Everton’s 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea on Sunday has led to an unexpected achievement, as the Toffees now lead a significant defensive stat across Europe’s top leagues. The result, secured in challenging weather conditions at Goodison Park, extended Everton’s unbeaten run to three matches.
Both goalkeepers were key to the stalemate. Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez made several crucial saves, including a standout stop from Jack Harrison at close range. However, Jordan Pickford’s solid display between the posts was just as vital, ensuring Everton maintained their clean sheet despite the blustery conditions. This result marked Everton’s seventh clean sheet in the Premier League since the beginning of October—more than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues, which also include La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, and Ligue 1.
This clean sheet extends a remarkable defensive run for the Toffees, who have kept five clean sheets in their last six league games. The only blemish was a heavy 4-0 loss to Manchester United.
Speaking after the match, Everton manager Sean Dyche dismissed suggestions that his side’s performance was based on “old school” defending. “It’s not old school—it’s modern defending,” Dyche told talkSPORT. “We’re breaking passing lanes, stopping attacks, and defending with tactical discipline. You can’t rely on outdated methods anymore; it’s all about being diligent and tactically astute.”
Dyche also reflected positively on his team’s recent defensive improvements, which were apparent in their solid display against Arsenal prior to this game. “We had opportunities to win the game, and if we had taken one, it might have been a tough result for Chelsea. But, in the end, a draw feels fair,” Dyche said.
He emphasized the progress his team has made since the start of the season. “After a difficult start, we reminded the players of the good habits we needed. Now, we’ve lost only two of our last 12 matches, and seven clean sheets in 10 games is no small feat. It’s not easy to achieve that in the Premier League.”
Looking forward, Dyche is optimistic about improving both the defensive and attacking aspects of the team. “We’ve got a strong base defensively, but we need to bring more cutting edge to our attacking play,” he noted. “Against teams like Chelsea, who also defend well, it’s always a tough task.”
The point against Chelsea has moved Everton four points clear of the relegation zone, lifting them to 15th in the Premier League standings. They also have a game in hand after the Merseyside derby against Liverpool was postponed earlier this month.
