Chelsea’s stuttering form continued today after the Stamford Bridge outfit lost 1-0 away against relegation strugglers Everton.
The Toffees support understood just how big a game this was for their relegation threatened side, and it was no surprise to see Everton start at a million miles an hour in what was a cauldron like atmosphere at Goodison Park.
However, once they weathered the initial surge, Chelsea began to get their foot on the ball and take the sting out of the game, and despite all of Everton’s endeavor they were unable to create much in the way of clear cut chances.
Just after the half-time break though and Everton would finally get the chance they craved. Usually reliable Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta was caught in possession at the edge of the area by Richarlison, before the Brazilian took full advantage by slotting past Edouard Mendy.
Everton would have their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the scoreline the same just before the hour mark, with the England international Jordan Pickford pulling off two brilliant saves. Firstly, Pickford scrambled across his line to deny Azpilicueta after Mason Mount’s effort had come off the post, then just moments later the 28-year-old bravely took a close range Antonio Rudiger flush in the face.
In injury time Pickford would pull off yet another crucial stop by denying Mateo Kovacic and Everton held on to secure a massive three points in their battle to beat the drop.
Third placed Chelsea have struggled for form in recent months and Thomas Tuchel admitted afterwards that a lack of ‘concentration and determination’ is costing his side lately.
“We hate to lose, we are responsible for it, it was our resposnsibility in Old Trafford to not have more – we struggle to have consecutive clean sheets and top performances and that is why we lost today,” Tuchel told Sky Sports.
“We have to be without mistakes, disciplined in your positions and don’t make mistakes. When you have that much possession, we did not play our best match but we were in control, and then we gave a goal away and it kills the game for us because it is everything the opponent wants. It is a huge pattern in our season.
“We have now four matches in the last two weeks and one clean sheet, that needs to change – if we try to get away with OK performances that is not good for us, we are a team that needs to be on the very top limit on every match basis. If we try to get away with OK we lose games.
“We struggle with concentration and determination levels and you see that in the last four matches.”
