Chelsea v Everton Live Commentary & Result, 18/03/2023, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	MCI Manchester City	38	28	5	5	94	33	+61	89	L D W W W
2	ARS Arsenal	38	26	6	6	88	43	+45	84	W L L W W
3	MUN Manchester United	38	23	6	9	58	43	+15	75	W W W W L
4	NEW Newcastle United	38	19	14	5	68	33	+35	71	D D W D L
5	LIV Liverpool	38	19	10	9	75	47	+28	67	D D W W W
6	BHA Brighton & Hove Albion	38	18	8	12	72	53	+19	62	L D W L W
7	AVL Aston Villa	38	18	7	13	51	46	+5	61	W D W L L
8	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	18	6	14	70	63	+7	60	W L L W L
9	BRE Brentford	38	15	14	9	58	46	+12	59	W W W L W
10	FUL Fulham	38	15	7	16	55	53	+2	52	L D W W L
11	CRY Crystal Palace	38	11	12	15	40	49	-9	45	D D W L W
12	CHE Chelsea	38	11	11	16	38	47	-9	44	D L L D W
13	WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	11	8	19	31	58	-27	41	L D L W L
14	WHU West Ham United	38	11	7	20	42	55	-13	40	L W L W L
15	BOU AFC Bournemouth	38	11	6	21	37	71	-34	39	L L L L W
16	NFO Nottingham Forest	38	9	11	18	38	68	-30	38	D W D W L
17	EVE Everton	38	8	12	18	34	57	-23	36	W D L W D
18	LEI Leicester City	38	9	7	22	51	68	-17	34	W D L L D
19	LEE Leeds United	38	7	10	21	48	78	-30	31	L L D L L
20	SOU Southampton	38	6	7	25	36	73	-37	25	D L L L L

That's all for today, goodbye!

That point moves Everton back up into 15th, two points clear of the drop zone. They host Tottenham next time out after the international break. Chelsea move back above Aston Villa into 10th with that point as they couldn't continue their winning run. It's Villa that they face next in two weeks' time.

Everton come from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Chelsea. The Blues dominated the first half without finding a breakthrough. It was Joao Felix that eventually broke the deadlock early in the second half when he latched onto Keane's poor deflection and rolled his low shot in off the inside of the post. Doucoure's equaliser was given by goal-line technology after Havertz cleared it out of the goal, and the German restored Chelsea's lead from the spot after James was fouled by Tarkowski. Simms then came off the bench to net his first goal for Everton, picking out the bottom corner late on.

90' + 7' FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 2-2 EVERTON.

90' + 6' Chilwell's corner is put out for another one, so he sprints out to the right to take this one too. It looks like Chelsea's last chance to put it in and Godfrey rises highest to thump it clear.

90' + 5' SO CLOSE! The Blues aren't letting up the pressure and James manages to lift a cross in from the byline. Havertz is there to meet it in the middle again, but his header is blocked and sent out for a corner.

90' + 3' Everton have everybody apart from Simms back around their own box in an attempt to see out this draw. Chelsea are passing it around well in front of them, but are struggling to pick out blue shirts in a crowded penalty area.

90' + 1' We're into five added minutes here and Chelsea are on the attack again. Chilwell clips a cross in from the byline and picks out Havertz, but he heads it straight against Onana.

A. Doucouré

Assist

89' It's a brilliant touch from Doucoure as he just spins his body to chest it straight into Simms' path to set up the goal.

E. Simms

Goal

89' SIMMS EQUALISES! It's a simple long ball over the top from Mykolenko that picks out Doucoure and he chests it down to Simms on the left. He brushes Koulibaly aside to get into the box before having a quick glance up and firing his low shot past Kepa and into the far bottom corner for his first Everton goal. 2-2!

T. Chalobah

W. Fofana

87' And Fofana is also taken off, with Chalobah on in his place.

C. Chukwuemeka

João Félix

86' Chelsea's final change of the game is a double one. Joao Felix is the first to make way, with Chukwuemeka replacing him.

