Chelsea FC 1-1 Everton LIVE! Branthwaite goal - Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today

Chelsea suffered another setback in their Premier League title challenge when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by an injury-hit Everton on Thursday, leaving the Blues four points adrift of table-toppers Manchester City.

The hosts, themselves missing their first-choice strikers due to Covid-19, failed to turn early dominance into goals before Mason Mount made the breakthrough in the 70th minute when he took a pass from Reece James and fired past Jordan Pickford.

Mount had missed one of the hosts' many chances in the opening half when, clean through, he was denied by Pickford's outstretched foot.

The visitors drew level within four minutes of Chelsea going ahead when Anthony Gordon floated a looping free-kick to the far post and 19-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite stretched out a boot to turn the ball past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea struggled to make further inroads without Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who had all tested positive for Covid.

Kai Havertz was also unwell and awaiting the result of a test.

The draw left Chelsea in third place behind Manchester City who thrashed Leeds United 7-0 on Tuesday, and Liverpool - who downed Newcastle at Anfield.

Match highlights

• GOAL! Mount puts dominant Chelsea ahead

• GOAL! Branthwaite stuns the Bridge!

Chelsea FC 1 - 1 Everton FC

22:21 , Marc Mayo

Recap a disappoint night for Chelsea - and a great one for Everton - with James Robson’ analysis from Stamford Bridge.

22:14 , Marc Mayo

The Chelsea boss also refuses to say one way or another on continuing to play amid the rise in Covid cases, with the Blues set to play again on Sunday against Wolves.

22:10 , Marc Mayo

Thomas Tuchel says the loss of players to injuries and Covid “could be” a reason behind dropping points but tells BT Sport: “It’s a fact, we cannot use it as an excuse.”

22:09 , Marc Mayo

Jordan Pickford rightfully got a great reception from the visiting fans for his display - and gave something back.

21:59 , Marc Mayo

Check out how James Robson rated and slated the Chelsea players with his individual ratings from the Bridge.

21:52 , Marc Mayo

A solemn night for the Blues.

21:49 , Marc Mayo

Recap the equaliser...

21:47 , Marc Mayo

Scratch that, it’s 3-1 Liverpool. Follow the final minutes here.

21:42 , Marc Mayo

Not much good news for Chelsea fans at Anfield either, with Liverpool still 2-1 up versus Newcastle.

Full time! Chelsea 1-1 Everton

21:38 , Marc Mayo

Two more points dropped in Chelsea’s title bid! A huge draw for Rafa Benitez and Everton!

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90+5 mins: Pulisic darts in behind but Barkley’s ball is overhit and he has to work it back to Rudiger - who holds it up and crosses straight into Pickford’s arms.

21:36 , Marc Mayo

90+4 mins: And again, Chelsea come forward but are rejected and the clearance is very deep. Time is running out.

21:35 , Marc Mayo

90+2 mins: Another late show incoming? Mount and James link up well but Everton hold firm and clear it long.

21:34 , Marc Mayo

90+1 mins: Not what Chelsea wanted - a clash of heads forces a short delay.

21:33 , Marc Mayo

90 mins: Everton are arguably on top as Benitez throws Onyango on for Gordon, only his second Premier League outing.

Five minutes added on.

21:31 , Marc Mayo

88 mins: Jorginho clears a Kenny cross and Chelsea are forced to be patient with clearing their lines - allowing Everton to settle back into their defensive shape.

21:30 , Marc Mayo

86 mins: Another break for the visitors but Dobbin doesn’t have the execution as he looks for the room to shoot. Maybe either side can win this..!

21:27 , Marc Mayo

84 mins: Back into the familiar routine of Chelsea pressure, with basically every player inside the Toffees’ half.

21:25 , Marc Mayo

82 mins: Barkley hasn’t caught up with the tempo of the game since coming on and an attack breaks down when he ambles onto the ball, before laying an overambitious and underhit pass out wide that Godfrey snaffles up.

21:23 , Marc Mayo

79 mins: Save!

Silva meets a set-piece and his header is destined for the bottom corner before a fabulous parry away from Pickford, who then catches Rudiger’s attempt from the following corner.

A great display from the England international tonight.

