Chelsea vs Everton Premier League preview, team news and prediction

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Looking to put an end to their disappointing run of results, Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon to take on an in-form Everton side in the Premier League.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since April, when the Blues edged out Everton 1-0 at home thanks to a goal from Nicolas Jackson. Since their impressive 3-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona and a hard-fought 1-1 draw with league leaders Arsenal at the end of November, Chelsea have struggled, failing to win any of their first three games in December.

Chelsea’s hopes of securing automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 took a hit on Wednesday, as Atalanta BC came from behind to beat them 2-1 in Bergamo. That result leaves Enzo Maresca’s side 11th in the 36-team League Phase, two points adrift of the top eight with two matches remaining. In the Premier League, Chelsea have also faltered, suffering a 3-1 defeat at Leeds United and a goalless draw with Bournemouth in their last two outings. These setbacks have dropped them to fifth in the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal, though they remain just a point outside the top four.

One area of concern for Maresca’s men is their tendency to drop points from winning positions at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have let leads slip in home matches more than any other Premier League team this season (eight points lost), already surpassing the total from the whole of last season (seven).

Despite their recent struggles, Chelsea can take confidence from their remarkable home record against Everton. The Blues are unbeaten in their last 30 top-flight home games against the Toffees (17 wins, 13 draws)—the longest such run against any opponent in their league history. For Everton, only at Leeds have they endured a longer winless away streak (36 matches from 1953 to 2001).

Since David Moyes returned to the Everton dugout in January, only Arsenal, Manchester City (both 13), and Chelsea (11) have kept more Premier League clean-sheet victories than the Toffees (10). Everton are enjoying a rich vein of form, having won four of their last five league games without conceding, including a 3-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest last weekend that lifted them to seventh place—just two points off the top four and 11 clear of the relegation zone.

This is only the fifth time Everton have accumulated 24 points from their opening 15 Premier League fixtures, and on three of those previous occasions, they finished the season inside the top seven. Understandably, optimism is growing among Everton fans that Moyes could guide them back into European competition for the first time in almost ten years.

Everton will be aiming to win a third consecutive Premier League away match without conceding for the first time since December 2008, following impressive 1-0 victories at Manchester United and Bournemouth. However, they have not won a league game at Stamford Bridge since November 1994, and Moyes himself is winless in 20 Premier League away matches at Chelsea (seven draws, 13 defeats)—only at Liverpool has he managed more away games without a victory (21).

Chelsea will be without Moises Caicedo, who is set to serve the final match of his three-game suspension this weekend. The Blues are also missing Liam Delap (shoulder), Levi Colwill (knee), Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo (both thigh injuries), as well as Mykhaylo Mudryk, who remains sidelined due to a doping suspension.

Wesley Fofana suffered an eye injury in a freak incident during the midweek loss to Atalanta, but manager Enzo Maresca is optimistic the defender could be fit to face Everton, potentially partnering Trevoh Chalobah in central defense. After playing the full 90 minutes in midweek, captain Reece James may be rested and start on the bench, while creative midfielder Cole Palmer is expected to return to the starting lineup after being given a break against Atalanta. Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho will also be pushing for starts on the flanks, possibly replacing Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto.

On the Everton side, Seamus Coleman and Jarrad Branthwaite (both hamstring) and Merlin Rohl (hernia) remain out through injury. However, Thierno Barry is expected to be available despite picking up a minor shoulder issue after scoring his first goal for the club in last weekend’s victory over Nottingham Forest.

Midfielders Idrissa Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam are both back in contention after serving suspensions. Gueye is likely to return to the starting XI in a holding midfield role alongside James Garner, while Iroegbunam is expected to begin on the bench.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Everton’s joint-top Premier League scorer this season with four goals, has found the net three times in his last four appearances—matching his total from his previous 62 league games for Leicester, Chelsea, and Everton combined. The 27-year-old could be pushed into a more advanced midfield role behind the striker, potentially at the expense of Carlos Alcaraz.

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