V. Mykolenko

S. Coleman

84' Everton are making their second change, and it's Mykolenko that comes on in place of Coleman.

82' CHANCE! The Chelsea players are slow to close McNeil down as he takes the ball into the box, so he decides to have a go from a tight angle. He fires it low across goal, but it rolls wide of the far post.

R. Loftus-Cheek

M. Kovačić

81' Second change for Chelsea now and it's Kovacic that's going off for Loftus-Cheek.

E. Simms

I. Gueye

79' Everton are making their first change as they try to get back on level terms. Gueye is taken off, with Simms on for him.

78' A long throw-in is put into the box by Everton, and Onana stays down holding his face after an aerial challenge. He gets back to his feet without needing treatment.

K. Havertz

Penalty Goal

76' HAVERTZ SCORES! It's cool as you like by the German! He takes a short run-up to the ball and stops in front of it, trying to force Pickford into moving. He then lifts it over the keeper, who is diving the wrong way, and into the top of the goal. 2-1 Chelsea!

R. James

Yellow Card

74' James gets into an argument with Coleman following the decision to award the penalty, and he's booked for dissent.

73' PENALTY TO CHELSEA! James plays a one-two with Joao Felix to create some space down the right. He's looking to pick out a cross when Tarkowski clumsily brings him down from behind and the referee points to the spot.

71' The restart has to be delayed slightly as a flare has been thrown into the goal at the away end by the Everton fans. Someone quickly gets across to deal with it and we can get back underway.

J. Tarkowski

Assist

69' Tarkowski is surrounded by three Chelsea players, but he beats them all in the air to nod the ball towards the goal and Doucoure.

A. Doucouré

Goal

69' DOUCOURE EQUALISES! It's a better cross in from McNeil on the other side and Tarkowski gets highest on the far side on the edge of the six-yard box. His header loops towards goal, and Doucoure is in the right place to help it on again. Havertz hooks it away, but goal-line technology intervenes to say it did go in. 1-1!

68' Everton win a corner and Gray sends yet another cross into the box. Both Onana and Keane rise to try and get on the end of it, but it goes out for another off Koulibaly.

66' The referee says it wasn't a foul on Gallagher, which allows Everton to surge forward on the counter. Gray fizzes a low cross in from the right, but McNeil is caught on his heels through the middle and Kepa reaches it first.

64' It's a lovely flick out to McNeil by Onana, and the winger gets ahead of James to curl an early cross into the box. Nobody is there for Everton though, and it bounces harmlessly wide.

C. Gallagher

C. Pulišić

62' Chelsea have a corner, but before they can take it, Potter chooses to make his first change. Pulisic is taken off, with Gallagher replacing him.

61' Chelsea have not conceded in the first half in 13 of their last 14 Premier League home games, going on to win seven of the previous 13 (D3 L3).

59' Gray whips a dangerous cross into the six-yard box, and it's an awkward one for Chelsea to defend. Three Everton players try to get on the end of it, but none of them can stretch far enough.

K. Koulibaly

Yellow Card

57' Koulibaly raced across to close down Iwobi and cut off the winger's run. He got nowhere near the ball and picks up a booking.

56' OFFSIDE! Chelsea have the ball in the back of the net again, but it won't count! Joao Felix slides it through for Pulisic, who cuts inside and sees the space open up. He whips a shot past the static Pickford, but the flag goes up against him.

55' CHANCE! McNeil swings the free-kick in and Badiashile glances a header on. It falls to Keane at the far post, and he drills a low shot back across goal. Kepa gets down to hold it.

54' Havertz tracks back to try and help out his defenders, but end up fouling Onana in the process, giving away a free-kick on the left.

João Félix

Goal

52' JOAO FELIX SCORES! Chelsea's pressure has finally paid off! Yet again, it's switched out to Chilwell on the left, and he volleys it into the box first time. Keane is off-balance as he tries to clear it, and he pokes it as far as the winger, whose low shot trickles past Pickford and goes in off the inside of the post. 1-0 Chelsea!

