Chelsea host Everton on Sunday afternoon, looking to follow up on their win over Spurs last weekend. Antonio Conte’s side travelled to Wembley on the back of a shock home defeat to Burnley on the opening day, but prevailed thanks to a brace from Marcos Alonso. Conte had to field a makeshift side last weekend, with a number of suspensions and injuries rife in his squad.
Everton, meanwhile, beat Stoke on the opening day of the season and were leading against Manchester City on Monday night, but conceded late on to leave the Etihad with just a draw. It was also the game which saw Wayne Rooney become just the second player in Premier League history to score 200 goals. It’s now two goals in two games since his return to Goodison Park and by the time this game kicks off on Sunday, his morale could be further boosted by an England recall.
Chelsea vs. Everton Predictions
This game is tough to predict, but Chelsea winning, or the game ending as a draw seems the likeliest options. Everton have a horrific record at Stamford Bridge, while it’s not a disaster if Chelsea draw a game at this stage of the season. However, a Chelsea win seems the most likely result.
Chelsea vs. Everton Betting Tips
Head to Head
- Chelsea have won seven of their last 10 Premier League meetings with Everton, including both in 2016/17 (W7 D1 L2).
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 22 home Premier League games against Everton since a 0-1 loss in November 1994 (W12 D10). Only against Tottenham (25) are they on a longer unbeaten Premier League run at Stamford Bridge.
- Indeed, this Everton run of 22 games without a victory at Chelsea is their longest away winless run at another club in the Premier League. Only against Leeds (36 games between 1953-2001) have they had a longer away run without a win in league history.
- Chelsea haven’t lost back-to-back home Premier League games since November 2011 when they were managed by Andre Villas-Boas.
- The Toffees have only lost one of their last 11 Premier League games against the reigning champions (W6 D4), a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in December 2014.
- Since the start of 2011, Everton have won just one of their 40 Premier League away matches at one of the top-six sides in the competition last season (W1 D14 L25).
- Wayne Rooney scored his 200th Premier League goal in Everton’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Monday night. He managed this feat in his 462nd game, while the only other player to reach 200, Alan Shearer (260), did this in 306 matches.
- Wayne Rooney will be looking to score in three successive Premier League appearances for the first time since January 2016.
- Everton had eight English players in their starting XI for their last Premier League game at Manchester City. One of the eight players in their last match was Tom Davies, who wasn’t born when Everton last did this on Boxing Day 1997.
- Spanish forward Pedro scored two goals and assisted two more in Chelsea’s two wins over Everton in the 2016/17 Premier League title-winning campaign.
Chelsea Team News
Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata both started against Tottenham last weekend, while Cesc Fabregas is in contention to start following his suspension. David Luiz should revert to the defence. Gary Cahill is still suspended.
Chelsea Possible XI:
Thibault Courtois, Antonio Rudiger, David Luiz, Andreas Christensen, Victor Moses, Marcos Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, N’Golo Kante, Pedro, Willian, Alvaro Morata
Everton Team News
Ronald Koeman is poised to rest a number of first team players for their Europa League clash against Hajduk Split on Thursday night, meaning that there’s a fair chance of rotation. Gylfi Sigurdsson could make a first league start. Morgan Schneiderlin is suspended.
Everton Possible XI:
Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka, Mason Holgate, Tom Davies, Idrissa Gueye, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Leighton Baines, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Wayne Rooney