21:19 , Marc Mayo

77 mins: Mendy flaps at a corner and Dobbin hits the deck after Saul cleared the ball...

That’s a dive. Michael Oliver books the youngster. VAR doesn’t need long to confirm it.

21:19 , Marc Mayo

76 mins: The away end is bouncing and Everton fancy nicking this!

Chalobah replaces Azpilicueta.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

21:18 , Marc Mayo

What a sickening blow for Chelsea. Looked like Saul got caught ball-watching and Branthwaite capitalised. It is just happening too often in recent weeks.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Everton | Branthwaite, 74'

21:17 , Marc Mayo

74 mins: Wow! A great flick home by Branthwaite!

21:16 , Marc Mayo

71 mins: There was that openness Chelsea needed after Doucoure was caught upfield, and then it all looked so easy for Chelsea.

You’d fancy them to grab a second to secure the points before long...

Meanwhile, Gbamin on for Gomes for the visitors.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

21:13 , Marc Mayo

I’m not going to say it “had to happen” - but Chelsea are worthy of their lead. It was a moment of real quality with James playing in Mount, who scored at the near post.

That is the type of finishing Chelsea have lacked today.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Everton | Mount, 70'

21:12 , Marc Mayo

70 mins: There it is!

21:11 , Marc Mayo

69 mins: Mount spins and has a shot blocked by Keane - Chelsea remain stuck on one shot on target since the break.

21:10 , Marc Mayo

67 mins: Not like they could look much less dangerous than the first-half, but Everton definitely look more of a threat in attack of late. There is much more intent and confidence on the break.

21:08 , Marc Mayo

64 mins: Alonso and Loftus-Cheek are off for Saul and Barkley, so that change of approach does come with Pulisic moving to left wing-back.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

21:06 , Marc Mayo

Saul and Barkley are coming on. I’d imagine it is a formation change, given how little threat Everton are posing. So would expect at least one defender to come off.

21:06 , Marc Mayo

63 mins: Pulisic takes a hit from Gomes, earning the former Barcelona man his first booking of the year.

21:05 , Marc Mayo

61 mins: Dobbin on for Simms in Everton’s attack. The 20-year-old debutant is replaced by the 18-year-old who has played a total of two minutes for the senior Toffees side, split between two substitute outings earlier this season.

21:04 , Marc Mayo

60 mins: Chance!

James floats in a sweet free-kick and Rudiger is there at the far-post, but the German nods his shot wide!

21:01 , Marc Mayo

59 mins: Jorginho with a cynical foul on Branthwaite as the young defender broke, picking up a yellow for his troubles.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

21:01 , Marc Mayo

It is the same pattern as the first-half. The key difference being that Chelsea are not able to create as many openings so far. That was always going to be the danger once Benitez had the chance to reorganise at half-time.

21:00 , Marc Mayo

57 mins: More Toffees uncertainty from the cross before it falls to Azpilicueta, who lofts his shot over.

20:59 , Marc Mayo

56 mins: Just a bit of openness may help Chelsea here as Everton again come forward and a low, dribbling shot is easy for Mendy.

Back down the other end, Godfrey fells James for a free-kick in a good, wide-right position.

20:56 , Marc Mayo

53 mins: Iwobi is played in nicely by Gordon for an Everton counter and just doesn’t really know what do with it...

Doucoure, free through the middle, was ignored and the ex-Arsenal man eventually finds Simms but he is crowded out and Kenny blasts over.

20:54 , Marc Mayo

51 mins: Chance!

The corner swings under the bar and Loftus-Cheek flicks it over! It came off his back, as well. Must do better.

20:53 , Marc Mayo

50 mins: Azpilicueta chips a cross into the box but this Chelsea forward line isn’t really suited to competing for dropping balls, and Mount loses the header.

Loftus-Cheek arrives on time for the rebound before scuffing his attempt.

Chelsea come back through Mount again and Pickford scurries over to his left to parry a deflected long-range hit.

20:51 , Marc Mayo

48 mins: A painful one for Ziyech, who felt the blow as Iwobi looked to plant his foot on the turf while shielding the ball. He’ll be okay to continue, though.

20:50 , Marc Mayo

47 mins: Another injury worry for Chelsea after Ziyech takes a couple of studs from Iwobi, all in a fair game battle for the ball.

Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Everton

20:48 , Marc Mayo

The second-half begins, without any changes.

20:45 , Marc Mayo

Not much for Tuchel to look for off his bench at the break - Barkley is the only potential attacker available to him.

That is alongside Saul, Chalobah, Christensen, Sarr, Kante, and two goalkeepers..!

20:41 , Marc Mayo

Not a good night for Chelsea so far, Emma Hayes’ Women’s side are heading out of the Champions League as things stand - two down at Wolfsburg.

20:41 , Marc Mayo

Without a winner, Chelsea will be four points behind Man City and three off Liverpool. What should Tuchel do to turn things around?

20:38 , Marc Mayo

Meanwhile, normal service at Anfield.

Half-time! Chelsea 0-0 Everton

20:33 , Marc Mayo

It’s all square at the break with Pickford to thank for the Toffees, and Chelsea left ruing their finishing once again.

20:31 , Marc Mayo

45 mins: Two minutes added on.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

20:30 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea have had more than 80 per cent possession - but it is beginning to feel like Everton are quite comfortable with the pattern of the game. They are defending deep and packing their area to limit space.

It is credit to Chelsea that they have still managed to create so many quality chances - but they just have not been able to take them.

Too soon to say it is one of those games - but they should ahead by now and they will know it.

20:30 , Marc Mayo

44 mins: Doucoure was the architect of that least counter and he races forward again, before tumbling under a Loftus-Cheek lunge that earns the Chelsea man a yellow.

20:29 , Marc Mayo

42 mins: Everton break forward and Gordon fires an unconvincing effort into Mendy’s chest from distance - the Toffees’ first shot on target of the night.

20:28 , Marc Mayo

FYI, Liverpool are 2-1 up at home to Newcastle, Jota and Salah scoring after that Shelvey opener.

20:27 , Marc Mayo

40 mins: Just the one Everton shot to Chelsea’s 13 as the first-half draws to a close.

Here’s how that Mount chance looked:

Never celebrate before the ball goes in!

20:22 , Marc Mayo

36 mins: Chance!

Once again Pickford denies Chelsea with Rudiger working Mount in, and his low effort from close-range is brilliantly denied by the goalkeeper’s right foot!

20:20 , Marc Mayo

34 mins: Ziyech drifts inside to team up with Pulisic and drives a low effort wide of Pickford’s left-hand post.

20:17 , Marc Mayo

Meanwhile, at Anfield...

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

20:16 , Marc Mayo

This is remarkably one-sided, but Everton are hanging on in there. And as we’ve seen with Chelsea, that will only raise the tension inside Stamford Bridge.

It may also give the visitors belief they can steal something from this game. Only half an hour gone, but Chelsea need to make their superiority count.

It has been really impressive - but they need that clinical finish.

20:15 , Marc Mayo

29 mins: Alonso plays a bit more narrow to pick up a nice pass and lay it off for Mount, but the sting of his effort is taken off by a block and Pickford gathers.

20:14 , Marc Mayo

28 mins: Everton appear to have properly manned their wings now, after some early success for Chelsea.

Loftus-Cheek goes out to help but the space is limited with Doucoure putting himself about nicely. A lovely Cruyff turn from the Blues man doesn’t lead to a chance, but does earn a nice ‘Ooo’ from the crowd.

20:10 , Marc Mayo

25 mins: James in behind again and Holgate is in the right spot to clear his cross, or else it would have been 1-0.

That Chelsea screw begins to turn again.

20:09 , Marc Mayo

23 mins: Ziyech spoons a shot-cross over the bar on a Chelsea counter, off the back of a rare Everton move forward.

That wasn’t the best chance so far but what was? James? Mount? This Jorginho one was pretty good...

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

20:07 , Marc Mayo

Barkley has been sent out to warm up after Loftus-Cheek goes down heavily. He is getting plenty of abuse from his former Everton fans, chanting: “There’s only one greedy b******”.

20:07 , Marc Mayo

21 mins: Loftus-Cheek is back on before Holgate takes Ziyech down, to earn a booking.

20:05 , Marc Mayo

19 mins: An awkward landing for the midfielder after he went up for a header and the physios check him over.

