**Date:** Saturday 21st March 2026
**Venue**: Hill Dickinson Stadium
**Kick-off:** 17:30 GMT
Tonight, we venture for the very first time to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where we’ll be squaring up to Everton.
We beat Everton at Stamford Bridge in December, winning 2-0, but doing the double over The Toffees has been rarer than a sunny Bank Holiday – not since 2016/17, in fact.
Chelsea have shuffled their starting XI like a dodgy magician at a children’s party – 96 changes in the league so far, which is more than the whole of last season already. Rosenior’s still scratching his head, possibly wondering if anyone’s got the instructions for assembling a decent defence. Unsurprisingly, our back line has been leakier than a colander, conceding in the last eight league games and losing the last three across all competitions.
We’ve only managed to win four out of our last eleven games, so not exactly champagne football, more like flat lemonade. Our latest league outing was a thrilling 1-0 loss to Newcastle, which was about as exciting as watching paint dry. But hey, we might have preferred dull if we’d known what was coming: a Champions League humiliation from PSG so bad their defenders were practically doing the conga, and Rosenior was busy passing notes like a schoolboy at 8-2 down. Motivation? Well, let’s just say it was about as inspiring as Harold Shipman at a pro-life rally.
Everton, meanwhile, were less than helpful for the rest of the league, failing to do anyone any favours against Arsenal. After wins against Newcastle and Burnley, they proved their generosity by conceding two late goals to the league leaders. They had one job!
We’ve got a horror show of fixtures coming up, injuries piling up like dirty laundry, and dropping more points could see us waving goodbye to Europe quicker than you can say “RyanAir”. With morale at rock bottom after the last two games, turning this pig’s ear of a season into a silk purse might take more magic than Dynamo. So, the mid-table mediocrity Eghbali and his mates seem so happy to accept, might well be what’s on the cards for us.
**MANAGER’S VIEWS**
Going into today’s game, Everton manager, David Moyes, says _“They’re a little bit wounded, so we have to be ready for them coming to our place. Undoubtedly a talented group of players.”_
Liam Rosenior meanwhile, says _“Every manager goes through difficult weeks. I’ve had challenging periods before. I’ve lost games in many jobs, like all managers have done. We need to find a way to fight at Everton and come through a difficult period. You want to be in the Champions League. It makes everything clearer, not just from a financial point of view. This club deserves to be in the Champions League. That’s the target.”_
**SQUAD NEWS**
For Everton, Jack Grealish (foot) and Carlos Alcaraz (unspecified), are injured, whilst Tyrique George is ineligible to face us. Moyes is said to be hopeful over James Tarkowski (unspecified) and Jarrad Branthwaite (thigh) availability.
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL), Trevoh Chalobah (ankle), Reece James (hamstring), Filip Jorgensen (groin) are all injured. Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile (both illness) and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (hamstring) will all be assessed.
**TEAMS**
EVERTON (Possible line-up): Pickford; O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Acheampong, Sarr, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Pedro
**LAST SEASON**
Everton 0-0 Chelsea (22nd December 2024)
**CURRENT FORM (PL)**
EVERTON: WLLWWL
CHELSEA: WDDLWL
**OTHER STUFF**
* Everton have lost just one of their last eight Premier League home games against Chelsea
* Chelsea won the reverse fixture 2-0 in December.
* Everton have failed to score in 12 of their last 19 Premier League games against Chelsea, including each of the last four in a row.
* Chelsea have lost two of their last three Premier League games
* Everton are looking to win consecutive Premier League games at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time.
**PREDICTION**
[Sportsmole:](Preview: Everton vs Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole) Everton 1-1 Chelsea