EVERTON LOSE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GRIP

Everton have lost their grip on a Champions League place in the Premier League as things stand on the log after the defeat to Chelsea on Monday night. Before the game, the Mersyside giants were in a very good place as regards the race for a Champions League spot at the end of the season. Everton started the weekend with a one-point deficit on Chelsea in fourth place having played a game less than the Blues. Everton had 46 points with 26 games played and were in fifth position, while Chelsea had 47 points in fourth place after 27 games. Everton had the advantage of one game over the Blues and they could have gone ahead of Chelsea with a win in that outstanding game, an away match at Aston Villa. The advantage has evaporated after the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea. With the Blues' win over Everton, they have moved four points clear of the Toffees having played a game more. At the moment, the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot is in the hands of Chelsea, who are rejuvenated under Thomas Tuchel. German tactician Tuchel was at French giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG) before he was sacked after an average start to the current season. Tuchel was dismissed as the PSG manager some months after leading the club to its maiden final in the Champions League. PSG and Tuchel had no answers for Bayern Munich in the final. French international Kingsley Coman scored the lone goal of the game to give Bayern Munich their first Champions League title in seven years and a sixth title overall.

The latest win for Chelsea was the 2-0 success at Stamford Bridge earlier this week. Everton defender Ben Godfrey put through his own net after the half hour mark before Italian international Jorginho scored the clinching goal in the second half from the penalty spot after Kai Havertz was brought down in the Everton box.