**Date:** Sunday 22nd December 2024
**Venue**: Goodison Park
**Kick-off:** 14:00 GMT
Chelsea are guaranteed to be in the top two of the Premier League at Christmas for the first time since 2016-17, as we go into today’s game 2 points behind top-place Liverpool having played a game more and with Arsenal just a point behind us now after their win yesterday.
We come into today’s game away to Everton, off the back of a 2-1 win at home to Brentford last weekend in the Premier League, and a much changed XI following that up with a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers in the Europa Conference league Thursday night.
Everton meanwhile dug out a point against Arsenal last time out, with a 0-0 at the Emirates, leaving them three clear of the relegation places with a game in hand.
Whilst we come into this fixture in a good run of form, Goodison is not a happy hunting ground for Chelsea. We have lost five of the last six there, and with Everton keeping six clean sheets since November 1, we won’t have it easy there today either. And whilst they’re not exactly potent in front of goal, they won 4-0 in their last home game and are unlikely to get front-of-goal jitters against Sanchez.
This is far from the sort of fixture we’d want going into the busy Christmas period.
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**MANAGER’S VIEWS**
Going into today’s game, Everton manager, Sean Dyche, says _“The manager’s done a great job this season so far. He’s created a team atmosphere and a dynamic which is working well for them. We know they spent so much money over the years, but you’ve still got to combine it. There’s no exact shortcut.”_
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, says _“Chelsea have lost games there? Okay. It is something I didn’t know to be honest. It’s the same thing I was asked after Brentford, that the last three years they beat us \[at Stamford Bridge\]. Hopefully, we can go there and beat them. It will be a tough game for sure but we will try to prepare the game in the best way we can and the target is always to win the game. Everton’s stadium is not only tough for Chelsea, it’s tough for any club. So we are going to see.”_
**SQUAD NEWS**
For Everton, Armando Broja is ineligible, whilst Dwight McNeil (knee) is a doubt. Jarrad Branthwaite has trained this week.
For Chelsea, Reece James and Wesley Fofana (hamstring) remain out, Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia are also injured. Marc Cucurella is suspended, but Pedro Neto is available again. Mykhaylo Mudryk meanwhile, has a different problem altogether and we’ll have to wait and see how that pans out.
**TEAMS**
EVERTON (Possible line-up): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Caicedo, Tosin, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia, Enzo; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
**LAST SEASON**
Everton 2-0 Chelsea (10 December 2023)
**CURRENT FORM (PL)**
Everton: LDDLWD
Chelsea: DWWWWW
**OTHER STUFF**
* Everton have won five of their last six at home to Chelsea in the Premier League.
* Chelsea have won only four of the last 13 Premier League meetings.
* Chelsea have scored just two goals in their last seven Premier League visits to Goodison.
* Everton have lost only two of their last 11 Premier League games.
* Everton are unbeaten in five games at Goodison Park, keeping three clean sheets and conceding just twice.
* Everton have failed to score in eight Premier League games this season.
* No team has scored in more games than Chelsea’s 15.
* Only Liverpool have kept more Premier League clean sheets this campaign than Everton’s six.
* Chelsea have won eight consecutive games in all competitions.
* Chelsea have won five consecutive Premier League games, the longest streak of any club this season.
* Chelsea have lost three of their last 31 Premier League fixtures.
* Chelsea have scored in 15 consecutive Premier League matches.
* Chelsea have scored 23 on the road so far this season.
**PREDICTION**
[Sportsmole:](Preview: Everton vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole) Everton 1-1 Chelsea