Chelsea will be eager to continue the recent winning run when they welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The dreaded international break is upon us. But club football will be in action this weekend, with Gameweek 28 kicking off in the Premier League with the game between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. And Chelsea will round off the fixtures on Saturday when they host Everton at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea seemed to be heading to a disastrous end to the 2022/23 season, with Graham Potter getting under increasing pressure. But the last few weeks have heralded a silver lining in a difficult campaign. And the Blues have won three games in a row, the latest against Leicester City last weekend. While some issues remain, Chelsea’s fortunes are seemingly improving.
On the other hand, Everton’s form has gradually improved under the tutelage of Sean Dyche. The experienced manager seemed to have an uphill task when he took over from Frank Lampard. But a return of three wins and three defeats in seven games suggests a step in the right direction. And the Toffees have climbed to 15th on the table, although they are only a point outside the drop zone.
The reverse fixture saw Chelsea eke out a narrow 1-0 win over Everton, courtesy of Jorginho’s effort from the spot. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Keeping the good feeling going! 🤗 pic.twitter.com/1eOSZFPI0F
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 16, 2023
Graham Potter does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Everton on Saturday, the Chelsea manager might be bereft of the services of as many as nine first-team players.
Raheem Sterling remains on the sidelines, with Nizaar Kinsella reporting that he will unlikely feature on Saturday. Meanwhile, Thiago Silva is the most notable absentee for the hosts as he continues to recover from a knee injury. Cesar Azpilicueta (head), Edouard Mendy (finger), and Armando Broja (knee) will also be unavailable.
But Reece James (illness), N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Mason Mount (abdomen), and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (back) hope to be fit enough to at least make the matchday squad. And James might return to the starting eleven, completing his marauding wing-back pairing with Ben Chilwell.
Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez have been phenomenal in the middle of the park. And Potter has no reason to shuffle the dynamic midfield partnership. As for the defensive unit, Benoit Badiashile will hope to reclaim his spot. But Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Marc Cucurella will retain their places.
Sterling’s continued absence means Mykhailo Mudryk will keep his spot on the left flank. And the Ukrainian international will aim to take a step in the right direction this weekend. Mudryk will join Joao Felix and Kai Havertz in the final third on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Kepa; Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella; James, Kovacic, Fernandez, Chilwell; Felix, Havertz, Mudryk
Everton
Like his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Sean Dyche does not have any new issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Everton manager might be without only three first-team players on Saturday.
But Nathan Patterson is closing in on returning to the matchday squad. And the youngster might have recovered sufficiently from a knee injury to be in contention to feature. But Andros Townsend (knee) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring) will likely miss out on Saturday.
Calvert-Lewin’s absence might not be a big concern, considering Demarai Gray has been superb in the last few weeks. The 26-year-old will spearhead the Everton attack against Chelsea, with Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi being the two wide attackers.
Sean Dyche on Dominic Calvert-Lewin ahead of #CHEEVE.
Watch: https://t.co/AbQdNh5jvc pic.twitter.com/EHo9vge60k
— Everton (@Everton) March 16, 2023
Iwobi and McNeil have been the two brightest spots for Everton under Dyche. And their output from the flanks will be crucial for the visitors. Their marauding form will also ensure that Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye, and Abdoulaye Doucoure will form a defensive-minded trio in the middle of the park.
The trio will aim to keep things tight in the centre of the pitch while thwarting Chelsea’s moves through the central areas. Onana will also focus on pushing Everton forward during transitions, with Doucoure’s movement also crucial.
Michael Keane has seemingly usurped Conor Coady in the defensive unit. And the Englishman should form the central defensive partnership with fellow ex-Burnley defender James Tarkowski. Ben Godfrey should complete a defensively-adept backline, with Seamus Coleman being the right-back. Finally, Jordan Pickford picks himself between the sticks and will have a busy evening on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Godfrey; Iwobi, Onana, Gueye, Doucoure, McNeil; Gray
Key Stats
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 27 Premier League home games against Everton (W15 D12) since a 1-0 loss in November 1994. Against no side have they ever had a longer unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge in their top-flight history. Following their 1-0 victory at Goodison Park on the opening weekend, the Blues are looking to complete the league double over Everton for the first time since 2016/17.
- Everton are without a win in their last 11 Premier League away games against London clubs (D3 L8), failing to score in the most recent four. The Toffees last went five league games without a goal in London between April and October 2005. And they last had a longer winless run in the capital between 1970 and 1974 (17).
- Chelsea have won their last two Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 15 combined (D6 L7). They last won more consecutively in September/October – a run of four which included Graham Potter’s first three games in charge.
- Everton have won three of their seven Premier League games under Sean Dyche so far (D1 L3), as many as they had in their 20 matches under Frank Lampard this season (D6 L11).
- Kai Havertz is looking to score in three consecutive appearances for Chelsea in all competitions for the second time, previously doing so in March 2022. The German is the Blues’ top scorer in all competitions this term (8).
Player to Watch
Ben Chilwell
Chelsea’s form has suddenly improved after they were staring down the barrel not too long ago. And much of the credit for that goes to Ben Chilwell, whose return has coincided with the Blues’ upturn in fortunes. And he will be looking forward to reuniting with wing-back partner Reece James soon.
The west London giants look a lot different when James and Chilwell play together. And the latter, in particular, is a constant threat to the opponents due to his efficient runs and pinpoint deliveries. Chilwell will also threaten the goal with his rasping efforts. And one can expect him to be in the thick of the action again.
Prediction
Chelsea 1-0 Everton
Things are moving in the right direction for Chelsea. The Blues have scored five goals in their last two games (2-0 vs Borussia Dortmund, 3-1 vs Leicester), as many as they had in their previous 12 in all competitions. And they will fancy their chances of continuing this brilliant run. On the other hand, Everton’s record on the road is abysmal.
The Toffees have won just two of their last 30 Premier League away games (D8 L20) while keeping only two clean sheets in this run. And that poor return should exacerbate, with Chelsea likely to hand them a narrow defeat again. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-0 win for Graham Potter’s men.