Kante is on the bench, having only just come back from injury. Tuchel may not have been planning on him playing 70 minutes, mind.

20:04 , Marc Mayo

18 mins: A stoppage with Loftus-Cheek on the ground.

20:04 , Marc Mayo

17 mins: Take two? Basically from the same position, the Blues have a free-kick that is only slightly more central than before.

James and Alonso are over it but it’s the Spaniard who hits the wall before James pelts the rebound only a foot over the bar.

20:02 , Marc Mayo

15 mins: Chance!

Gomes knocks Ziyech over to set up a free-kick position, 25 yards out and just towards Chelsea’s left.

James fancies it and forces Pickford to comfortably palm clear - but the ball comes back in and Jorginho can’t convert at the near-post! He didn’t realise how close he was to the goal.

19:58 , Marc Mayo

12 mins: Now it’s the Toffees giving the ball away on their own 18-yard line and Ziyech has a pop, which Pickford palms away as it headed for the top corner.

It’s been an ominous opening quarter of an hour...

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

19:57 , Marc Mayo

We’ve seen some really slick stuff from Chelsea so far. They may be missing a host of forwards, but they are linking well in attack.

The only criticism is that they should have at least one goal already with James and Mount not making the most of chances and Pulisic and Havertz both forcing saves.

19:56 , Marc Mayo

10 mins: Now it’s Pulisic turning a neat flick towards goal after Ziyech broke down the left.

But it lands in Pickford’s grateful arms as Everton are once again exposed out wide.

19:54 , Marc Mayo

7 mins: Close again!

James is free to drift into the centre and Godfrey is again off the pace at left-back, this time Mount running in behind and firing his effort across the face of Pickford’s goal - and wide.

19:51 , Marc Mayo

5 mins: Chance!

James breaks in behind and somehow misses the target!

A great ball from Jorginho fools the defence and he places his effort wide of the near-post.

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

19:49 , Marc Mayo

Benitez getting some early stick from the Chelsea fans. Everton fans, meanwhile, are in good voice, despite their current woes. Let’s see how long that lasts if things start to go wrong here.

There have been a couple of banners raised already though. “Benitez get out of our club” and “Sack the board”. Backing the team on the pitch - but not a lot else.

19:49 , Marc Mayo

3 mins: Gordon and Iwobi are providing the support for Simms in perhaps the least experienced frontline the Toffees have ever started in the Premier League - through no fault of their own it’s worth adding.

19:47 , Marc Mayo

2 mins: An early long ball down the wing that Pulisic smartly flicks around Keane, but the ball had just gone out.

Neither side racing out of the traps so far.

Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Everton

19:45 , Marc Mayo

Two teams very much depleted by injuries and Covid-19 face off at the Bridge...

19:44 , Marc Mayo

The teams are out!

As is this flag for Rafa Benitez...

19:42 , Marc Mayo

Before the game, here’s Tuchel’s latest pre-game update.

He said: “Kai feels unwell, he’s not positive yet but we’re waiting for test results and we decided to not bring him to the squad,’ Tuchel said of Havertz’s absence this evening.

“We did some extra tests at 12 o’clock today to make sure who would arrive at lunch. From there we had to pick the team. Would it be the same line-up? I don’t know. The situation started yesterday with the players feeling unwell and not training.

“We had to confirm the flow tests and wait for the PCR results. The results are the results and the situation is the situation. We still have a strong squad and one we want to push forward, and that should be able to compete. Like always, we focus on the guys who are there.”

Reminder!

19:41 , Marc Mayo

How to watch

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on BT Sport 2.

Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the game either on their website or through the BT Sport App.

19:37 , Marc Mayo

Hakim Ziyech does get a spot in the starting XI tonight - although SportBild are reporting this week that the winger is unsatisfied with his Chelsea game time and could move to Borussia Dortmund in January.

19:30 , Marc Mayo

Rafa Benitez has insisted the problems at Everton are not just skin deep amid his difficult start to life at Goodison Park.

He told reporters ahead of the game: “Which is the feeling of the last years for any Everton fan: success or frustration? You know the answer.

“I have a lot of fans that are telling me the same. They know the problems are not just ones you can fix in just five months.

"When I talk with the owner, the chairman and the chief exec nearly every day we talk about what we want to do for the future, not just the present.”

