Glenn Hoddle says Everton’s draw at Chelsea is ‘one of the best points’ Rafa Benitez has earned

Glenn Hoddle has hailed Everton‘s draw with Chelsea as ‘one of the best points’ Rafa Benitez has earned in his managerial career.

With the number of senior players missing for the Toffees running into double figures, many expected Chelsea to comfortably take the three points when the teams were announced.

However, Thomas Tuchel‘s side were left stunned as Jarrad Branthwaite’s 74th minute equaliser was enough for Everton to take one of their most hard-fought points of the season. 

Everton earned a shock point at Stamford Bridge thanks to Jarrad Branthwaite’s goal

After the match, BT Sport pundit Hoddle said the result at Stamford Bridge will have felt like a win for Everton.

He said: ‘They had a great game in the win against Arsenal which was a little bit of a stepping stone to pounce on and go from there. That’s where they’re back to. 

‘That felt like a win for them that point at Chelsea. I know they didn’t win but the point was probably one of the best points Benitez has earned in his whole career as a manager with the team he has had to put out. 

‘They need to build on that and those fixtures (coming up) look favourable on paper but this league is unforgiving. It might suit them to put that team out for a little bit.’

Glenn Hoddle described Everton’s draw as one of Rafa Benitez’s ‘best ever’ points of his career

Despite other matches being called off due to Covid-19, Everton had to play their game against Chelsea despite missing a large number of senior players.

Everton were particularly depleted up front, with Richarlison, Andros Townsend, Salomon Rondon and Demarai Gray joining their injury list, which already had Dominic Calvert-Lewin on it, as Benitez’s woes continue to mount.

Ellis Simms was handed his Premier League debut while teenagers Lewis Dobbin and Tyler Onyango came off the bench.

Branthwaite was brought in to make his first Premier League appearance since July 2020.

And it was a great call from Benitez as the centre back poked the ball into the net from an Anthony Gordon free-kick to make it 1-1.

It was the defender Branthwaite’s (right) first Premier League appearance since July 2020

BT Sport pundit and former Everton defender Joleon Lescott said: ‘It’s a great start for him and his Everton career, first start under Benitez.

‘You could see what it meant to him in his interview. We spoke about the lack of options Rafa had but he would have been so determined to play. It’s a dream start.’

Hoddle added: ‘It was a fabulous ball by Gordon but he (Branthwaite) had more desire than anyone on the edge of the 18-yard box to get to it. He’s outstretched, long legs just gets the touch and guides it into the bottom corner – what a feeling for the kid. They needed that and responded well after going 1-0 down.’

Chelsea dominated the contest and got the opener through Mason Mount after 70 minutes.

Everton though showed great resilience to fight back and grab an equaliser within four minutes – holding onto a 1-1 draw.

Steve Sidwell hailed Everton’s heroic efforts to get a point against title contenders Chelsea

Steve Sidwell said: ‘It’s a heroic display when you look at Rafa and the cards he’s been dealt with. He stuck a team out there today, had a game plan and they stuck to it. Full praise, he’ll go in the dressing room and be delighted with his players tonight.’

Hoddle added: ‘They had a game plan, they stuck to and did it well. There were so many chances for Chelsea in that first-half. 

‘But second half those chances from free play weren’t there but they had chances from corners and set pieces. 

‘They looked dangerous Chelsea but couldn’t open up that Everton team. They showed character, they went 1-0 down and dragged themselves up from a set play.

‘It was a good spirited performance, they were only gonna get one chance today, they got it and they took it.’