Everton and Chelsea will aim to continue their unbeaten runs when they lock horns at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The curtains will fall on Gameweek 17 of the 2024/25 Premier League season on Sunday. The action on the day will start with four simultaneous games, including Everton vs Chelsea at Goodison Park.
Everton would have hoped to come closer to the top half of the Premier League table this term after a solid second half of the 2023/24 campaign. However, the Toffees have blown hot and cold this season, although they have produced some impressive performances in recent weeks. Sean Dyche’s men held Arsenal to a goalless draw last weekend.
As for Chelsea, the wins are racking up for the West London club, with the team barely putting a foot wrong in recent weeks. The Blues are on an eight-match winning run, with Arsenal the last team to stop them from emerging victorious in a game over a month ago. The run of results has taken Enzo Maresca’s men to the top of the UEFA Europa Conference League standings and second on the Premier League table, only two points behind Liverpool.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Everton eke a 2-0 win over Chelsea, with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Sean Dyche has a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Everton manager might be bereft of the services of five first-team players vs Chelsea on Sunday.
Armando Broja is the latest absentee, as he is ineligible to face his parent club. In addition, Dyche continues to sweat over the fitness of Dwight McNeil, who has been managing a knee injury. Meanwhile, Tim Iroegbunam (foot), James Garner (lower back), and Youssef Chermiti (knock) remain on the sidelines.
Jordan Pickford is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Everton lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Sunday. The backline should feature Ashley Young, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Vitaliy Mykolenko.
As for the midfield unit, Orel Mangala should line up alongside Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure in the middle of the park. Finally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will likely lead the line for Everton against Chelsea, with Jack Harrison and Iliman Ndiaye being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure; Harrison, Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye
Chelsea
Like his counterpart in the Everton dugout, Enzo Maresca has a new concern to worry about ahead of the trip to Goodison Park. The Chelsea manager will be without at least half a dozen players on Sunday.
Marc Cucurella is the latest absentee, as he will serve a suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the 2024/25 season. The Spanish international has joined Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (thigh), Benoit Badiashile (unspecified), Omari Kellyman (hamstring), and Mykhailo Mudryk on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia might be fit enough to return to the team.
Robert Sanchez will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Everton on Sunday. The backline should feature Moises Caicedo, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, and Malo Gusto.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Enzo Fernandez and the fit-again Lavia in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho being the two wide attackers. Finally, Nicolas Jackson will spearhead the Chelsea attack against Everton on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Caicedo, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia, Enzo; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Key Stats
- Everton have won five of their last six Premier League home games vs Chelsea, as many victories as from the previous 17 meetings at Goodison Park. The Blues won 6-0 in the most recent Premier League clash with Everton but have not triumphed in consecutive encounters since a run of three between November 2016 and August 2017.
- Everton have lost only two of their last 11 Premier League matches. The Toffees are unbeaten in five games at Goodison Park, keeping three clean sheets and conceding just twice. Their five most recent Premier League fixtures have ended either goalless (three times) or 4-0 (W1 L1).
- Chelsea have won eight consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since a club-record run of 10 from October to December 2016 under Antonio Conte. The Blues are guaranteed to be in the top two of the Premier League at Christmas for the first time since 2016/17 when they were first. They have won the title on all five occasions they have been top at Christmas but have never emerged champions in the four instances when they have been second.
- Everton have failed to score in an unrivalled eight Premier League matches this season, while no team has scored in more games than Chelsea’s 15. However, only Liverpool have kept more clean sheets in the Premier League this campaign than Everton (6).
- Chelsea have scored 23 goals in away Premier League games this season, the third-highest tally ever at this stage of a campaign after Liverpool (2021/22) and Manchester City (2011/12).
Player to Watch
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer were viable candidates for this season. However, we have picked Dominic Calvert-Lewin as our Player to Watch. The speculation surrounding the English striker has grown like wildfire in recent months, considering he has entered the final seven months of his contract. However, he must raise his performance levels to earn a desirable move next year.
Calvert-Lewin has failed to score in his last 11 Premier League appearances, with goals coming at a premium for the 27-year-old striker. With Everton struggling to breach the opponent’s net regularly, the Englishman must step up before the profligacy catches up to the Toffees.
Prediction
Everton 0-1 Chelsea
Everton’s superb recent home form and exceptional defensive acumen mean Chelsea will not have a straightforward outing at Goodison Park this weekend. The Toffees have already frustrated one Premier League title-challenging London club this month, and they might sense another opportunity on Sunday.
However, keeping Chelsea at bay for long periods will be a tall order, even for a defensively solid team like Everton. In addition, the home side’s scoring woes should continue, with Chelsea managing a clean sheet. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-0 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges.