Evening Standard prediction

19:25 , Marc Mayo

Tuchel’s side might have been leaking goals of late but, thankfully for them, Everton aren’t exactly prolific while some key attackers are out of action.

Crucially, Everton have (rather atypically for a Benitez side) also been struggling defensively, so Chelsea should have enough to overcome them.

Chelsea to win 2-0.

19:22 , Marc Mayo

Thomas Tuchel has called on Chelsea to rediscover the hard-working spirit that forged their successful start to the season.

Speaking off the back of conceding eight goals in three games, the German noted: “It makes you appreciate how hard we worked before and what it takes to be so consistent in not conceding.

“It shows us how much the details matter. How much individual top level in every situation matters and hopefully we get this consistency in not conceding back into our game.”

James Robson at Stamford Bridge

19:17 , Marc Mayo

19:11 , Marc Mayo

The Premier League have announced FOUR more games are postponed this weekend.

Southampton v Brentford, Watford v Palace, West Ham v Norwich and Everton v Leicester have all been called off due to Covid outbreaks.

Earlier today, Man United’s meeting with Brighton was also postponed.

19:07 , Marc Mayo

It’s being reported that Callum Hudson-Odoi, Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell (who’s already out with a knee injury) have tested positive for Covid-19.

Kai Havertz is awaiting the result having experienced symptoms.

19:02 , Marc Mayo

A huge night for Ellis Simms as he makes his first Everton appearance of the season - from the start.

Richarlison and Salomon Rondon’s absences mean the 20-year-old has been given the nod up top. He spent last season on loan at Blackpool, scoring ten goals.

Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend also drop out the squad after the Crystal Palace defeat, plus Fabian Delph.

18:55 , Marc Mayo

Well. What to make of that team news?

Only eight of a possible nine subs named by Chelsea and seven for Everton...

Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku are all OUT of the Blues squad.

The Everton team is out...

18:51 , Marc Mayo

Everton XI: Pickford; Kenny, Holgate, Godfrey, Keane, Branthwaite; Iwobi, Gomes, Doucoure, Gordon; Simms.

Subs: Begovic, Lonergan, Coleman, Allan, Gbamin, Onyango, Dobbin.

How the hosts line up...

18:48 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic, Ziyech.

Subs: Kepa, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Christensen, Sarr, Kante, Saul, Barkley.

18:42 , Marc Mayo

Team news coming up! Don’t go anywhere...

18:37 , Marc Mayo

In case you missed it: The 2022/23 Nations League draw took place this evening - find out who England will face.

18:32 , Marc Mayo

Hand gel at the ready down in West London tonight.

18:25 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea are finally seeing their injury problems ease ahead of facing Everton – but N’Golo Kante will have to wait for his first start since suffering a knee injury last month.

The France midfielder will be on the bench for tonight’s match at Stamford Bridge, meaning Thomas Tuchel is likely to stick with the pairing of Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the centre of the park.

Romelu Lukaku could start his first Premier League game since October 16 after coming back from an ankle injury – but is still not considered fit enough to see out a whole 90 minutes.

Everton, meanwhile, will be missing Richarlison, Seamus Coleman and Andros Townsend after they all picked up injuries during Sunday’s loss to Crystal Palace.

How to watch

18:20 , Marc Mayo

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on BT Sport 2.

Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the game either on their website or through the BT Sport App.

Covid latest...

18:16 , Marc Mayo

It is understood a “small number” of players tested positive on Wednesday, joining Mateo Kovacic in isolation.

That immediately threw the game with Everton into doubt, with the football calendar rapidly being impacted by the spread of Omicron.

But the situation at Chelsea is not considered an outbreak because there were no new cases during testing on Thursday morning.

It is understood that it takes two consecutive days of positive cases for an outbreak to be declared, with Chelsea having no fresh cases since Wednesday.

18:12 , Marc Mayo

Here’s how we expect the Blues to line up - with team news due in just half an hour...

Chelsea predicted XI: Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; James, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Lukaku, Werner.

Good evening!

18:11 , Marc Mayo

Welcome to our live match blog for Chelsea versus Everton - a match already being described as on!

Click here to read the full blog on The Evening Standard's website