Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says his side have reached their mental “limit” after a poor second-half performance saw their top-four hopes dented with defeat at Everton.
The visitors dominated possession in the first half with Eden Hazard striking the post and Pedro wasting a chance from close range.
But their profligacy was punished four minutes after the break as Richarlison headed in following a corner for his 13th goal of the season.
And the visitors’ woes increased on 71 minutes when Richarlison was brought down in the area by Marcos Alonso, with Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring the rebound from his own penalty.
As a result, the visitors failed to capitalise on their game in hand, and still sit sixth in the Premier League table, a point behind Manchester United, who they would have leapfrogged had they won. Victory would also have taken them level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal.
“We played probably the best 45 minutes of the season and then suddenly at the beginning of the second half we stopped playing; I don’t know why,” said Sarri.
“It is impossible that the situation is a physical problem because if it is, you can go down gradually, not in one second.
“It is very difficult for me to explain the change. Probably it is a mental block.”
When asked how worried he was that Chelsea’s mental situation has not been solved, Sarri said: “At the moment, this is our limit.
“If we are able to play like in the first half with consistency, then we are in another position in the table.”
For Everton, a first home win since 13 January was a much-needed response following last weekend’s defeat at Newcastle in which they lost 3-2 having led by two goals.
In that game, Jordan Pickford was an erratic presence in goal, but this time where there was no dip from Marco Silva’s side and the England goalkeeper made a remarkable save to stop Gonzalo Higuain’s deflected shot shortly after the hosts went ahead.
Everton end struggles at home
Four losses in the past six home games prior to this encounter had made Goodison Park a depressing place for Toffees fans.
Owner Farhad Moshiri has spent more than £300m since he took over the club, but an inconsistent season looked set to continue in a first half where Chelsea were well on top.
Chelsea’s early dominance came despite Silva using his programme notes to ask for a “fantastic” atmosphere similar to that at the goalless draw against Liverpool two weeks ago and it was only after the break that the hosts came to life.
Andre Gomes followed his first-half shot with another rasping effort in front of the Gwladys Street End to give the home fans hope.
But Goodison erupted with delight when Richarlison headed in after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s effort was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Calvert-Lewin came close to making it 2-0 when Bernard’s cross skipped over his sliding lunge but the hosts did go further ahead after 71 minutes through Sigurdsson’s penalty rebound after Kepa had stopped the initial kick.
‘Barkley, Barkley, what’s the score?’
Chelsea will rue this chance to put pressure on their rivals bidding to finish in the top four and secure Champions league football for next season.
They still have the back-up of being able to qualify for next season’s competition by winning the Europa League, and on Friday they received a favourable quarter-final draw against Slavia Prague.
But with Tottenham and Manchester United both losing last weekend, and neither of those two or Arsenal in Premier League action this weekend, it was an opportunity to make up ground.
“Of course this was important for us, so now we have less opportunities, we have to fight and defend our opportunities,” said Sarri.
When asked if he was worried this form would mean they miss out on the top four, the Italian said: “If you are speaking about the second half, you are right.
“If you are speaking about the first half, we can do everything. If we play 90 minutes for eight matches like the first half, then we can do everything.”
The visitors had enough chances in the first half to earn a two-goal lead as Hazard hit the post and Pedro, Higuain and Ross Barkley could not convert from close range.
When they tried to respond in the second half, they were met with stern resistance from the Everton defence who appeared to learn the lessons from their defeat at Newcastle.
Pickford made two fine saves while Yerry Mina, making his first Premier League start since 29 December, was a strong presence in defence.
Chelsea’s day was summed up by former Everton midfielder Barkley, who was booed every time he touched the ball, and was substituted after the hour mark despite an impressive first-half performance.
In the closing stages, the home fans chanted: “Barkley, Barkley, what’s the score?”
That treatment all seemed fair game, but the only sour note was an object thrown towards the England midfielder after seven minutes from the Gwladys Street End which, fortunately, did not hit its target.
Man of the match – Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
Calvert-Lewin
