Chelsea travel to Goodison Park for the final time to take on Everton on Sunday
Enzo Maresca's side will have the chance to go top of Premier League with win
LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Are Tottenham managers treated differently to other managers?
By TUM BALOGUN
Published: 05:33 EST, 22 December 2024 | Updated: 05:33 EST, 22 December 2024
A meeting of sides at either ends of the table should be easy to call but Chelsea's recent record on trips to Goodison Park makes Sunday's match perhaps more of a toss-up than you might expect.
Enzo Maresca's side have the opportunity to climb to the top of the Premier League - for a couple of hours at the very least - when they take on the Toffees for the final time at their famous home.
Chelsea come into the game on an eight-game winning streak but Sean Dyche's outfit will provide the sternest of tests. Everton can be a match for anyone on their day. This fact was best exemplified in their gutsy 0-0 draw with Arsenal last weekend.
Should they do the same on Sunday, they'll hand their bitter rivals Liverpool a second boost in as many weeks in their quest to win the Premier League.
Victory on Merseyside would only be Chelsea's third in their last 11 visits to Goodison.
Their miserable run began with a 3-1 defeat in September 2015 when Jose Mourinho's side made a sluggish start to the defence of their title - their form did not much improve in the following weeks.
Chelsea may be within touching distance of top spot but their recent form at Goodison Park leaves plenty to be desired
Steven Naismith's hat-trick helped Everton prevail against Chelsea in September 2015
Antonio Conte claimed one of the two wins Chelsea bosses have enjoyed during their recent travels to Goodison
The Blues went down to a Steven Naismith hat-trick, which left them in 17th place after five matchdays.
Next came a 2-0 defeat in the FA Cup the following March. Chelsea, now managed by Gus Hiddink, were put to the sword by their former player Romelu Lukaku who scored two late goals to send the home side into the quarter-finals.
One of two Chelsea wins was achieved in April 2017. Antonio Conte's side proved to be an unstoppable force in his debut campaign and they breezed past the Toffees as they closed in on an impressive points haul.
The goalscorers that afternoon were Spain and Barcelona legend Pedro, former captain Gary Cahill and Brazilian maestro Willian.
'I must be relaxed when we win but I think it is very important to celebrate this win with the players and fans,' Conte told Match of the Day after his side moved a step closer to securing the 2016-17 title.
'I think we must continue this way - to play game by game and take three points in every game. We know every win in this part of the season is very important.
'The road is long so we need to rest and prepare in the right way.'
The Italian's squad returned that December but could only claim a point after a goalless draw on Merseyside.
Enzo Maresca's side are hoping to end their Goodison Park hoodoo and go top of the league
It will be the last time the two sides face off at Goodison Park before the Toffees leave for Bramley-Moore Dock
It proved to be Conte's final trip to the famous old ground in the Chelsea dug out.
Maurizio Sarri had been appointed Chelsea boss in time for their next trip to Goodison but the enigmatic manager did not fare much better than his predecessors.
His team were beaten 2-0 after goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Future Everton boss Frank Lampard suffered a 3-1 defeat nine months later and then a 1-0 loss in December 2020.
Chelsea would have to wait another two years for their next win at Goodison, with Jorginho scoring the only goal of the match to sink the hosts.
Last term, strikes from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin earned the Toffees a win.
With Sean Dyche and Co desperate not to be drawn back into a relegation dog-fight, the hosts will be keen to mark their first game since The Friedkin Group's takeover was confirmed in the best way possible.