Everton vs Chelsea – News and Probable Lineups

Chelsea is looking to prevent a fourth straight defeat across all competitions as they head to the Hill Dickinson Stadium to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

The Blues aim to secure a league double over the Toffees, something they haven’t achieved since the 2016-17 season, after a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge three months ago.

Match overview

Chelsea travels to Merseyside eager to bounce back after a challenging week that included a 1-0 league home loss to Newcastle between two defeats to Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, resulting in an 8-2 aggregate elimination in the last 16.

The Blues, who suffered a hefty 3-0 defeat at home in the second leg on Wednesday, have lost four consecutive Champions League knockout matches for the first time in their history. Head coach Liam Rosenior is under increasing pressure after what he termed another “tough night” in charge.

They have managed only four wins from their last 11 games in all competitions (D2 L5). This includes just one victory in five league matches (D2 L2), which has seen them drop to sixth in the standings. However, they remain in contention for Champions League qualification, sitting just three points off fourth place with eight matches left.

Defensive issues continue to plague the West London side. Since keeping a clean sheet in Rosenior’s first league match – a 2-0 victory over Brentford in mid-January – Chelsea has conceded in eight consecutive Premier League fixtures, letting in 11 goals in total.

With tough matches against Manchester City, Man United, and Liverpool on the horizon, Chelsea cannot afford to drop too many points as the season concludes. They have not won in their last two league trips to Everton (D1 L1 – both at Goodison Park), yet they come into Saturday’s match with the joint-second best away record in the league this season (W7 D4 L4).

After achieving back-to-back wins over Newcastle United (3-2) and Burnley (2-0), Everton was unable to make it a third straight league victory last weekend, suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of leaders Arsenal, with goals conceded in the 89th and 97th minutes.

David Moyes expressed his “really, really disappointment” at leaving North London with no points, but remains optimistic that his squad is “close enough to think” about European qualification, currently positioning them eighth in the league, just two points shy of Brentford in seventh.

Everton ranks joint-sixth in the Premier League form table over the last 10 matches (W4 D3 L3) and holds the fourth-best away record this season, securing more points on the road (24) than at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (19), where they’ve won just once in their last seven home league contests (D2 L4).

Following their recent home victory over Burnley earlier this month, Everton seeks to secure back-to-back Premier League wins at their new stadium for the first time. This is the latest stage in a top-flight season that they haven’t achieved consecutive home triumphs since April of the 2014-15 season.

Everton will take solace in the fact that they have lost only one of their last eight Premier League home fixtures against Chelsea (W5 D2) – a 1-0 loss in August 2022 – but they have failed to find the net in 12 of their last 19 league matches against the Blues, including each of the last four. Their record of not scoring against Chelsea (28 times) is exceeded only by their blanks against Man United (29).

Team News

Everton will be missing injured duo Jack Grealish (foot) and Carlos Alcaraz (unspecified). Additionally, Chelsea loanee Tyrique George cannot face his parent club, while James Tarkowski (unspecified) and Jarrad Branthwaite (thigh) are uncertain after missing the loss to Arsenal.

If neither Tarkowski nor Branthwaite are able to return, then James Garner, Jake O’Brien, Michael Keane, and Vitaliy Mykolenko may continue to form a four-man defence. Garner could alternatively move back into midfield to pair with Idrissa Gueye.

Former Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is expected to play in an advanced central role, while Thierno Barry hopes to reclaim a spot up front at the expense of Beto, who has not scored from the start in the last three outings.

On the Chelsea side, they have made a staggering 96 changes to their starting lineup in the Premier League this season, more than any other team and already exceeding last season’s total (95), with Rosenior required to implement at least one change this weekend.

Trevoh Chalobah was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury midweek and will join Reece James (hamstring), Filip Jorgensen (groin), and Levi Colwill (knee) on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile (both illness), and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (hamstring) will be assessed.

If Gusto is not fit to play, then either Malang Sarr or Josh Acheampong could step in at right-back, while Wesley Fofana is anticipated to take Chalobah’s place in central defence.

Joao Pedro has been involved in eight goals during his last eight away matches across all competitions (seven goals, one assist) and is expected to lead the attack again, while Alejandro Garnacho and Estevao Willian will both be vying for a recall on the wings.

Everton probable starting XI:

Pickford; O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry

Chelsea probable starting XI:

Sanchez; Acheampong, Sarr, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Pedro

In nine of the last 11 encounters between Everton and Chelsea, no more than two goals have been scored (Five wins for Chelsea, three for Everton, and two draws), suggesting another tightly contested affair may be on the cards this weekend.

The West Londoners are viewed as slight favourites, but their recent form raises concerns and we anticipate Everton to challenge the visitors, potentially sharing the points on their home turf.