Chelsea vs Everton Preview

• Chelsea to win
• Neto to score or assist

Chelsea left it late in their previous Premier League outing, overturning a deficit to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham thanks to a stoppage-time winner. The result, which preserved their hopes of a top-five finish, was met with wild celebrations by manager Enzo Maresca, who was subsequently shown his third yellow card of the season.

That caution means the Italian will serve a touchline ban for this clash with Everton, although he will still be involved in team selection and preparations behind the scenes.

Business End Beckons for Chelsea

With the season entering its defining stretch, Chelsea remain firmly in the mix for UEFA Champions League qualification. They start the round just two points adrift of fifth-placed Newcastle, making this fixture at Stamford Bridge a must-win to keep the pressure on their rivals. That urgency may be balanced by some squad rotation, as Maresca has a UEFA Conference League semi-final tie looming, which could tempt him to manage his resources carefully.

Despite any potential shuffling of the pack, Chelsea will be confident of securing another three points here, particularly given their imperious home form against sides positioned tenth or lower in the table heading into the round (W7, D2). The Blues are unbeaten in such fixtures and have developed a reputation for asserting their dominance on teams outside of the top half, a trend they will be keen to continue.

One player who could make a difference is Pedro Neto. His late winner against Fulham demonstrated his game-changing ability, and with both of his previous league goals coming at home against bottom-half sides (Southampton and West Ham), he may fancy his chances of making another decisive impact.

Everton’s Resilience Faces Another Test

Everton arrive in the capital on the back of a 2-0 defeat to title-chasing Manchester City. That result may have halted a solid run of form, but David Moyes’ side have still only lost twice in their last 13 Premier League games (W5, D6), highlighting their resilience and ability to stay competitive against high-quality opposition.

However, the Toffees suffered a major setback in that City defeat, with captain James Tarkowski sustaining what appeared to be a hamstring injury. The defender has been a near ever-present for Everton this season, and his absence could prove significant as they look to tighten up at the back against a Chelsea side full of attacking flair.

This fixture represents a daunting challenge historically for Everton, who are winless in their last 29 Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge – one of their longest ongoing winless runs against a single opponent away from home. Yet they may take encouragement from their recent 1-0 away win over Nottingham Forest, another side challenging Chelsea in the race for European qualification.

With a nine-point cushion above the relegation zone, Everton are under less immediate pressure, but taking anything from this game would be a huge bonus as they look to build momentum towards the season’s close.

Key Battle: Pedro Neto vs Jordan Pickford

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto is growing in confidence and form after netting the match-winner against Fulham. His pace, trickery and eye for goal will be a serious threat to an Everton backline that may lack leadership without Tarkowski.

On the other side of the equation is England number one Jordan Pickford, who will be called upon to keep his side in the contest. Pickford has a stellar record against Chelsea, having kept seven clean sheets against them – more than against any other opponent in his Premier League career.

His experience and shot-stopping ability will be crucial if Everton are to emerge from west London with anything.

The Numbers Game

Chelsea’s attacking prowess at home against bottom-half teams is well documented, but they’ll be wary of the Toffees’ tendency to keep things tight on their travels. Just four of Everton’s 16 away league matches this term have featured over 2.5 goals – the fewest of any team in the division. That statistic suggests that a low-scoring, cagey affair could be on the cards unless Chelsea find an early breakthrough to unsettle the visitors.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have won seven of their last nine home league matches and have scored at least twice in six of those. They’ve also kept clean sheets in four of their last six league games at Stamford Bridge, suggesting a growing sense of balance between attack and defence under Maresca.

Předpověď

While Everton are capable of frustrating top sides, the absence of Tarkowski and their historically poor record at Stamford Bridge may ultimately tip the scales in Chelsea’s favour. The Blues have proven adept at overcoming mid-to-lower table opposition on home soil, and with the top five in sight, they’ll be extra motivated to keep their European dreams alive.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Everton

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Chelsea v Everton, 2024/25 | Premier League