Date: Monday 8th
March 2021
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 18:00 GMT
This evening’s oddly timed game sees
us back at Stamford Bridge to take on Everton in the Premier League.
Under Carlo Ancelotti, Everton,
unsurprisingly, look a decent side again. Just a point behind us ahead of this
game, and with a game in hand, Everton haven’t lost away since November 2020
and have taken 29 points on the road this season.
After a couple of frustrating draws,
Chelsea climbed into fourth spot courtesy of a win against Liverpool at Anfield
last time out. On the night, it looked a good performance and an impressive result,
although judging by yesterday’s results, everyone beats Liverpool at home now. We’re
unbeaten in our last 10 games in all competitions and at home, we haven’t
conceded in four games but we’ll be up against an Everton side in great form
away, so this could be harder than our last few games.
Had supporters been in the ground,
Carlo Ancelotti would have received a warm welcome I’m sure. Opposition or not,
Ancelotti, who managed us between 2009 and 2011, has a place in many of our
hearts and our utmost respect. With every point crucial though, I hope any benevolence
towards our former manager doesn’t stretch beyond a socially distanced elbow
tap.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Thomas Tuchel
says, “Everton had a very
strong start to season with a big win at Anfield and from there they kept the
momentum going. They have a very strong squad, they are very physical and the
squad is full of talent. Carlo (Ancelotti) knows how to keep the momentum
going, how to keep the flow going. It is good that these games are on and it is
good that we have the next big, big match straight away, because that drives
us, it gets us out of bed early. Then it is a very natural process to be at our
top level again because you don’t need many words. The situation is very clear.
It does not change. We will need the next top-level performance to be able to
win and this is what we are up for at Stamford Bridge.”
Everton manager Carlo
Ancelotti, meanwhile, says “Offensively they (Chelsea) play a little bit different, not too
much because the players are still the same. They are really consistent,
because they haven’t lost games under Tuchel.
They are solid, but this doesn’t mean Lampard didn’t do a good job. In
my opinion, Lampard did a fantastic job when he was there. He (Tuchel) has the quality. He’s a young manager but he’s already had
experience in Germany, experience in Paris and so he’s a manager with a lot of
knowledge and of course a lot of ambition. Because he’s young. He’s not old,
like me! I have strong ambition, even if I am a little bit old!”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Thiago Silva (thigh) is likely to remain out, whilst Tammy Abraham
(ankle) is being monitored.
For Everton, Yerry Mina and Fabian
Delph remain sidelined, James Rodriguez (calf) is doubtful and both Tom Davies
and Seamus Coleman will be assessed.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible
line-up): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso;
Mount, Giroud, Werner
EVERTON (Possible
line-up): Pickford; Holgate, Godfrey, Keane, Digne; Doucoure, Allan, Davies;
Sigurdsson; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 4-0 Everton (8th
March 2020)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: WWWDDW
EVERTON: DLLWWW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea are
unbeaten in their last 25 at home to Everton in the league.
- Chelsea have won 14
of the last 25 at home to Everton in the league
- Chelsea have lost
three of their last four top-flight games against Everton.
- Everton won the
reverse fixture this season.
- Chelsea are
unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions.
- Chelsea have kept 4
consecutive Premier League clean sheets at home coming into tonight’s game.
- Everton have won 9
Premier League away games this season.
- Everton have kept
three consecutive Premier League clean sheets ahead of tonight’s game.
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Sky Sports: Chelsea 1-0 Everton
Sportsmole: Chelsea 1-1 Everton
