Chelsea vs Everton Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Haydn Cunningham Jan 12, 2016 @ 08:28 pm

Guus Hiddink wouldn’t have expected to be in the hot seat at Stamford Bridge so soon after Chelsea were crowned Premier League champions just 8 months ago. He’s managed to remain unbeaten in the 5 games he’s been in charge which has also produced 3 consecutive clean sheets. Diego Costa had a rocky relationship with Jose Mourinho but under Hiddink he’s scored in all 3 games at Stamford Bridge including his latest deft flick against Scunthorpe which sealed a 2-0 victory against the League 1 side. Despite sitting just 6 points above the relegation zone, Chelsea will definitely be climbing the table as opposed to looking nervously over their shoulder and it is a matter of time before they close down on the sides in the European positions. 

Everton have had 4 consecutive home games and despite a thrilling 4-3 defeat to Stoke City in their last game of 2015, they’ve remained unbeaten this calendar year with a point against Tottenham and then the latest two victories in the Capital One Cup semi-finals and the 3^rd round of the FA Cup. Romelu Lukaku is the joint-leading goal scorer in the Premier League with 15 goals but he picked up a knock against Manchester City and wasn’t risked against Dagenham & Redbridge. Roberto Martinez sensibly took some of his star assets out of the firing line with Ross Barkley also given beneficial rest time. Phil Jagielka returned from his serious knee injury and completed the full 90 minutes which will be a massive boost to the Toffee’s. Everton are disappointingly sitting in 11^th and will hope they can close the 6 point gap to 5^th place Manchester United.

Chelsea have won the last 4 meetings between the 2 sides at Stamford Bridge with the last 3 all coming by the 1 goal margin. In the reverse fixture earlier this season, Steven Naismith came off the bench to score a hat-trick against the Champions. Everton have kept just 2 clean sheets in 10 league matches which is a trend that has seen them remain in the bottom half of the table. They may well boast the Premier League’s joint-top goal scorer but if you can’t stop them from going in at the other end then more often than not you’ll drop points.

Romelu Lukaku is expected to be fit for Chelsea providing he comes through the midweek game against Manchester City on Wednesday night. Phil Jageilka is likely to take back his place in central defence alongside John Stones despite the impressive form of Fures Mori. Everton have problems at right back with Seamus Coleman, Tony Hibbert and Tyias Browning all injured. Chelsea meanwhile will be without Eden Hazard who was substituted early in their last league match against Crystal Palace. Nemanja Matic was ruled out of the Scunthorpe game with a head injury and is certain to return in midfield.

Chelsea

Stats: W-6 L-9 D-5

Recent Form – WDDWW

Everton

Stats: W-6 L-5 D-9

Recent Form - WLDWW

Head-to-head record:

Possible Line-ups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1) – Courtois, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Matic, Mikel, Willian, Fabregas, Pedro, Diego Costa

Everton (4-2-3-1) – Howard, Galloway, Jagielka, Stones, Baines, Barry, Besic, Deulofeu, Barkley, Lennon, Lukaku

Injury List/Suspended Players

Chelsea – Falcao (inj), Hazard (inj), Remy (inj), Oscar (inj)
Everton – Browning (inj), Hibbert (inj), Coleman (inj), McCarthy (inj), Oviedo (inj)

League Positions