LONDON (AM) – Chelsea have lost the most points in the Premier League title race, 1-1 back in the 77th minute after injury to Everton on Thursday.
Having missed all of their strikers due to coronavirus or illness, Chelsea struggled to break Everton’s packed impromptu defenses until Rhys James led a 70-minute counterattack and fed Mason Mount to score in his fourth straight league game. …
However, Chelsea’s recent defensive weakness was again revealed when Jarrad Brantwaite – a 19-year-old defender playing only with an Everton injury – shot a free kick at the far post.
Chelsea have won only two of their last five league games and have lost the lead. The team is four points behind first-place Manchester City after 17 games.
Thomas Tuchel’s side drew Manchester United at home and lost to West Ham in those five games and beat Leeds just last weekend thanks to a penalty time.
Chelsea were left without strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi after testing positive for COVID-19. Kai Havertz, who could have replaced him with a striker, also went missing after complaining of poor health.
Everton were worse off in terms of absentees, with Richarlison, Andros Townsend and Seamus Coleman joining an already long list of injuries this week. Rafa Benitez, the former interim Chelsea manager, was forced to play with young Brantwaite, Anthony Gordon and Ellis Simms, who had made their first-team debuts in advance.
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