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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite a goalless draw against Everton on Sunday, a result that saw them lose ground in the Premier League title race.
The Blues had the chance to move above Liverpool into first place with a win at Goodison Park, but their eight-match winning streak ended as they failed to score for the first time since October.
Later in the day, Liverpool’s emphatic 6-3 win over Tottenham extended their lead to four points at the top of the table, with Chelsea having played one more match than the leaders.
Speaking after the match, Maresca said, “I am absolutely happy. I just told the players I’m more pleased with today than after the Brentford game. This was a tricky game in a difficult stadium against a team with one of the best defensive records in Europe.”
He added, “It’s not just about how well you play with the ball; it’s also about defending and adapting to different challenges. We handled that well today.”
The match marked Everton’s first outing under new owners, the Friedkin Group (TFG), with executive chairman Marc Watts present at Goodison Park. While the Toffees secured a second successive 0-0 draw following their stalemate at Arsenal, manager Sean Dyche acknowledged the need for victories to impress the club’s US-based leadership.
Everton remains perilously close to the relegation zone, just four points clear. Dyche, whose contract expires at the end of the season, said, “The new owners have been supportive of what I’ve done here, but we know wins are what matter. I’m not naive about that.”
Chelsea’s inability to break down Everton’s resolute defence leaves them in second place, with Liverpool looking increasingly dominant at the top as the season heads into the busy festive period.
