Chelsea missed out on the chance to go top of the Premier League as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Goodison Park.
Victory for the Blues, coupled with Liverpool failing to do likewise against Tottenham later in the day, would have left Chelsea at the summit on Christmas Day, despite Enzo Maresca’s insistence that his side are not in a title race.
On a cold, windy afternoon this was perhaps proof that he was right, as Chelsea largely struggled in an uneventful clash.
Nicolas Jackson had two big chances in the first-half, the first bringing a sharp save from Jordan Pickford and the second a header sent against the post from a couple of yards out, but that was as good as it got for the Blues.
Neither side looked particularly likely to find a winner after the break, though Everton went closest as Robert Sanchez kept out Jack Harrison and Tosin Adarabioyo’s block denied Iliman Ndiaye.
Chelsea’s eight-match winning run came to an end, while Everton made it six games unbeaten on home soil.
A seventh clean sheet in the last 10 outings showed Sean Dyche, whose future remains up for debate with his contract expiring in the summer, has at least succeeded in getting things right at one end of the pitch.
Part of that was due to Everton's organisation and the continued excellence of Pickford, whose instinctive close-range save from Jackson midway through the first half was hugely significant in the outcome.
The England goalkeeper denied Jackson again but from the resulting corner was indebted to his left-hand post as the Chelsea striker headed Enzo Fernandez's cross against the upright.
Pickford, however, was fortunate his reckless charge at Malo Gusto's follow-up did not result in catastrophe as only the faintest of touches before he sent the defender flying saved him from conceding a penalty.
Everton's one chance of the half came when Orel Mangala forced Sanchez into a save low to his right after Ndiaye had released Abdoulaye Doucoure in a two-on-two.
Ndiaye started the second half brightly and when he crossed to the far post Jack Harrison shot at Sanchez with Doucoure to his left on the edge of the six-yard area.
Chelsea maintained their territorial advantage but struggled to create anything in the way of serious chances, with Pickford saving Fernandez's shot from distance at the second attempt.
Ndiaye's shot was blocked in a goalmouth scramble which almost produced a late winner but the hosts walked away with a fully-deserved point to increase supporters' optimism in a week which also saw them take control of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Additional reporting by PA Sport.
