For the third time in four matches, the Blues dropped two league points at home following a 1-1 draw with Everton on Thursday night.

Despite peppering Jordan Pickford’s goal throughout, it took 70 minutes before Mason Mount finally broke the deadlock for the hosts but then less than five for the Toffees to strike back, a blow from which Thomas Tuchel’s side could not recover.

After the game, the captain came out to offer his assessment on another result that was tough to take and leaves us trailing pace-setters Manchester City by four points.

‘We are disappointed and frustrated because it’s not the first time we have dropped points recently,’ the skipper said.

‘We created chances and nearly the first time they approached our box we conceded. We know how important it is to keep clean sheets as a team, defend together, and of course when we concede a lot of goals, the confidence drops and it is not as easy.’

After conceding just three times in our opening 10 league matches of the season, we have now shipped nine in our last seven and Azpilicueta feels that difference helps explain our recent drop-off in form and confidence.

‘We are not a defensive team but of course we have to concede less goals if we want to get where we want to get.

‘When you want to compete for a Premier League title against these two teams [Man City and Liverpool], who have shown how consistent they are, you cannot drop points. It makes it more difficult but there is still a long way.’