Chelsea squandered the prospect to place stress on Premier League leaders Liverpool as they had been held to a goalless draw by Everton at Goodison Park.

Sean Dyche’s facet turned the primary group since Newcastle in October to stop the Londoners from scoring – and solely the third this season – and that dropped at an finish an eight-match successful run.

Whereas there was no instant new proprietor bounce for the Toffees, watched by incoming government chairman Marc Watts and different representatives of The Freidkin Group after Thursday’s takeover, this was a continuation of the progress which has introduced a level of stability on the pitch.

Everton have misplaced solely two of the final 12, however have solely recorded three wins and it’s evident the place enhancements must be made, though that’s unlikely to be rectified within the January switch window whatever the new possession.

An in-form Chelsea group, who had an opportunity to go high of the desk for the primary time in three years, had been unusually subdued and even the usually-reliable Cole Palmer couldn’t discover a means by means of the hosts’ blockade.

Everton have had loads of follow, with final weekend’s goalless draw at Arsenal preferrred preparation for nullifying a group which had scored 26 targets of their final eight video games.

A seventh clear sheet within the final 10 outings confirmed Dyche, whose future stays up for debate together with his contract expiring in the summertime, has no less than succeeded in getting issues proper at one finish of the pitch.

A part of that was because of Everton’s organisation and the continued excellence of Jordan Pickford, whose instinctive close-range save from Nicolas Jackson halfway by means of the primary half was massively vital within the end result.

The England goalkeeper denied Jackson once more however from the ensuing nook was indebted to his left-hand put up because the Chelsea striker headed Enzo Fernandez’s cross towards the upright.

Pickford, nevertheless, was lucky his reckless cost at Malo Gusto’s follow-up didn’t lead to disaster as solely the faintest of touches earlier than he despatched the defender flying saved him from conceding a penalty.

Everton’s one likelihood of the half got here when Orel Mangala pressured Robert Sanchez right into a save low to his proper after Iliman Ndiaye had launched Abdoulaye Doucoure in a two-on-two.

Ndiaye began the second half brightly and when he crossed to the far put up Jack Harrison shot at Sanchez with Doucoure to his left on the sting of the six-yard space.

Chelsea maintained their territorial benefit however struggled to create something in the best way of significant possibilities, with Pickford saving Fernandez’s shot from distance on the second try.

Ndiaye’s shot was blocked in a goalmouth scramble which nearly produced a late winner however the hosts walked away with a fully-deserved level to extend supporters’ optimism in per week which additionally noticed them take management of the brand new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.