Everton 0-0 Chelsea: Player Ratings 

Southampton v Everton - Premier League
Pickford put in an assured performance to help his side eke out a point against the reigning champions

Everton, who were not long ago deemed relegation material, continued their fine form as they eked out a point at home against the reigning Champions Chelsea. The opening few minutes in the game suggested that Chelsea would find the back of the net, but it was not to be as the likes of Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka and Jordan Pickford ensured that they kept Eden Hazard and co. at bay with their defensive skills.

The draw against Chelsea means that the Toffees have picked up an impressive 11 points in their last 5 games to assuage any threat of being involved in a relegation battle.

Here are the player ratings from the game.


Jordan Pickford - 8

The Everton shot-stopper had a busy evening as Chelsea constantly probed the Toffees’ defence. He made a few crucial saves, including an Eden Hazard effort in the 2nd half and was instrumental in his side keeping a clean sheet in the game. He was fortunate that a mistimed header by Ashley Williams only grazed the goal post.

Jonjoe Kenny - 7

The 20-year-old was solid yet again as he held firm at his end to ensure that Chelsea and Marcos Alonso, in particular, did not find great joy on the left flank. He effected 4 clearances and was also available to make 2 blocks during the 90 minutes to ensure his side eked out a crucial point against the visiting Blues.

Michael Keane – 8

Everton FC v Atalanta - UEFA Europa League
Keane is fast developing into Everton's leader of defence ahead of more seasoned customers like Jagielka and Williams

Michael Keane was, by far, the best Everton player on the pitch. He denied the likes of Pedro and Hazard too much time and space on the ball and is steadily developing into the leader of the Everton defence ahead of the likes of Jagielka and Williams. He made a whopping 8 interceptions through the 90 minutes and was constantly seen disrupting Chelsea’ rhythm with his defensive work.

Phil Jagielka – 7

At 35 years, many might have expected Jagielka to struggle against a vibrant Chelsea attack that includes a certain Eden Hazard. However, the English centre-back was solid through the game and made 2 very crucial goal-line clearances in the first half to keep his side in the game and displayed good chemistry with his defensive partner Keane to keep the visitors at bay.

Cuco Martina – 6

It looked like Martina was going to have another of those evenings where he would largely be a spectator as the former Southampton man struggled against the pace and movement of Victor Moses through the first half. However, it was a different story in the 2nd half as Martina grew into the game and closed out the likes of Moses and Zappacosta well to deny Chelsea time and space on the right flank.

Idrissa Gueye – 7

Gueye was at his tenacious best yet again as he constantly deprived Chelsea the required time and space on the ball in the middle of the pitch. He had to be withdrawn early in the 2nd half due to a hamstring injury and that might hurt the Toffees in the long run.

Morgan Schneiderlin – 6

Though the Frenchman was largely restricted to his own half, he managed the tempo of the game well whenever in possession. Yes, he did struggle against the skill and guile of Hazard, but made amends for his mistakes by ensuring the Belgian found it harder to pierce the host’s midfield as the game got on.

Gylfi Sigurdsson – 5

Everton v Chelsea - Premier League
It would be fair to say that Sigurdsson had an average outing against Chelsea

When you fork out the kind of money that Everton did on Sigurdsson, you expect them to light up a stadium every time they take the pitch. However, the Iceland international has been nothing but a disappointment thus far and had a very average outing against Chelsea with his best moments coming from set pieces.

Tom Davies – 5

Davies was deployed in the number 10 role but failed to take his opportunities. It was only apt that he was withdrawn at the break for Ashley Williams.

Aaron Lennon – 6

He made a few good runs that had the Chelsea defence tracking back and was a bundle of energy through the first half, especially in the defensive department. However, with the game still for the taking, he was withdrawn for the Spanish striker Sandro Ramirez at half-time.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 6

To say that Calvert-Lewin waged a lone battle against the Chelsea defence through the first half would be an understatement. The young English striker, who has developed a reputation for being tenacious, tried his best to help his side assert their offensive presence but received very little help from his teammates. His best moment came late in the first half when he dispossessed Christensen but his efforts were undone by his inexperience in the box.


Substitutes

Ashley Williams – 7

Williams was brought in to add some defensive muscle to the Everton side and the narrative could have been very different had his mistimed header gone in instead of grazing his own goal post. Apart from that, the Welshman was solid as he made 6 vital clearances.

