Chelsea squandered a second-half lead to draw 1-1 with Everton at Stamford Bridge, allowing Manchester City and Liverpool to close the gap on them in the Premier League title race.
Mason Mount finally found a way past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 70th minute after the hosts had missed a string of chances, only for teenage defender Jarrad Branthwaite to equalize four minutes later.
Chelsea dominated from the start and appeared to be on their way to an early lead, but Reece James and Mason Mount shot wide from good positions, before Pickford saved Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, and James from a 25-yard free kick.
But England’s best save of the first half came 10 minutes before the break, when his outstretched right leg deflected a close-range shot from Mount, who had been played through by Antonio Rudiger.
Everton’s four-game Premier League away losing streak came to an end with a surprise draw at Chelsea.
Mount broke through in the 70th minute, scoring for the fourth time in the league.
After a rare Everton attack broke down, Chelsea countered, and Mount beat Pickford with a pass from James. It was the 20th shot of the game for the home team.
However, four minutes later, Anthony Gordon’s free kick found Branthwaite at the far post, and the 19-year-old, making his first league appearance of the season, stabbed a shot past Edouard Mendy.
Chelsea pushed for a winner, but lacked the fluidity they displayed earlier in the game.
Thiago Silva had the best chance to reclaim the lead, but he, too, couldn’t beat Pickford, who saved the Brazilian defender’s header low to his right.
The game took place as the COVID-19 Omicron variant’s influence on the Premier League grew.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel announced before kickoff that Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, and Callum Hudson-Odoi had all tested positive for COVID.
Meanwhile, Rafa Benitez, the former Chelsea manager, returned to Stamford Bridge with a depleted Everton squad.
The recently injured Richarlison and Andros Townsend, as well as long-term absentee Dominic Calvert-Lewin, were among those ruled out for the visitors.