Chelsea had their recent momentum checked after Everton came from behind twice to seal a dramatic and ultimately frustrating draw at Stamford Bridge. Having taken the lead in the second half, continuing on from a dominant first 45, the away side battled to a valuable point.
Joao Felix opened the scoring with a left footed drive but Graham Potter's side were pegged back by Abdoulaye Doucoure. Kai Havertz's penalty should have given the Blues a win but Ellis Simms' first goal for Sean Dyche's side left the SW6 faithful with more questions than answers again.
In typical Potter and Chelsea fashion there was style and neat passing at periods throughout but Jordan Pickford wasn't as busy as he might have expected. Meanwhile Dyche's team were dogged as expected and played like a team that needed the points at 1-0 and 2-1 down as opposed to Potter's side that have little to play for in the league.
READ MORE: Every word Graham Potter said on Everton draw, Chelsea frustration, Fofana, Felix, Havertz, more
The result leaves Chelsea in 10th, just inside the top half, with any chance of securing a fourth place finish all but gone now. Here, football.london rounds up the national media reaction to the game.
Jonathan Wilson writes: "For Chelsea, this was yet another game this season in which they bossed possession, had the bulk of the chances and somehow failed to win. The difference was that this time they scored twice and the problems were at the other end. 'Ultimately we haven’t defended well enough,' Graham Potter said. 'To be cheap with the goals we conceded is frustrating.'
"João Félix was, again, mesmerising, and in he and Enzo Fernández Chelsea have two players of immaculate touch. They’re always on the half-turn, capable of finding space where none seems to exist, and both blessed with a remarkable range of passing.
"But there are times when Chelsea seem almost beguiled by their own virtuosity, creating gorgeous networks of passes that often end up, 30 seconds or a minute after they began, back where they started.
"The great Chelsea shortcoming is not secret. Indeed, it’s a question that’s been asked for so long by so many different people in the south of England that it’s come to seem one of the most profound questions of the age: why is it that Potter teams score so few goals?"
Tom Victor writes: "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."
Joe Krishnan writes: "Chelsea might be glad that the pressure is no longer on Graham Potter, but there is a decision that needs to be made regarding the future of Mason Mount as speculation continues to suggest the attacking midfielder is harbouring for a move away from Stamford Bridge. Potter won't be feeling much better about the blow from Mount's potential departure after watching his side concede late on to drop two points in a 2-2 draw against Everton.
"The Blues were dominant in the first half and put together some eye-catching moves as signs of 'Potterball' coming to life arose on the west London turf. And seven minutes in the second half, Felix finally had some good fortune from the woodwork with a low sweeping effort finding the bottom corner via the far post.
"He nearly assisted Christian Pulisic for a second minutes later, but the flag was correctly raised. Everton responded well to going behind and equalised when James Tarkowski's header found Abdoulaye Doucoure on the six-yard line and he nodded past Kepa Arrizabalaga."
Adrian Kajumba writes: "At one stage against Everton, there seemed to be so much confidence flowing through Chelsea that even Graham Potter indulged in a bit of showboating.
"As a ball looped up into the air and over his head as he stood in his technical area, Potter nonchalantly leant slightly forward, let it drop and back-heel volleyed the ball into play, sending cheers around the ground.
"Chelsea were in the mood and deservedly 1-0 up at the time through a fine strike from Joao Felix who also showed off some fancy footwork throughout at Stamford Bridge.
"But Potter is naturally not one to get carried away. And his rollercoaster Chelsea reign so far would only have served to support his approach and provided plenty of reminders that little should be taken for granted or is straightforward. And so it proved, painfully for Potter and Chelsea, once again."
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