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Having seen Arsenal fall to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa earlier in the day, Chelsea failed to fire despite Cole Palmer returning for the first time since mid-September. 

Enzo Maresca's side could have cut the gap on the leader to six points, but a third game without victory leaves it in fourth and eight off the summit.

Visiting goalkeeper Sanchez was largely to thank for the draw at Vitality Stadium, where Bournemouth thought it had taken a fourth-minute lead.

Evanilson was adjudged offside in the build-up from Alex Scott's cross, however, as the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened to overturn Antoine Semenyo's close-range finish.

Semenyo and Scott then both worked the impressive Sanchez in a one-sided first half, but Chelsea improved after the break and saw Alejandro Garnacho head against Djordje Petrovic's right-hand post.

Enzo Fernandez and Palmer followed up by testing Petrovic, while Sanchez was kept alert late on at the other end to deny another rasping Semenyo effort.

But neither side was able to find a decisive winner, as Andoni Iraola was left frustrated with a sixth straight league game without victory.

Sanchez called on Chelsea to stay optimistic despite missing the chance to get back to winning ways.

"Coming from a loss in the last game, we wanted to redeem ourselves," Sanchez said. 

"I think we played well. We kept a clean sheet and didn't lose the game. We take the point and go into the next game needing three points.

"Bournemouth are a great team. They have a lot of intensity and we had to deal with that and see how the game went after. We were able to manage the game."

It could have been a different story as well, if not for Semenyo's disallowed goal.

"He said to keep doing the same and they will get tired and we'll get opportunities," Sanchez said of Maresca's half-time encouragement.

"I didn't have much to do, so I was getting a bit cold [in the second half]. [Antoine] Semenyo will get a shot off at any moment so you have to be ready and I was.

"We know what our goal is and our quality. We have to keep going."

Bournemouth, meanwhile, has now failed to win any of its past six league games, dating back to late October.

"I'm pleased with the performance. We played a really solid game," Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola said.

"You have to value the point. We were playing a very good team. They can also score. One point is not a lot but we value it.

"I'm very happy. I think Alex Scott playing a six, he played one of his best games. Even Justin [Kluivert] and [David] Brooksy helped us from the number 10.

"We wanted to improve and we are defending better now. I'm happy because we definitely did very well."