Everton vs Chelsea – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Everton host in-form Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday at Goodison Park.

The home side will be looking to build upon their hard-fought goalless draw at Arsenal last weekend.

Dwight McNeil is ‘touch-and-go’ for the clash after he missed the draw against Arsenal with a knee injury. There is some positive news for Sean Dyche, however, as James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam have stepped up their recovery and are back on the grass.

Chelsea have the opportunity to go top of the Premier League, temporarily at least, with Liverpool playing Tottenham later in the day. Marc Cucurella is suspended after the Spaniard was sent off for two bookings within three minutes against Brentford last weekend.

French defenders Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are also unavailable while Mykhailo Mudryk is temporarily suspended following an adverse finding in a drug test sample.

Everton vs Chelsea – Match preview and team news

Form

Everton: DDLWD

The Toffees pride themselves on a solid defensive structure, which has earned results in recent weeks.

Everton have kept four clean sheets in their last five games, a run that includes three goalless draws.

Last weekend, Sean Dyche’s outfit frustrated Arsenal away from home to take a point at the Emirates. The Merseyside club have lost just twice since mid-September with an improved defensive record resulting in positive outcomes.

Chelsea: WWWWW

Chelsea have looked unstoppable in recent weeks and ruthlessly dispatched of another opponent during the week.

In their final Europa Conference League group phase match, the Blues thrashed Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers 5-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Marc Guiu recorded his first senior hat-trick with Marc Cucurella and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also on target to ensure Chelsea end the league phase in first position.

Alongside their perfect European campaign, the West Londoners have won their last five Premier League games and haven’t lost since October.

That undefeated run has seen Chelsea reduce the gap to league leaders Liverpool, with only two points separating the clubs.

Last Meeting: Chelsea 6-0 Everton, Premier League, 15th April 2024

It was a one-sided affair in the last encounter as Chelsea hit Everton for six at Stamford Bridge.

But it was the Toffees who had a golden chance to strike the first blow. It was squandered by Beto, who somehow missed the target from two yards out.

The hosts utilised that reprieve through a moment of magic from Cole Palmer.

The midfielder nutmegged Jarrad Branthwaite before flicking the ball into Nicolas Jackson. After receiving the ball back, he placed it into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to put his side in front.

Chelsea doubled the advantage minutes later as Palmer reacted quickest to a loose ball after Jordan Pickford had denied Jackson from close range. Palmer then wrapped up his hat-trick, sealing a three-goal haul within a 16-minute period.

Pickford gifted possession to the attacking midfielder 40 yards from goal and he lifted the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Beto’s misfortune continued as his headed goal was disallowed for a marginal offside.

The Blues made it four before the half was over through Jackson, who spun well before tucking away another. Chelsea’s dominance showed no sign of slowing down after the interval as Palmer recorded his fourth and his side’s fifth from the spot. The rout was capped off in the closing stages as Cobham academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist netted his first goal for his boyhood club.

Predicted Lineups

Everton: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Mangala, Gueye, Ndiaye, Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin.

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Disasi, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.

Who is the referee?

Chris Kavanagh will be the match official. He will be assisted by Richard West and Tim Wood while Tom Bramall will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Graham Scott and he will be assisted by Scott Ledger.

What TV channel is Everton vs Chelsea on?

Everton vs Chelsea will not be televised in the United Kingdom.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at Goodison Park will be at 14:00 GMT on Sunday 22nd December 2024.

Odds

Everton – 4/1

Draw – 16/5

Chelsea – 8/13

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