Carlo Ancelotti makes his return to Stamford Bridge as Everton visit Chelsea in a huge Super Sunday clash.
A win can move Chelsea to within two points of third-placed Leicester, whilst Everton can climb to tenth with victory over Ancelotti’s former Blues.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesAndreas Christiansen is in contention for Chelsea after recovering from a knock, which had ruled him out of Tuesday’s FA Cup win over Liverpool.
Willian (Achilles) and Christian Pulisic (groin) both face late fitness tests, whilst N’Golo Kante (muscle), Jorginho (suspension), Tammy Abraham (foot), Marco van Ginkel (knee), Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) and Mateo Kovacic (Achilles) are sidelined.
Everton’s Lucas Digne could be in contention to start after recovering from a muscular injury.
Seamus Coleman, Jean-Phillipe Gbamin (both thigh) and Morgan Schneiderlin (knee) remain ruled out.
Form
Chelsea enter this match with just one win in their last six league games (W1, D3, L2), whilst conceding in each of their last three home games.
Everton have lost just one of their last seven league games (W3, D3, L1), despite failing to keep a clean sheet on their travels since the opening weekend of this season.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea are winless in their last four meetings against Everton (D2, L2).
- Richarlison has scored in his last two games for Everton against Chelsea, although both goals came in home victories at Goodison Park.
- Everton are winless in their last eight league trips to Stamford Bridge (D2, L6).
- Both teams have scored one penalty each in 55 previous Premier League clashes, although Chelsea scored from their only penalty unlike Everton who missed two of their three penalties against the Blues.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored seven league goals under Ancelotti in comparison to three goals under Marco Silva this season.
Prediction
After a dominant FA Cup performance against Liverpool in midweek in which they absorbed the pressure whilst pressing deep, Chelsea have to take their confidence into this game because Everton are currently dangerous right from the first whistle.
Jordan Pickford however needs to be on his A Game because Chelsea will spring a variety of surprise shots, and if he isn’t alert then this could be a brutal result for the Toffees.
Defending therefore is going to be crucial given the inconsistent form of both teams at the back, and I can see Everton taking a valuable point here if they continue their improved attacking style.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Everton
Result: Chelsea 4-0 Everton