Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford excelled in front of watching England manager Gareth Southgate as Sam Allardyce’s men stretched their unbeaten run to seven games.
With Wayne Rooney absent through illness, Everton soaked up plenty of pressure from Antonio Conte’s men with Pickford making excellent stops to deny Eden Hazard and Pedro twice.
In addition, skipper Phil Jagielka cleared off the line twice in the same attack and Everton escaped when Ashley Williams headed against his own goalpost.
Chelsea dominated possession at Everton on Saturday lunchtime. But Antonio Conte’s side were unable to find a winner
Ashley Williams came off the bench for the home side and headed the ball against the crossbar but Everton survived
Eden Hazard fires across goal, beyond the diving Jonjoe Kenny, but Everton cleared the danger and frustrated Chelsea
The Belgium international battles for a header with Idrissa Gana Gueye during the stalemate at Goodison Park on Saturday
Chelsea’s Spanish winger Pedro lines up a left-footed shot that had to be acrobatically tipped over by Pickford in goal
MATCH FACTS, RATINGS, TABLE AND MATCHZONE
Everton (4-2-3-1):
Pickford; Kenny, Jagielka, Keane, Martina; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Davies (Williams 45), (Baningime 51), Lennon (Ramirez 45), Sigurdsson; Calvert Lewin
Subs not used: Robles, Niasse, Holgate, Bolasie, Niasse
Chelsea (3-4-3):
Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Moses (Zappacosta 81), Kante, Bakayoko, Alonson; Willian (Batshuayi 71), Pedro (Fabregas 63); Hazard
Subs not used: Caballero, Drinkwater, Cahill, Hudson-Odoi
Ref: Bobby Madley
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Eden Hazard was influential for Chelsea across the pitch but failed to inspire them to victory. For more statistics and heatmaps see our MATCHZONE.
While Conte will be pleased with his third-place side’s overall performance – Everton failed to register a single shot on target – the visitors missed suspended striker Alvaro Morata with Hazard playing as a false No9 for most of the game until Michy Batshuayi came on for the final 20 minutes.
A flu bug meant Rooney wasn’t involved though Williams and Mason Holgate clambered off their sickbed to be among the substitutes.
Allardyce tried to combat Chelsea by pushing Idrissa Gueye in advance of Morgan Schneiderlin, hoping to put pressure on N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko.
But Chelsea will feel they still had enough of the ball to have returned to London with the points.
Everton’s first hero was 35-year-old Jagielka starting his first game under Allardyce.
After Hazard had whipped a dangerous ball into the Everton box, Jagielka was on the line to block Tiemoue Bakayoko’s shot after it had beaten goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. And when Willian followed up the rebound, the same player was there to clear again.
Hazard tries hold onto the ball under pressure from Everton pair Michael Keane and Gueye on Saturday lunchtime
Twenty-year-old striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin led the line for Allardyce’s side against the Premier League champions
Gylfi Sigurdsson gets back to his feet as Chelsea defender Victor Moses dribbles with the ball during the first half at Goodison
Aaron Lennon looks to get the better of the visitors’ No 3 Marcos Alonso during Saturday’s Premier League showdown
In a nice touch, Davies ran over to his experienced colleague to shake his hand as a thank you for keeping the home side level.
It appeared Allardyce’s tactics centred on stopping Chelsea’s left wing-back Marcos Alonso. On the other flank, Victor Moses was afforded a lot of space and Cuco Martina was booked when he had to sprint across and bring down the Nigerian international on the edge of the box.
Fortunately for Everton, Willian took the free-kick rather than Alonso and blazed the 22nd minute chance over.
Pickford first got his chance to show Southgate what he can do after 35 minutes when he got a strong hand to tip over Pedro’s well-struck effort as it headed towards the top corner.
Hazard started roaming more to the left-hand side towards the end of the first half having had little joy down the middle. One thrilling run saw him beat three defenders but he let his frustration show when no Chelsea team-mate showed for the ball and he eventually lost possession.
There was one late scare when Calvert-Lewin muscled Thomas Christiansen off the ball and dashed into area before the visitors got reinforcements back to block.
Brazilian midfielder Willian fires a free-kick towards the Everton goal. But the visitors struggled to find a way through
Chelsea’s young centre back Andreas Christensen jumps alongside Calvert-Lewin and tries to win a first-half aerial battle
Everton’s Icelandic playmaker Sigurdsson slides in to tackle Chelsea’s Moses during the goalless first half at Goodison Park
Hazard is stalked by holding midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin as Everton sought to limit the Belgian’s influence on Saturday
Allardyce made two changes at half-time, Ashley Williams and Sandro Ramirez on for Lennon and Davies as Everton went to three-at-the-back.
It nearly backfired immediately when Pickford had to make a terrific reflex save from Pedro and Williams reacted well to block Alonso’s follow-up.
Allardyce must have cursed his luck when Gueye then limped off after 51 minutes forcing Everton to send on their final substitute, 19-year-old Beni Baningime on for only his fourth Premier League appearance.
Keane became the third Everton player to be booked when he took one of the team, clattering in late on Hazard after Baningime had been dispossessed to leave Chelsea with the chance of a breakaway.
Chelsea and France midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko gets in front of the Everton striker and regains possession for the away side
Everton’s local hero Tom Davies tries to keep hold of possession despite the best efforts of Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante
Everton central defender Keane tugs at the arm of the elusive Hazard. Neither side found a way through before half time
Hazard was clearly discomforted and had to hobble to the touchline following treatment on his ankle before he was allowed to return.
The Belgian responded with a low drive that brought another save from Pickford.
Conte threw on Batshuayi with 20 minutes left, Willian making way. And the visitors were desperately unlucky soon after when Moses drove in a cross that diverted off Williams’ forehead and stuck the upright like a bullet.
Everton had a chance to snatch an unlikely victory when Keane headed Gylfi Sigurdsson’s corner over but this was the fourth time in a row they’d failed to score against Chelsea in the league. It didn’t bother their fans though who greeted the final whistle like a famous victory.
Some of the away contingent at Goodison got into the Christmas spirit by wearing blue Santa hats for the occasion
Coleen Rooney watches Saturday’s Premier League clash at Goodison. But partner Wayne missed the match through illness
Schneiderlin slides in to try and halt the progress of Willian as the Brazilian drives with the ball during the second half
Bakayoko cries with frustration as another chance goes begging for the visitors on a frustrating afternoon for Conte’s side