Amazingly, Everton have won five of their last six home games against Chelsea, with the Blues failing to score during six of their nine outings at Goodison since 2016, so can the Toffees derail their visitor's title aspirations?
Everton vs Chelsea Preview
Can Chelsea continue their winning streak? Last Sunday night, the Blues claimed a fifth successive Premier League victory, this time downing Brentford at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Marc Cucurella's header on the cusp of half time, before Nicolas Jackson's emphatic strike made the points secure.
Now unbeaten in eight Premier League games, winning six of them, Enzo Maresca's team kick off second in the table, knowing victory on Merseyside would see them leapfrog leaders Liverpool, even if only temporarily, with the Reds in action at Tottenham later on Sunday.
On Thursday night, the Blues smashed Shamrock Rovers 5-1 in the Conference League, Marc Guiu bagging a hat-trick, meaning they finished top of the league phase with a perfect record, so go straight through to the last 16, meaning they won't be distracted by that competition until March. Now, can Chelsea move top of the Prmeier League?
As for Everton, can they extend their unbeaten streak to three matches? Last time out at home, the Toffees demolished Wolves 4-0, thereby ending a four-game sequence without a goal by scoring four for the first time since 1902. Then, last weekend, Sean Dyche's team battled to a valuable goalless draw with Arsenal, limiting the Gunners to very few opportunities in North London, even if the Blues themselves rarely threatened.
These two results have somewhat eased all Evertonians' relegation concerns, with the Toffees climbing up to 16th, albeit just three points clear of danger. As alluded to earlier, the Blues have a fantastic recent home record against Chelsea, so will the Goodison faithful have a memorable victory to celebrate?
Everton vs Chelsea Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 192.
- Everton Wins: 60. Draws: 56. Chelsea Wins: 76.
Everton Team News
Dwight McNeil sat out the trip to Arsenal due to a knee injury and it's yet unknown whether or not he'll have recovered in time to feature here. The winger aside, Sean Dyche has settled on a starting XI in recent weeks, featuring Abdoulaye Doucouré in a more advanced number ten role. Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner are injured while Armando Broja, having made his first two Everton appearances off the bench against Wolves and Arsenal, is ineligible to face his parent club. Michael Keane and Ashley Young will sit out Thursday's visit to the Etihad if cautioned.
Everton predicted lineup vs Chelsea: (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gana Gueye, Mangala, Doucouré, Harrison, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.
Everton Player to Watch vs Chelsea
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has previously scored three times against Chelsea, but the most-recent of these came in a 3-1 victory back in December 2019, so can he change that fact here?
Chelsea Team News
Enzo Maresca, as usual, heavily rotated for the mid-week meeting with Shamrock Rovers, but will largely revert to the side that beat Brentford last weekend. However, Marc Cucurella is suspended, following his red card after the final whistle, so with Ben Chilwell injured, Renato Veiga will start a Premier League match for only the second time. Elsewhere, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Benoît Badiashile, Roméo Lavia and João Félix are also injured, while we're not likely to see Mykhailo Mudryk any time soon, after it was announced on Tuesday the Ukrainian had failed a drugs test. Pedro Neto was suspended last weekend but can return this time, while goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and centre-forward Nicolas Jackson will be banned for the Boxing Day fixture against Fulham if cautioned.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Everton: (4-3-3): Sánchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Veiga; Caicedo, Fernández, Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Chelsea Player to Watch vs Everton
Cole Palmer has 11 Premier League goals to his name this season, while he scored four when Everton visited Stamford Bridge back in April, so can he find the net at Goodison for the very first time, with this likely to be his final opportunity to do so?
Everton vs Chelsea Prediction
Despite their recent trials and tribulations at Goodison, we cannot see beyond a Chelsea victory. Everton have failed to score in five of their last six matches, with only Southampton scoring fewer than their 14 goals thus far. Chelsea meantime are flying, so we're fully expecting the Blues to win a sixth successive Premier League match for the first time since November 2019 back when Frank Lampard, who's managed both clubs of course, was in charge: Everton 0-3 Chelsea.
Everton vs Chelsea FAQs - Premier League
How to watch Everton vs Chelsea Premier League game on TV channel?
Everton vs Chelsea Premier League game will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: This match is not being broadcast live in the UK.
- USA: fuboTV, NBC, Telemundo & Deportes En Vivo
- Canada: Fubo Sports Network Canada
How to watch Everton vs Chelsea Premier League game on live streaming?
Everton vs Chelsea Premier League game will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: This match is not being broadcast live in the UK.
- USA: fuboTV, nbcsports.com, USA Network, Telemundo & SiriusXM FC
- Canada: fuboTV Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Everton vs Chelsea in the Premier League?
Everton vs Chelsea takes place on Sunday 22 December 2024, with kick off at 14:00 (GMT), 9:00 (EDT) & 6:00 (PST).