Jamie Redknapp slammed Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for his role in Everton’s late equalizer at Stamford Bridge on Saturday..
The Blues appeared to be on track for a fourth straight victory after Kai Havertz restored the lead in the 76th minute with a penalty.
Chelsea had taken the lead thanks to Joao Felix’s first goal on home soil since joining on loan from Atletico Madrid, only for Abdoulaye Doucoure’s close-range header to level the match with 20 minutes remaining for Sean Dyche’s set-piece specialists.
Everton owed the valuable point they earned in their battle to stay up to substitute Ellis Simms’ first goal for the club in the final minute.
The 22-year-old displayed impressive strength to shrug off Kalidou Koulibaly, but his shot lacked the necessary power to find the back of the net, squirming underneath the Chelsea goalkeeper.
‘If you look at Sean Dyche’s teams, they’ve always had someone up there who can hold the ball up and bring people into play, that’s just something he’s always had,’ Redknapp said of the goal.
‘It’s a lovely little touch from Doucoure, and then the power he shows just to shrug off the defender is incredible, it’s so good.
It’s so bad with the keeper. For me, he doesn’t make nearly enough saves. He simply bends into the corner, but the goalkeeper should do better..
Simms, meanwhile, was on loan at Sunderland for the first half of the season before being recalled in January due to an injury crisis.
It’s all about patience; I just had to wait for my chance,’ the Everton hero later explained.
‘We’ve got top players so I’m not going to walk straight into the team, I have to work hard and take my chance when I get it..
‘It’s a huge belief; we’re working hard in training, staying united, and sticking together when things get tough. We went behind today but fought back to get the equaliser.’
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