51' Fernandez sees another long-range shot blocked, but Chelsea keep hold of it, working it out to Chilwell on the left once more. This time, his cross is too close to Pickford.

49' GREAT SAVE! It's end-to-end at the moment as Everton's counter is cut out and Chelsea go straight back up the other end. Chilwell picks out Havertz at the far post with this cross, and he thumps a header on goal, but Pickford gets down quickly to deny him.

48' Chelsea have started the second half on the front foot and win a couple of corners. Chilwell's first cross is cleared straight out of play, so he takes the second one short to Pulisic, but he can't pick out a team-mate either.

46' Everton get us back underway for the second half!

Potter will be fairly pleased with what he's seen so far; his side have played some good football and got into dangerous positions, but they need to improve on their final product. Everton have defended well as a unit, which is what Dyche will have been looking for, but they need to take more chances on the break.

It's goalless at the break between Chelsea and Everton. The hosts dominated the first half, without testing Pickford too much. Kovacic and Havertz both came close, with Joao Felix seeing a tame shot kept out by the keeper. Everton didn't create too many chances of note, with McNeil firing over from distance and Godfrey having a volley blocked.

45' + 4' HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 0-0 EVERTON.

45' + 2' BLOCK! The free-kick is played square on the edge of the penalty area to Fernandez, who fires a first-time shot on goal. Keane makes a good block, as does Tarkowski when Joao Felix curls one towards goal on the follow-up.

D. McNeil

Yellow Card

45' + 1' McNeil has three attempts at bringing Fernandez down, sliding in to trip him with the last one. It gives Chelsea a free-kick right on the edge of the box and earns him a booking.

45' Chilwell goes down after taking a hit to his ankle in an attempt to block Coleman's cross. The medical team are ready to come on, but he gets back up without needing treatment.

43' It's better from Everton here as they pile the pressure on their hosts. Iwobi whips a cross into the middle, which Badiashile heads away as far as Godfrey, and his first-time volley is blocked by Kovacic.

41' Everton just can't get out of their own half at the moment, and Pulisic is starting to find more space down the left. He curls another cross in, but this one is too close to Pickford.

39' Chelsea are patiently knocking it around in their own half until Kovacic decides to send it forward for Joao Felix. He cushions it into Fernandez's path, but his first touch lets him down.

37' Gray smacks his free-kick straight against Pulisic in the wall, and he goes down holding his head. He needs treatment and slowly gets back to his feet to carry on.

35' Joao Felix is tugged back by Tarkowski, who is scrambling to get back into position, and the referee plays the advantage. It's switched back out to the winger, who drills a low shot on goal, but it's straight at Pickford.

33' Everton have the opportunity to break quickly again, but Gray doesn't use it to drive into the box. Instead, he holds it up, allowing Chelsea to get back into their shape, and then has to pass it backwards.

31' It's nothing more than a hopeful clearance upfield for Everton, but it almost causes Chelsea some problems as Gray refuses to give it up. Koulibaly has enough of a head start though and shields it back to Kepa.

I. Gueye

Yellow Card

29' Now that the ball has finally gone out of play, the referee calls Gueye over to show him a yellow card for that earlier foul on Pulisic.

27' Pulisic is brought down, but the referee plays the advantage as Joao Felix superbly spins out of trouble. He spreads it out to Chilwell, who sees his cross blocked before Gueye clears Havertz's follow-up ball.

25' Joao Felix does brilliantly to keep the ball in play while off-balance and touches it into Pulisic. He turns straight into trouble, which is greeted by groans from the home fans, and Everton clear their lines.

23' Coleman takes the free-kick from just inside Everton's half and Keane nods it down for Doucoure on the right. His deep cross is aimed towards Tarkowski, but he can't shake James to make contact.

21' CHANCE! Pulisic gets a yard on Coleman and squeezes a low cross into the box. Havertz gets a touch at the near post, but that actually takes it out of Joao Felix's reach as Pickford cuts it out in front of him.

