Chelsea conceded vital ground in the Premier League title race by slipping to a 1-1 draw with Everton at Stamford Bridge.
Teenage defender Jarrad Branthwaite netted his first Everton goal to snatch a draw for the injury-hit Toffees, stunning a Chelsea outfit missing a clutch of senior players through Covid-19.
Mason Mount thought his seventh top-flight goal of the campaign would be enough for Chelsea to mask a glut of missed chances.
Reece James produced his sixth assist of a campaign, but no sooner had the Blues gone ahead than Branthwaite turned in Anthony Gordon’s free-kick to silence Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s fourth match in seven without a win in the Premier League left Thomas Tuchel’s men trailing leaders Manchester City by four points.
The Blues had lost Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi to positive Covid tests in the build-up to Thursday’s clash.
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