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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Graham Potter warns Chelsea striker Kai Havertz following goal celebration

Chelsea boss Graham Potter appears to have taken objection to Kai Havertz's goal celebration following the Germany international's penalty during the 2-2 home draw against Everton.

Havertz would have been forgiven for thinking he had secured his side all three points when he put the Blues 2-1 up with just 14 minutes left to play in west London. The playmaker got the better of Jordan Pickford from 12-yards to spark huge celebrations inside Stamford Bridge.

However, the hosts displayed some dire defending to allow Everton forward Ellis Sims to bag his first goal in a Toffees shirt deep into second-half stoppage time to ensure the honours ended even and Sean Dyche's men travelled back to Merseyside with a point to show for their efforts.

Potter was understandably left infuriated by the way his side let three points slip, but also expressed his opinion on Havertz's conduct once he had guided the penalty beyond Pickford, as the midfielder briefly taunted the Toffees goalkeeper.

"When players score, they have something like an out-of-body experience," Potter told reporters after the draw.

"I didn’t score many myself so I wouldn’t know. You should enjoy the celebration, I don’t think you need to involve the opponent. That would be my perspective."

HAVE YOUR SAY! Was Havertz disrespectful with his celebrations by taunting Pickford? Comment below

Kai Havertz goaded Jordan Pickford after scoring his penalty ((Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images))

Conceding an equaliser so late in the game will always sting, but this particular draw means Chelsea's faint hopes of a top-four finish this term have been all but dashed.

After the game, Potter conceded he wasn't exactly overjoyed with either his attack or defence at differing stages of the match.

"I thought the performance overall was positive," he told Sky Sports. "We did a lot of things really well, scored a couple of goals but ultimately didn't defend well enough in a couple of actions, which has cost us, and we're disappointed to drop points.

"I think as a team, we could have attacked better in the first place. It's what we spoke about before the game, in terms of how to attack well so that you don't expose yourself to transition, and we did that.

"And then it looked too easy throughout the team, so that's disappointing from our perspective - the second goal, and the first as well. Credit to Everton, they do that well, but we need to do better there."

The result leaves Chelsea sitting in 10th, above Aston Villa on goal difference, though it is a clash with Unai Emery's side up next for the Blues after the upcoming international break.

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