Overview

Chelsea turned in the worst display of the season with a meek and soulless performance at a venue that seems to get the better of us every season. Everton were in control of the game, scoring an early penalty before efficiently denying Chelsea’s attempts to equalize.

The result is not worthy of overreaction or over-analysis like the away defeats to Everton and Sheffield United last season, nor is it the byproduct of plain bad luck like the game against West Ham at home. This was an anomalous performance (hopefully), one that highlights the room for improvement in this team.

At the end of last season, Chelsea had to take two major changes in terms of mentality to move from merely a top-4 team to competing seriously for titles. The first was to adopt a more pragmatic approach and avoid open games, and this has been achieved to an extent. The second is to win games where the team do not play well, something that we have evidently not learnedyet. It will come eventually, it is a step-by-step process after all.

Chelsea’s iconic title-winning teams and Liverpool last season are the biggest examples of teams who can win despite playing poorly. Regardless of form or other factors, the team’s best players must take ownership of games and come up with game-changing moments. Sadly for us, the players are still some way off that level.

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Match statistics

Match statistics from fbref and understat.

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Individual ratings

Frank Lampard

There were not many faults to be found with the starting lineup, with form and fitness making selections obvious. While some would have liked Gilmour to start, two starts in quick succession coming off an injury is not a great idea. Similarly, while Tammy was better suited to Everton, Giroud has been in excellent form.

With three wingers out, there was not much to do in the way of tactical maneuvering. Lampard stuck to the usual 4-3-3, with Havertz replacing Ziyech and playing a bit more centrally. However, this was not a major tactical blunder or managerial error. The team were simply not at their best; it was one of those days when nothing goes to plan.

RATING: 5.5

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Édouard Mendy

Made a mistake for the second game in a row and while there is enough goodwill in the bank, he needs to get back to his usual levels of focus soon. Outside that, he made a couple of important saves and collected one dangerous cross well.

RATING: 5

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Photo by Jon Super - Pool/Getty Images

Reece James

Was the team’s best player on the night, standing up to the physicality of Everton players and the boisterous home crowd. Showed plenty of intent on the ball, getting into dangerous areas centrally and out wide. Unlucky to have a shot deflected onto the post.

Stats of note
9 progressive passes - 1st among Chelsea players
3 shots - 1st
4 shot-creating actions - 1st
4 tackles - Joint 1st
19 pressures - 2nd
3 aerial duels won (5 contested) - 2nd
2 successful dribbles (3 attempted) - Joint 2nd
16 loose-ball recoveries - Joint 2nd
3 touches in the penalty area - 3rd

RATING: 7

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Kurt Zouma

Had a solid defensive showing and won plenty of duels in the air and ground. However, he could have done better with a chance from a free-kick. With Silva having an off-day, he did a good job in progressing the ball upwards.

Stats of note
13 passes into final third - 1st
13 progressive passes - 1st
6 aerial duels won (9 contested) - 1st
4 clearances - Joint 1st
1 shot blocked - Joint 1st
2 successful dribbles (2 attempted) - Joint 2nd
16 loose-ball recoveries - Joint 2nd

RATING: 6

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Thiago Silva

Had his worst display in quite some time, both in aspects that can be quantified by stats and intangibles. He was lucky that Calvert-Lewin was marginally offside after beating him to win a penalty from Chilwell and his ball progression was way off its usual levels. On a day where the team needed a senior player to show some courage in order to ride out the Goodison storm, Silva retreated into a shell.

Stats of note
4 clearances - Joint 1st
7 progressive passes - 3rd
6 passes into final third - Joint 3rd

RATING: 5

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Ben Chilwell

His a sub-par attacking display, especially considering he was going against a stand-in fullback. Not much to write home about defensively either.

Stats of note
4 tackles - Joint 1st

RATING: 5

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Photo by Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

N’Golo Kanté

Made a few rare lapses in judgement, especially when he was up against Richarlison’s trickery and gamesmanship. Did a good job in possession but ultimately, this was not a performance that tilted the scales either way.

Stats of note
23 pressures - 1st
17 loose-ball recoveries - 1st
2 successful dribbles (2 attempted) - Joint 2nd
6 passes into final third - Joint 3rd

RATING: 6

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Mason Mount

He fell short of his overall high standards, something that was most notable in his ball progression. Was very unlucky not have seen his peach of a free-kick go in but he did not have many notable moments besides that.

Stats of note
2 interceptions - 1st
2 shots - Joint 2nd

RATING: 5

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Mateo Kovačić

Started the game very poorly but got into the game as time went on. His unnecessary and unsuccessful flicks in midfield were a reminder of where he still needs to improve.

Stats of note
3 successful dribbles (4 attempted) - 1st
7 passes into final third - 2nd
3 tackles - 2nd

RATING: 5.5

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Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Kai Havertz

Was abysmal from his first touch to last. Seldom showed the intent to overcome a tricky opponent and when he did, it was unsuccessful and mistimed. While he has always been a player who peaks late in seasons, performances like these are unacceptable.

Stats of note
4 touches in the penalty box - 2nd
2 successful dribbles (3 attempted) - Joint 2nd
3 aerial duels won (6 contested) - Joint 2nd
2 shot creating actions - 3rd

RATING: 4

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Olivier Giroud

Worked hard but ultimately gave the Everton defenders nothing to worry about. His static style of play suited the home team and by cutting off his supply, they ensured Giroud did not harm them.

Stats of note
6 touches in the penalty box - 1st
2 shots - Joint 2nd
3 aerial duels won (8 contested) - Joint 2nd
18 pressures - 3rd

RATING: 5

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Timo Werner

Another shoddy display in general play, a pattern that is slowly moving from concerning to alarming. Even the most basic of touches and passes were off the mark, with one such sloppy touch early in the first half acting as a sign for what was to come. Even his usually impeccable off-the-ball movement was below-par.

Mind you, he does have a few mitigating factors. The best way to use him is by making on run on to balls or by making him receive the ball with space to run to into. Instead, he is being made to participate in intricate passing play, something that has never been his forte. His workload needs to be managed too.

Stats of note
3 shot-creating actions - 2nd

RATING: 4

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Substitutes

Photo by Emma Simpson - Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images

Tammy Abraham (68th minute) - Was employed as winger for most of his time on the pitch, with entirely predictable results. (spoiler: the results were not good)

Billy Gilmour (82nd minute) - Did not have the time to fully get his passing radar on target and was consequently underwhelming on the ball.