Everton put their unbeaten start to the Premier League season on the line against a Chelsea side in clinical goalscoring form at present.
Match News and Current Form
A topsy-turvy clash away at Hull last weekend saw Everton ultimately fight from behind before surrendering the lead in a 2-2 draw. Although it probably felt a little more like points dropped for David Moyes’ men, it did at least extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season to six matches (W2, D4), rendering them one of just three sides yet to lose a league game this term. Only in 2006/07 have Everton ever avoided defeat in their opening seven Premier League matches, but belief ought to be high of replicating that feat at home, where the Toffees have won to nil in three of their four games this season (D1).
Keeping this Chelsea side scoreless looks set to be a thankless task, after the free-scoring Blues demolished Bournemouth 5-1 last weekend. Life under Xabi Alonso has been anything but boring for Chelsea fans, who have seen their new-look side rattle in 23 goals already, but the huge caveat comes in the fact they’ve also conceded 16, and a leaky defence has been a long-running hindrance for the Blues, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 22 league games - their longest such run since August 1961. Struggles on the road have held them back a little this term too, as both league defeats so far came in away games, and given they were also against sides currently above them, there’s likely to be a little trepidation ahead of this clash.
Head-to-Head History
Everton’s last 13 Premier League wins against Chelsea came in home games, including a 3-0 triumph last season, and they’ve lost only one of the last nine top-flight meetings they hosted (W6, D2). Chelsea failed to score in seven of those games.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Everton have scored six of their eight league goals this season after half-time.
Six of Everton’s last eight home league games produced under 3.5 yellow cards.
Chelsea’s last eight league games produced over 2.5 goals.
Eight of Chelsea’s last nine Premier League road trips produced an odd number of goals.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Thierno Barry has scored in Everton’s last two games, but he hasn’t scored in three successive league games since August 2024 whilst playing for Basel - nine of his last ten Premier League goals arrived in the second half. Maxence Lacroix may be part of a defence trying to keep him quiet but his side on the day conceded exactly twice in all four of his personal career H2Hs (D1, L3).
Vitalii Mykolenko missed Everton’s trip to Hull, while Chelsea’s Reece James missed their game last weekend.
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Betting Analysis
Everton’s solid record in this fixture is difficult to look beyond, and at generous odds, backing an Everton win could be a smart choice.
Author: Chris Wilson