Chelsea in stalemate

Chelsea wasted a chance to move level on points with second placed Manchester United as Everton maintained their improvement under Sam Allardyce with a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Chelsea’s coach Antonio Conte attends a press conference in Baku on November 21st, 2017 on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group C football match between Qarabag FK and Chelsea FC, It marked a sixth game unbeaten for Everton under former England boss Allardyce, but Chelsea’s failure to convert possession into goals will not have pleased Blues manager.
Conte has already conceded his inconsistent team won’t be able to defend the Premier League title and this was another frustrating afternoon for the Italian as the Blues squandered their territorial dominance.
Chelsea remain 3rd and are 13 points behind leaders Manchester City, who play Bournemouth later on Saturday.
Initially, it looked like being an encouraging day for Conte as Chelsea quickly established a pattern of complete dominance.
It took an impressive double goal line clearance by veteran defender Phil Jagielka to deny the visitors what would have been a deserved lead.
Everton captain read the situation perfectly as Marcos Alonso’s cross flew through the home area after 10 minutes, reacting sharply to block Tiemoue Bakayoko’s effort, Jagielka responded more impressively as Willian looked certain to convert the rebound, the defender positioning himself to keep out the followup effort in similar fashion, but for all their superiority in those opening stages, Chelsea struggled to carve out many meaningful chances to trouble home keeper Jordan Pickford.
After twenty minutes, Cuco Martina was recorded for a blatant foul on Victor Moses on the edge of the Everton area but Willian sent his free kick well over.
And while the passing of Willian, Pedro and Eden Hazard was pleasing on the eye and threatening at times, Everton stuck to their defensive duties well.
It was easy to see the impact Allardyce has made since his arrival at Goodison Park though Everton were not favoured by the pre-match loss of in form Wayne Rooney due to illness. In the absence of the ten goal forward, Everton’s attacking play was likely to be hindered and so it proved, with Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois a virtual commentator.