Everton earned a hard-fought point by holding Chelsea to a goalless draw.

An unbeaten west Londoners had several chances to break the lead, with Marco Alonso hitting the post while Eden Hazard flashed a shot across the face of the goal.

Marco Silva’s side had to also contend with some ferocious play from the hosts but still managed to hold on and move within a point of the Premier League’s top six.

Here were the key talking points from Stamford Bridge:

Barca reunion is worth the wait

 

Evertonians have been forced to wait until mid-November before seeing all three of their summer signings from Barcelona starting in the same match.

The last of them, Yerry Mina, has generated the greatest anticipation of all despite failing to impress during his incredibly brief stay in the Catalan capital.

But his first league start for the Blues showed enough glimpses to suggest that his eventual return from a metatarsal injury is set to soon prove worthwhile.

At Stamford Bridge, he imposed himself on the game in a display which highlighted why Barca’s impatience promises to become Everton’s impetus.

New twist on an old tale

 

There was a reason why Everton had previously failed to prosper away to the Premier League’s traditional top four sides.

David Moyes accepted that fate before the team coach even pulled up at the likes of Stamford Bridge, often comparing it to ‘going into a gunfight with a knife’.

But that lack of ambition has since been replaced by another contributory factor.

Led by Jorginho and Marcos Alonso, Chelsea’s approach was heavy-handed to say the least with tackles flying in with reckless abandon and without recrimination.

Cesc Fabregas’ apparent attempt to move the vanishing spray forward for a Chelsea free kick in the second half also went unnoticed by referee Kevin Friend.

It was a new take on an old tale as far as Everton were concerned.

Silva’s efforts already bearing fruit

 

Sam Allardyce’s focus on defensive solidity made for a joyless existence last season but Marco Silva’s re-brand has allowed Everton to also add entertainment.

That fine balance saw Chelsea denied their first genuine threat on goal until the 40th minute, when an Alonso volley drew a save from Jordan Pickford.

Mina’s debut coupled with the good form of Michael Keane helped, as did Silva’s in-game management in sending on Phil Jagielka in place of a struggling Gylfi Sigurdssson.

Adding another defensive option as the hosts grew in confidence and a growing understanding between partnerships helped form a base for the rest of this season.

Bernard growing into the role

 

Richarlison’s move into an auxiliary striker role has created an opening on the wing that compatriot Bernard has started to make his own.

The Brazilian had a flurry of opportunities in the game; firing just inches wide on 10 minutes and a later chance from a Sigurdsson cross where he fluffed his lines.

A recall for the Selecao surely beckons in the months ahead and developing that link with Richarlison on the international stage can only be a benefit to Everton.

Strengthening those connections, interplay, desire to show flair and finish before the Goodison Park crowd in the interim is not a bad starting point, though.