Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has picked his starting XI for the important Premier League game against Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. Robert Sanchez will be in goal for the Blues, who are in fifth place with 25 points. The back four will be Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella.
After losing 2-1 to Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday, the London club has made significant changes. This loss extended their winless streak to four games in all competitions. Cole Palmer is back in the starting lineup with Enzo Fernandez and Reece James in midfield.
He will play behind striker Joao Pedro, while Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto. Reece James will lead the team from the midfield as the Blues try to break their losing streak against an Everton team that is doing well and is only one point behind them in seventh place.
Maresca has decided to bring Palmer back after resting him for the trip to Italy. The 22-year-old has been handling his return from injury. The fact that he is in the lineup shows that the manager wants to add some creativity against a Toffees team that has won four of its last five games.
Meanwhile, Fofana’s selection is a boost because he had to leave the game against Atalanta because of an eye injury caused by a boot to the face. Moises Caicedo is out because he is serving the last game of his three-game domestic ban.
Chelsea have notably had a hard time without him. They haven’t won since they beat Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League last month. During this tough time, the West London team has drawn with Bournemouth and lost to Leeds and Atalanta, putting them eight points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Everton are feeling good about their chances at Stamford Bridge after beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at home last weekend. The Toffees haven’t won at the Bridge since 1994, a streak of 32 games across all competitions. However, David Moyes’ team will see a chance to move up the standings if they can end that bad record.
Enzo Maresca Speaks About Fitness Concerns
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said that Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana are both available to play against Everton, despite concerns about their fitness. On Thursday afternoon, the Italian manager spoke to the press before the Saturday game at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer missed the Champions League loss to Atalanta in the middle of the week because the team is still working on getting him back after a long injury absence. After Thursday’s practice, Maresca gave an update on the condition of his star playmaker:
“Cole is ok, he is better and he is available at the moment. We have one more session this afternoon. Yesterday he finished the session with us with a mixed feeling but overall he is ok.”
Fofana’s availability was also in doubt after he had to leave the Atalanta game due to an eye injury. A boot hit the 24-year-old in the face during the second half, which made people worry about whether he would be able to play against the Toffees. But Maresca had good news about the defender’s recovery:
“He’s available, he’s fine. He took part in the session yesterday and he’s completely fine.”
The Chelsea manager also talked about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, a former Blues midfielder who moved to Everton for £29 million after mostly playing in cup games at Stamford Bridge. The 27-year-old has thrived under Moyes, scoring seven goals in the league. Maresca praised the midfielder’s skills:
“I didn’t have any doubt about Kiernan. I know that the more he’s going to play, he’s going to be better, but again, with us, he was good all season, working hard.”
Maresca also talked to Josh Acheampong, the teenage right-back who played well in the loss to Atalanta. The 19-year-old hasn’t had many chances this season, but the manager hinted that he might get more playing time as the games build up before Christmas.