In what turned out to be one of the most fiercely contested match of the season at Goodison park, Tuchel’s blues faltered in the face of adversity in Merseyside. Chelsea faced Everton with the toffees fighting desperately hard to survive the drop with 5 games left to play.
The game kicked off to an Everton attack which led to the first attempt on the Chelsea goal after Gordon was fouled and took the resulting free kick which went off target. The first half took a more balance turn after Everton’s early pressure but the Toffees kept the blues from playing their usual free flowing style which meant chances were few and far between.
The second period of the game threatened to have tempers boil over after the first half saw a few disagreements, pushing and shoving amongst players of both sides and Everton’s early goal in the second half courtesy a Richarlison effort ensured the rest of the game was to be played on the edge.
Everton dropped off after taking the lead and let Chelsea have possession of the ball but limited the spaces around their 18 yard box causing frustration for the blues with Kai in particular targeted for mind games from the Toffees defenders. The blues toiled and when they finally broke through the Everton backline, Chelsea found goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in sublime form with the England number one making some crucial saves to keep his team’s lead.
The game ended with Everton wining by Richarlison’s lone goal keeping the Toffees’ hope of survival alive with 5 games to go.
Here are 5 lessons learned as Chelsea’s Goodison park run of nightmares continues…
◦ Defensive mistake costs Chelsea again :
A team built on the foundations of a solid defensive unit, Chelsea seems to be letting go of the principles that has brought success to the team in recent months. With defenders and goalkeeper alike making errors leading to dangerous attacks or goals against the team, one only wonders how much more the team suffers as a result of lack of concentration at the back.
Against Arsenal, Tuchel voiced his frustration over the goals conceded by his team explaining that he had no clue as to the reason his side keeps making such high profile errors. Here against Everton, Azpilicueta got robbed on the edge of the box when a pass out wide was on and the break into the box led to Richarlison’s easy finish into the bottom corner of the goal.
Captain Azpilicueta was also at fault for Arsenal’s forth goal of the game at the Bridge after pulling Saka to the ground inside the 18 yard box.
◦ Kai needs a break :
As difficult as the life of a top level player is, one can only imagine the mental toll it takes on the players at this stage of the season and Kai seems to be one player struggling to replicate his mid season form presently. The German attacker cut a frustrated figure up top against Mina and Coleman and he got no where close to scoring today. With chances missed aplenty against United (Kai was heavily guilty of missing two), it was a surprise to see Tuchel remain with the same attack line that failed to deliver the goods against United.
Kai suffered against Mina’s physicality and Lukaku would have been left frustrated he didn’t get a look in off the bench with Chelsea chasing an equalizing goal. With the games coming thick and fast before the end of the season, it seems like the perfect time to give Kai a breather and allow Lukaku a chance to redeem himself.
◦ Another struggle for creativity :
It has become a norm for Chelsea to struggle before low blocks and teams that set up to frustrate. Everton took the low block approach in the second half after getting a goal early in the second period and Tuchel would feel his team didn’t do enough to trouble Pickford in goal.
The blues had total control of the possession and the Toffees only had chances off the break.
With spaces limited and closed down quickly by the Everton players, Tuchel’s men struggled to create openings that could have led to an equalizing goal. The blues have often come off short when faced with low blocks this season and teams recognizing that have effected that tactic with the hope of frustrating the blues and more often than not, such teams successfully gain points over the blues.
◦ Loftus getting back on track :
In a game of frustration and a feeling of having done so little with much at stake, a player making his 50th start for Chelsea stood tall.
RLC replaced N’golo Kante in the team and showed brightly amongst many dim stars in Merseyside. RLC tried to stamp his authority on the game through the middle and showed glimpses of how good he could be on his day with driving runs through the heart of the Everton midfield opening up spaces for his teammates but his final passes sometimes let him down.
Ruben was recently called out by Tuchel to push harder and show his quality on the pitch more often and RLC seems to have taken his coach’s advice on board with the determination to prove his worth to the team.
◦ Late season troubles :
As previously highlighted, Chelsea seem to be suffering another late season dip in form and this is a repetition of the last few seasons.
The cause of such poor run of form is unidentified and if the blues are to challenge the two powerhouses in the league (City and Liverpool) for the title next season, there’s much improvement to be done. A squad rebuilding is on the cards with many present members of the squad being linked with moves away from the club and many others left to weigh their options ahead of a new era at Stamford Bridge.
The defence is one area certain to see huge changes after the confirmed departures of Christensen and Rudiger as well as rumored interests in players like Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso in the summer.
The whole team needs some refreshment and this summer could be a big one in deciding if the blues are to remain as challengers or record another disappointing season.
Man of the Match; RLC 8/10
Chelsea have a free week ahead and next face wolves next weekend...
