time.

“It’s still a tough place to come here. I know they’ve [Chelsea] been up and down but they’re a good outfit, coming off of three wins.

“We showed them a little bit too much respect in the first half but after that we got back to grips with the game and reacted well to going behind twice.”

Potter: We conceded ‘cheap’ goals

Potter was frustrated with the way in which Everton scored their goals, saying: “We’re really disappointed because we’ve dropped two points at home.

“There was a lot of positive things in the performance but ultimately we haven’t defended well enough.

“Most of the game we controlled fairly well – as much as you can at this level – but the first goal is really disappointing from a set-piece perspective and we spoke about that before the game.

“The second goal we haven’t attacked well enough and exposed ourselves to a big space to defend. To be cheap with the goals we conceded is frustrating.”

Chelsea undermined by lack of ruthlessness

Chelsea’s three-game winning run relieved the pressure on Potter at the opportune time after his job was seemingly on the brink following a run of one win in 11 matches in all competitions, but nobody should have been fooled into thinking the manager has fixed all his side’s problems.

While Potter is finally getting a tune from his forward line following a profligate start to the year, Chelsea still lack a ruthless streak, too often failing to finish off opponents when they’re there for the taking.

The Blues deserve credit for ending their wretched run of form against Leeds at the start of the month and overturning a 1-0 deficit to progress past Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, but both results were only secured after nervy endings.

Chelsea dispatched Leicester last weekend but they were guilty of throwing away a lead at West Ham last month and they can only have themselves to blame for repeating the trick against Everton.

Potter admitted after the game that his side’s defending was sloppy and he will know Chelsea cannot afford to continue making the same mistakes if they have any hope of returning to the Champions League next season.

Opta stats: Set-pieces serving Dyche well

• Four of Everton’s seven Premier League goals under Sean Dyche have come from set-piece situations (2x corner, 1x free-kick, 1x penalty). Since his first game in charge, only Arsenal and Brentford (5 each) have scored more such goals.
• Despite dropping two points having led, Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 28 Premier League home games against Everton (W15 D13). It’s their longest run without defeat against an opponent at Stamford Bridge in their top-flight history.
• Only against Manchester United (6) has Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure been involved in more Premier League goals than he has against Chelsea (5 – 2 goals, 3 assists). He scored and assisted in the same Premier League game for the third time, also doing against Bournemouth (January 2020) and Man Utd (February 2021).
• Ellis Simms scored his first ever Premier League goal for Everton. The Toffees have now had 13 different goalscorers in the competition this season, with only Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds (14 each) having more.

What’s next?

The Premier League now pauses for the international break, meaning Chelsea’s next game is at home to Aston Villa in the top flight on Saturday April 1, live on Sky Sports – kick-off 5.30pm.

The Blues then host Liverpool on Tuesday April 4, live on Sky Sports – kick-off 8pm.

Everton’s next game is at home to Tottenham in the Premier League on Monday April 3, live on Sky Sports – kick-off 8pm.

The Toffees then travel to Manchester United on Saturday April 8 – kick-off 12.30pm.

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