Chelsea can, if only briefly, climb to the top of the Premier League table with a victory at Everton on Sunday.
The Blues once again took advantage of dropped Liverpool points last weekend as they overcame bogey side Brentford 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Up next is another potential banana skin, with the Toffees enjoying their fair share of success against the Blues in recent years, especially on Merseyside.
The west London club are unbeaten since October with their deficit to the league leaders a mere two points. They concluded their Conference League league phase on Thursday night with a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers as Enzo Maresca once again used the extremities of his mammoth squad.
Everton fans have had the sweet relief of not having to watch their side too much this month, and Goodison is bound to be buoyant on Sunday given the news surrounding the Friedkins' takeover.
Sean Dyche's side beat Wolves 4-0 last time out on home soil and held Arsenal to a goalless stalemate at the Emirates last weekend. They're up to 16th.
Here is 90min's guide to Chelsea's upcoming Premier League encounter.
Everton vs Chelsea H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
Everton Chelsea
Arsenal 0-0 Everton - 14/12/24 Chelsea 5-1 Shamrock Rovers - 19/12/24
Everton 4-0 Wolves - 04/12/24 Chelsea 2-1 Brentford - 15/12/25
Man Utd 4-0 Everton - 01/12/24 Astana 1-3 Chelsea - 12/12/24
Everton 0-0 Brentford - 23/11/24 Tottenham 3-4 Chelsea - 08/12/24
West Ham 0-0 Everton - 09/11/24 Southampton 1-5 Chelsea - 04/12/24
Country TV channel/live stream
United Kingdom N/A - live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live
United States fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO
Canada fuboTV Canada
Dwight McNeil
Dwight McNeil missed the draw with Arsenal / Alex Livesey/GettyImages
Dwight McNeil has been a key cog for the Toffees since joining the club and has been impressive again this season. However, the midfielder missed last week's draw at Arsenal through injury and it remains to be seen whether he'll be fit for Chelsea's visit - Sean Dyche told his press conference it's "touch and go" whether he'll feature.
Everton are certainly without striker Armando Broja, who is ineligible to face his former club on Sunday, while James Garner is suffering from a muscle injury and could miss out again. Youssef Chermiti and Tim Iroegbunam are both sidelined.
Everton predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Ndiaye; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin.
Marc Cucurella
Marc Cucurella is suspended for Sunday's game / Richard Heathcote/GettyImages
Marc Cucurella started on Thursday with Maresca knowing that the Spaniard is suspended for Sunday's game. Renato Veiga, who started at centre-back against Shamrock Rovers, will likely fill in for the left-back at Goodison Park.
Benoit Badiashile was set for a run in the team following Wesley Fofana's latest injury setback, but the left-footed defender has sustained an issue himself which should see Tosin Adarabioyo included in Sunday's XI alongside Levi Colwill.
Reece James and Carney Chukwuemeka are sidelined, while Mykhailo Mudryk is out for the foreseeable having failed a drug test in the week.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Everton (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Caicedo, Tosin, Colwill, Veiga; Fernandez, Lavia; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
It's hard to envisage any side slowing down Chelsea's momentum, but Goodison Park has not been a particularly happy hunting ground for the Blues as of late.
And with the place set to be in a fervent mood in the wake of Farhad Moshiri's exit, Sunday looks like a tricky test for Maresca's side - even if they're well rested.
Dyche's side are physical and compact, and they're bound to use a similar blue print from last weekend's draw at the Emirates. The hosts are set to surrender territory and aim to hit Chelsea on the break as well as from set pieces, and they may well do enough to tame the Blues on Sunday.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Chelsea
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