Chelsea 3 v 3 Everton

A result that does nothing to answer doubts about Chelsea's set-piece defending this season gives Everton their fourth draw in a row at Stamford Bridge.

It won't be often that Didier Drogba scores twice at home and Nicolas Anelka finds the net too and the Blues don't win but from going a goal down to a free-kick, and then rapidly turning it into a 2-1 lead, a long throw allowed the Toffees to equalise seconds before the break.

Drogba's second goal, and his 18^th of the campaign, put his side 3-2 up on the hour but before you could even say 'best striker in the world', another free-kick aberration had cost the Blues their hard-won lead and ultimately two points.

Injury-hit Everton lined-up in the same traditional 4-4-2 shape that Man City played a week ago and again the Chelsea midfield was found lacking. There was plenty of possession but not enough guile, and although Everton's chances were limited, the Blues defence won't sleep easily tonight either.

Lack of experience was certainly no excuse. There were no surprises in the Chelsea team given the announcement by Carlo Ancelotti 24 hours earlier. Michael Ballack was fit again and from the side that lost at Man City, Joe Cole was the natural replacement for Deco, who was unavailable due his father's illness; and Mikel likewise for the injured Michael Essien.

Ashley Cole was making his 150th Chelsea appearance.

Chelsea, as all Blues followers were expecting following the past week, looked on their toes from the off. Drogba shot across goal on three minutes after muscling past Neill onto a good Ballack pass.

At the other end, Jo was allowed to carry the ball in field and given space, the Brazilian shot from 20 yards and Cech saved for a corner.

But then came the moment that would truly test the confidence in the camp. Everton were awarded a free-kick midway inside our half and Baines's delivery was hard to defend.

Terry leapt with Saha and deflected the Everton's striker's goalbound header. It bounced off the post and with Cech diving, the keeper was helpless as the rebound bounced off him and in. There were 11 minutes gone.

Were the wheels coming off? The initial response shouted 'no chance'.

The equaliser took just six minutes to manufacture and what a great team goal it was too!

Carvalho nipped possession away on halfway and charged forward. The pass came into Lampard immediately who found Drogba. Fifteen yards out, the finish gave Howard no chance.

Just five more minutes play were needed to take the lead and it came courtesy of Anelka's first league goal since early October. Terry challenged at a corner and then Ivanovic foraged the ball from a forest of legs. Anelka, in an instant, smashed it high into the net.

Now Ancelotti's men were flying forward but another dangerous Baines delivery found Saha for a moment's concern. The Everton striker headed down and wide. Then from a free-kick from the same area the visitors had scored from, the left-back played it only inches in front of Saha's dangerous run.

The former Fulham and Man United striker was looking a threat, and was certainly giving Terry a run for his money in the air.

Chelsea won a free-kick right on the edge of the area on 36 minutes, Heitinga, in for injured Yobo, booked for his foul on Anelka. The Blues tried a little subterfuge, Drogba complaining to the ref as Lampard went for goal but he slammed his kick into Fellaini. The rebound was skied by Drogba.

Howard twice needed to save to prevent Everton falling further behind at the break, an Anelka long-range dig warming the hands on a cold day.

But then came an injury on the stroke of half-time that would have an instant impact. Terry bravely headed a ball away from Jo's feet but bizarrely the striker was the one hurt; hurt enough to replaced by Yakubu.

The Nigerian's first tough was to put the ball in the net from close range after Terry's loose touch. The defence had been trying to deal with Fellaini's flick-on from a long throw. How deadball deliveries are hurting at the moment!

Chelsea sent wave after wave of attack at the Matthew Harding End goal at the start of the second half but without truly troubling Howard. A couple of headers were flicked wide and Joe Cole, who was finding it hard to produce telling deliveries, had an acrobatic shot blocked.

The clumsy-tackling Fellaini was offering occasional hope by handing out free-kicks.

The pressure paid dividends on the hour. Ivanovic chipped to the far post and with the diminutive Pienaar helpless against the power of Drogba, the Ivorian volleyed home. It was Ivanovic's second assist of the match.

Anelka then drilled a long shot wide but just three more minutes passed before Everton's equaliser.

Once more a free-kick from deep struck with a low trajectory had the rearguard all at sea. Cech came but Carvalho headed clear - only as far as the head of Saha who knew little about it as the ball looped off it and into the Shed End net.

Cech was furious with what had happened, but the inquest had to wait until later. There was still a game to be won.

Ballack almost did the trick with a 74^th minute free-kick, pushed over from just under the crossbar by Howard. Then Ivanovic tried to find a team-mate rather than go for goal when three Blues shirts evaded the offside call.

Malouda replaced Joe Cole at the tip of the diamond with quarter-of-an-hour to go.

Howard needed to stretch and tip over again as Drogba's poke from a tight-angle dropped on target. And then the striker's stooping header was gathered comfortably

The game entered its final 10 minutes with Everton seemingly content with a draw.

Carvalho headed Malouda's free-kick over at the near post before he was replaced by Belletti. Ivanovic moved into central defence as Ancelotti declined to change the team shape.

A change did come in the final three minutes with Borini on for Mikel to play as part of a front three.

The final chance came from a Chelsea counter-attack, a rare sight in this game. Borini hared down the left, his cross found its way wide to Malouda whose chip in was cleared. From the edge of the area, Ballack drilled wide.

That was it for the day. No wins in four, and questions to be answered. Next up, Avram Grant's Portsmouth.

Chelsea (4-diamond-2): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho (Belletti 85), Terry (c), A Cole; Mikel (Borini 87); Ballack, Lampard; J Cole (Malouda 75); Anelka, Drogba.
Scorers Drogba 17, 60, Anelka 22.

Everton (4-4-2): Howard (c); Hibbert, Neill, Heitinga, Baines; Pienaar, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov; Jo (Yakubu 45+2), Saha (Agard 90+3).
Scorer Cech o.g 11, Yakuba 45+2, Saha 63.
Booked Heitinga 36.