Everton now have a midfield minefield to contend with after Idrissa Gana Gueye’s red card last week – but they’ve been given a reprieve for one upcoming fixture after an incident in the Premier League on Sunday.
Idrissa Gana Gueye was sent off against Manchester United in bizarre fashion, slapping teammate Michael Keane after an early argument at Old Trafford – and the Everton man will now miss their next two games against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, as well as being absent for the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.
With Merlin Rohl also injured in midfield after barely featuring after his summer move, it has left Everton threadbare in their engine room ranks.
But Toffees boss David Moyes has been given a slight Premier League reprieve after Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off in an enthralling title battle during their 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is sent off against Arsenal in the Premier League
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo ruled out of Everton clash after red card
In a game where Arsenal would have gone seven points clear in the Premier League with a win, Chelsea were left in the lurch when Moises Caicedo was sent off just before half-time against the Gunners.
Trevor Chalobah’s header gave the Blues a surprise lead after the break before Mikel Merino levelled on the hour, though Chelsea were compact and rescued a point.
However, for Everton, Caicedo’s red card is good news.
Tim Iroegbunam simply CANNOT start on Tuesday vs Bournemouth!
Everton v Newcastle United - Premier League
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The Ecuadorian star will now miss Chelsea’s trips to Leeds United and Bournemouth in the coming days, and although he’ll be available to face Atalanta in the Champions League due to that being in a different competition, it means the ban will carry over to the clash with the Toffees at Stamford Bridge.
Everton were poor in midfield against Newcastle and would have massively struggled without Gueye patrolling their ranks against Chelsea, but Caicedo’s absence will make David Moyes’ task somewhat easier.
Everton have an impressive record against Chelsea in recent years
Everton generally have had a decent record against Chelsea in the Premier League of late, especially at home.
Since December 2017, Everton have won five, lost five and drawn five of their Premier League clashes against the Blues, with just one of those losses coming on home turf.
Struggling to think of a worse performance under David Moyes
All five of those wins have come at Goodison Park, meaning Merseyside is not a happy hunting ground for Enzo Maresca’s side.
How that will differ at the Hill Dickinson Stadium remains to be seen, though Everton haven’t scored against Chelsea in their last three outings – with the 2-0 win in December 2023 via goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Lewis Dobbin being the last time they scored past the Blues.
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