Date: Sunday 22nd
December 2024
Venue: Goodison Park
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
Chelsea are guaranteed to be in the top two of
the Premier League at Christmas for the first time since 2016-17, as we go into
today’s game 2 points behind top-place Liverpool having played a game more and
with Arsenal just a point behind us now after their win yesterday.
We come into today’s game away to Everton, off
the back of a 2-1 win at home to Brentford last weekend in the Premier League, and
a much changed XI following that up with a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers in the
Europa Conference league Thursday night.
Everton meanwhile dug out a point against
Arsenal last time out, with a 0-0 at the Emirates, leaving them three clear of
the relegation places with a game in hand.
Whilst we come into this fixture in a good run
of form, Goodison is not a happy hunting ground for Chelsea. We have lost five
of the last six there, and with Everton keeping six clean sheets since November
1, we won’t have it easy there today either. And whilst they’re not exactly
potent in front of goal, they won 4-0 in their last home game and are unlikely
to get front-of-goal jitters against Sanchez.
This is far from the sort of fixture we’d want
going into the busy Christmas period.
.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Everton manager, Sean Dyche, says “The manager’s done a great
job this season so far. He’s created a team atmosphere and a dynamic which is
working well for them. We know they spent so much money over the years, but
you’ve still got to combine it. There’s no exact shortcut.”
Enzo
Maresca, meanwhile, says “Chelsea have lost games there? Okay. It is
something I didn’t know to be honest. It’s the same thing I was asked after
Brentford, that the last three years they beat us [at Stamford Bridge].
Hopefully, we can go there and beat them. It will be a tough game for sure but
we will try to prepare the game in the best way we can and the target is always
to win the game. Everton’s stadium is not only tough for Chelsea, it’s tough
for any club. So we are going to see.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Everton, Armando Broja is ineligible, whilst
Dwight McNeil (knee) is a doubt. Jarrad Branthwaite has trained this week.
For Chelsea, Reece James and Wesley Fofana
(hamstring) remain out, Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia are also injured.
Marc Cucurella is suspended, but Pedro Neto is available again. Mykhaylo Mudryk
meanwhile, has a different problem altogether and we’ll have to wait and see
how that pans out.
TEAMS
EVERTON (Possible line-up): Pickford; Young,
Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye;
Calvert-Lewin
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Caicedo,
Tosin, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia, Enzo; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
LAST SEASON
Everton 2-0 Chelsea (10
December 2023)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
Everton: LDDLWD
Chelsea: DWWWWW
OTHER STUFF
- Everton have won five of their last six at home to Chelsea in the
Premier League.
- Chelsea have won only four of the last 13 Premier League meetings.
- Chelsea have scored just two goals in their last seven Premier League
visits to Goodison.
- Everton have lost only two of their last 11 Premier League games.
- Everton are unbeaten in five games at Goodison Park, keeping three clean
sheets and conceding just twice.
- Everton have failed to score in eight Premier League games this season.
- No team has scored in more games than Chelsea’s 15.
- Only Liverpool have kept more Premier League clean sheets this campaign
than Everton’s six.
- Chelsea have won eight consecutive games in all competitions.
- Chelsea have won five consecutive Premier League games, the longest
streak of any club this season.
- Chelsea have lost three of their last 31 Premier League fixtures.
- Chelsea have scored in 15 consecutive Premier League matches.
- Chelsea have scored 23 on the road so far this season.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Everton 1-1 Chelsea