19' James has to rush back to stop Kepa's pass from being intercepted, and it's the start of a brilliant, lightning-quick team move. Fernandez, Kovacic and Havertz are all involved in getting it out to Joao Felix, who plays his low cross behind Pulisic.

17' Chelsea give it away cheaply in midfield, so McNeil decides to try his luck from range. He leans back as he strikes it though, so it's always rising, and it flies into the stands.

15' Kovacic loses the ball, and Gray tries to break on the counter but has no support with him. He holds it up as options rush forward on either side, but it also gave Chelsea the chance to get back into their shape.

13' Following their 1-0 victory at Goodison Park on the opening weekend, Chelsea are looking to complete the league double over Everton for the first time since 2016-17.

11' GREAT CHANCE! Joao Felix's volley is blocked for a corner, which Chilwell swings into the box. Havertz beat Fofana to it at the near post but flicks his header just over the crossbar from close range.

9' It's a brilliant driving run by Pulisic down the left, and his team-mates race upfield so they can switch it to the far side. James squares it back to Joao Felix in the middle, but he can't sort his feet out quick enough to have a shot.

7' Everton can't make a free-kick count and Chelsea break quickly on the counter. The visitors flood back into their shape quickly though to block their way into the box.

5' CHANCE! The corner is swung in for Chelsea and Everton have two attempts to get it away to no avail. It falls invitingly for Kovacic on the edge of the box, and he puts his laces through it. It flashes wide of the near post.

3' BLOCK! Iwobi blocks Chilwell's initial cross but then stops, allowing the left-back in behind. His cross pinballs out to Fernandez on the edge of the D, so he takes aim but it hits McNeil and Tarkowski.

2' Gueye's throughball is cut out by Fernandez, but Chelsea can't take profit from it as it rolls to McNeil. He slides it down the left for Doucoure, who holds off Fofana, only for the flag to go up.

1' Joao Felix gets the game underway for Chelsea!

The teams are out on the pitch now, with kick-off just moments away!

Everton have won just two of their last 30 Premier League away games (D8 L20), while also keeping just two clean sheets in this run. Indeed, since the start of last season, the Toffees have won fewer away matches (three) and earned fewer points on the road (18) than any of the 17 ever-present sides.

For the third game in a row, Dyche sticks with the same starting line-up. Gray continues to lead the line in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while Godfrey continues his stint at left-back.

Potter makes three changes from the win over Leicester City last weekend. James returns from injury, Pulisic makes his first start since early January and Badiashile also comes in to round out the alterations. Loftus-Cheek, Mudryk and Cucurella start on the bench, as does Kante, who is involved in the squad for the first time since August after overcoming a hamstring injury.

EVERTON SUBS: Tom Davies, Mason Holgate, Ellis Simms, Vitalii Mykolenko, Asmir Begovic, James Garner, Conor Coady, Neal Maupay, Yerry Mina.

EVERTON STARTING XI (4-5-1): Jordan Pickford; Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Ben Godfrey; Alex Iwobi, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye, Amadou Onana, Dwight McNeil; Demarai Gray.

CHELSEA SUBS: Conor Gallagher, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, N'Golo Kante, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcus Bettinelli, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah.

CHELSEA STARTING XI (3-4-2-1): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Beniot Badiashile; Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Mateo Kovacic, Ben Chilwell; Christian Pulisic, Joao Felix; Kai Havertz.

Chelsea look to have turned things around in recent weeks, and they've won their last three matches in all competitions, including booking a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. It has eased the pressure on Graham Potter, whose side were on a run of six before that without a victory (D3 L3). Everton come into this game currently in 17th place, and they sit just one point above the relegation zone. Since Sean Dyche took over, he's led the Toffees to three wins in seven games (all 1-0 victories at home). They've won just once on the road in the Premier League this season, all the way back at the start of October when they beat Southampton 2-1.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge!

Chelsea v Everton Live Commentary, 18/03/2023

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