Chelsea dropped league points at home for the first time this season as Everton came from behind to grab an unlikely 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge.

The visitors took a surprise lead when a Leighton Baines free-kick was headed towards goal by Louis Saha and eventually deflected into the net by Petr Cech after it had bounced off the post.

But Chelsea were soon back on level terms as a flowing move ended with Frank Lampard playing in Didier Drogba, who gave Tim Howard no chance with the finish.

After a scramble in the area, Nicolas Anelka gave Chelsea the lead when he slotted home from close range but substitute Yakubu Aiyegbeni sent the teams into half-time level after another battle in the area left him with an easy chance.

Chelsea took control after the break and were in the lead once again when Drogba met Branislav Ivanovic's cross on the volley and fired into the net.

However, another bizarre goal secured a point for Everton as Drogba's attempted header clear struck Saha on the back and looped over Cech into the net.

Early chance

Chelsea almost scored as early as the fourth minute when Michael Ballack put Drogba clear of the Everton defence but the Ivory Coast striker's effort was just wide of the far post.

Everton then hit back four minutes later when Jo unleashed 25-yard drive that Chelsea goalkeeper Cech did well to turn away for a corner.

And the Toffees went in front in the 12th minute when the home side were again caught out from a set-piece.

Baines sent the free-kick into the penalty area and although Saha headed the ball on to the post, it rebounded off the back of Cech and into the net for an own goal.

It was only the second goal Chelsea had conceded at home in the Premier League this season.

Not since the opening day, when Hull City's Stephen Hunt scored, had any opposing domestic side found the net.

But Chelsea were level in the 17th minute with a well-worked goal. Ricardo Carvalho broke forward and evaded a number of challenges before supplying a superb pass for Lampard.

The England international tapped the ball into the path of Drogba, who hit a first-time shot into the roof of the net for his 17th goal in all competitions this season.

Lead

Anelka then put Chelsea in front in the 23rd minute when Everton failed to clear Lampard's corner and Anelka collected Carvalho's neat pass and home from close range.

Everton striker Jo was forced to hobble off with an ankle injury in stoppage time and his replacement, Yakubu, shocked Chelsea with an equaliser seconds later.

Terry failed to clear a throw-in and when Baines robbed the Chelsea captain, the Everton striker pounced.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti resisted making any changes at half-time and began the second period in a positive fashion.

And in the 58th minute their pressure paid off when Ivanovic crossed for Drogba to score his 18th of the season.

The Ivory Coast striker fired home from six yards at the far post after Everton's defence failed to intercept the cross.

But a mix-up in the Chelsea defence led to a second equaliser as Heitinga sent a free-kick into the Chelsea penalty area.

Drogba, helping out in a defensive role, headed the ball into the back of the leaping Saha and it bounced back over Cech and into the empty net to make it 3-3.

Ballack showed Chelsea could almost be as deadly from set-pieces when he forced Howard into a fine save with a 25-yard free-kick in the 74th minute.

But despite the home side's pressure, including another Ballack effort that flew just wide, they could not find a breakthrough.

Teams

Chelsea  Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho (Belletti 85), Terry, A. Cole, Mikel (Borini 88), Ballack, Lampard, J. Cole (Malouda 76), Anelka, Drogba
Subs Not Used  Hilario, Ferreira, Zhirkov, Matic
Booked 
Goals  Drogba 18, 59, Anelka 23

Everton  Howard, Neill, Heitinga, Hibbert, Baines, Pienaar, Fellaini, Rodwell, Bilyaletdinov, Saha (Agard 90), Jo (Yakubu 45)
Subs Not Used Nash, Coleman, Duffy, Akpan, Mustafi
Booked Heitinga
Goals Cech (og) 12, Yakubu 45, Saha 63

Attendance 41,579

Referee P. Dowd