Sandro Ramirez – 5

The Spaniard looked rusty at the start but grew into the game as he operated as Everton’s focal point in the 2nd half.

Beni Baningime – 5

The 19-year-old was brought on for the injured Gueye and cut a sorry figure as he often looked out of his depth in the midfield.

Chelsea

Everton v Chelsea - Premier League
Eden Hazard was head and shoulders above the rest on the evening

Thibaut Courtois – 6

Courtois had very little to do in the game as his side spent a large part of the game in the Everton half.

Antonio Rudiger – 6

Rudiger was deployed as the right centre-back of his side’s 3-man defence but was largely involved in the build-up play from the back rather than defensive duties as Everton failed to mount a challenge until very late in the game. However, he was guilty of allowing Keane a run on goal from the corner at the end and if not for the former Burnley man's poor finishing, he might have cost his side the game.

Andreas Christensen – 6

The Dane has become integral to Chelsea’s defence this season and barring one mistake late in the first half when he was dispossessed by Calvert-Lewin, it was yet another tidy performance by Christensen. He effected 2 tackles and 1 interception through the 90 minutes and was a calm presence in the Chelsea back-line.

Cesar Azpilicueta – 7

The Spaniard put in another tidy performance at the heart of the Chelsea defence. He effected 3 clearances in the 90 minutes and was constantly seen making him available in the middle of the park to break down a tough Everton side.

Victor Moses – 7

It could have been a very different scoreline had Victor Moses’ cross early in the game found Eden Hazard. Moses was a constant threat to the Everton defence with his pace and movement on the right flank and seemed to be relishing his battle against Martina. He went close yet again when William diverted his cross on to the goal post but that was as close as Moses and Chelsea could get at getting past Jordan Pickford on the evening.

Tiemoue Bakayako – 7

Let’s be honest here. Bakayako began the game a little rusty but once he got going, he bullied the Everton midfield with his pace and physicality. He constantly disrupted Everton’s rhythm with a mix of interceptions (2) and tackles (4) and showed great vision to create an opportunity for Pedro in the first half.

N’Golo Kante – 7

Everton v Chelsea - Premier League
Kante was surprisingly Chelsea's most enterprising player alongside Hazard

As always, Kante was everywhere he needed to be. He recorded as many as 4 tackles and denied the host’s midfield any time and space on the ball with his tenacity off the ball. However, it was also a game that brought out the creative talent in Kante, especially with Everton sitting deep and some would say that a seasoned finisher like Alvaro Morata could have made better use of the opportunities he created.

Willian – 6

Willian was guilty of giving the ball away on numerous occasions and slowed down the proceedings at times. The Brazilian spent a rather ordinary 70 minutes on the pitch before being withdrawn for Michy Batshuayi with Conte chasing a winning goal.

Marcos Alonso – 6

The Spaniard did not have the best of the evening as Everton dealt with his movement on and off the ball appropriately. He did create a few chances from the left flank but it all came down to nought as the visitors clearly lacked a striker against Everton.

Eden Hazard – 9

If there was one player who was head and shoulder above the rest, it has to be Eden Hazard. The Belgian was unperturbed by the presence of several Everton bodies around him and glided past them with ease on numerous occasions and was the most enterprising player on the evening. However, the wastefulness of his teammates, as well as the absence of Morata, cost his side 2 crucial points against the Toffees

Pedro – 6

Chelsea FC v FC Porto - UEFA Champions League
Pedro's wastefulness cost his side 2 points against Everton

The Spaniard was wasteful in possession on numerous occasions apart from spurning a few good opportunities to find the back of the net and he definitely looks a shadow of the player that we know he can be and it was only fitting that he was withdrawn in the 62nd minute for Cesc Fabregas.


Substitutes

Cesc Fabregas – 6

Brought on for Pedro early in the 2nd half, Fabregas was expected to bring creativity to the Chelsea side but was a frustrated figure as Everton stuck to their game plan and denied him the opportunity to tear them open.

Michy Batshuayi – NA

The Belgian was brought on for William in the 70th minute in a bid to find the winning goal but failed to have the desired impact on the game.

Davide Zappacosta – NA

The Italian arrived too late to have any impact on the game.

Quick Links

Edited by Amit Mishra