Will Stamford Bridge remain a bad place for the Toffees?
Everton have won just one of their last ten Premier League games (two draws, seven defeats). With only five points from a possible 30, the Toffees are in a crisis and are only seven points clear of the relegation zone. The Merseyside club now need a turnaround at the reigning Champions League winners, of all places.
The Londoners have lost the top spot in the table to Manchester City and have only won three of their last six league games. However, given the Toffees’ crisis ahead of the Chelsea-Everton clash, the odds are clearly swinging in the direction of Thomas Tuchel’s side.
It is worth noting, however, that the Pensioners have lost some of their defensive stability of late. Chelsea conceded eight goals in the last three games alone – as many as they had conceded in the previous 18 games. Against this background, it is by no means out of the question that the Toffees will at least manage to score at Stamford Bridge.
There is therefore a lot of value in betting on both teams to score against Everton.
Chelsea – Statistics & current form
Just under a year ago, Thomas Tuchel was still on the bench at Paris Saint-Germain for the last time. Then, after his sacking, things moved quickly and the coach signed on at Stamford Bridge, where he not only led Chelsea FC to fourth place in the final table of the Premier League, but also won the Cup of Henkel for the second time since 2012.
The Blues also made an attempt to win the Premier League championship for the first time since 2017 at the start of the new season. However, after nine consecutive matchdays in first place, the Londoners relinquished the top spot to defending champions Manchester City.
Unbeaten in 26 league home games against Everton
Only three of their last six league games have been won, which means they are now two points adrift of the Sky Blues, who have already submitted against Leeds. Accordingly, Chelsea need the three points at home against the Toffees to prevent the gap from growing to five points.
The home record against the Merseyside team is particularly encouraging. The Pensioners are now unbeaten against Everton in 26 home games in the Premier League (15 wins, eleven draws). Only against city rivals Tottenham was there once a longer run (27 games between 1990 and 2016).
Eight goals conceded in last three competitive matches
However, the Blues have recently lost their initially enormous compactness and defensive stability. With eleven goals conceded from 16 games, Thomas Tuchel’s team is the second-best defensive team in the Premier League behind Manchester City, but they have conceded a total of eight goals in the last three games alone.
Accordingly, some resistance from the Toffees cannot be ruled out, which is why betting on goals on both sides is preferable for Chelsea against Everton. With Ben Chilwell injured in the knee, an important piece of the puzzle in the defensive gear of the Pensioners is missing.
Predicted Chelsea line-up:
Mendy – Rudiger – Silva – Azpilicueta – Alonso – James – Jorginho – Loftus-Cheek – Werner – Mount – Havertz
Last matches played by Chelsea:
Premier League
12/11 2021 – Chelsea London 3 – 2 Leeds
Champions League Grp. H
12/08 2021 – Zenit St. Petersburg 3 – 3 Chelsea London
Premier League
12/04 2021 – West Ham 3 – 2 Chelsea London
12/01 2021 – Watford 1 – 2 Chelsea London
11/28 2021 – Chelsea London 1 – 1 Manchester United
Everton – Statistics & current form
Everton Football Club have won nine national championships and five FA Cups. In recent years, however, the team from Liverpool always failed to catch up with the top flight of the Premier League.
Rafael Benitez, who won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013 and led city rivals Liverpool FC to the Champions League (2005) and the English Championship (2006), was the next star coach to join the club this summer.
Seven defeats in the last ten league games
Currently, however, the Spanish head coach is under massive criticism. The reason for this is the downward slide that the Merseyside club has experienced in recent weeks. Seven of the last ten league games have been lost (one win, two draws), with only five points out of a possible 30 being scored during this period.
This means the Toffees are already on eight defeats from their first 16 league games, and with 18 points they clearly have their sights set on the bottom. The Champions League places they are aiming for are already eight points away.
Challenge and injury woes on the offensive
However, Everton’s problems are multifaceted. Not only is the offence simply too infrequent, scoring only 20 goals in 16 league games and with Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin currently missing the two most important players through injury.
The defence is also unstable at times, having already conceded 28 goals. The Toffees, who have not won at Stamford Bridge in league play since November 1994, face a correspondingly difficult task. Benitez’s side travel as clear underdogs.
Predicted Everton line-up:
Pickford – Godfrey – Keane – Holgate – Coleman – Delph – Gray – Gomes – Doucouré – Townsend – Rondón
Last matches played by Everton:
Premier League
12/12 2021 – Crystal Palace 3 – 1 Everton
12/06 2021 – Everton 2 – 1 Arsenal London
12/01 2021 – Everton 1 – 4 Liverpool FC
11/28 2021 – Brentford 1 – 0 Everton
11/21 2021 – Manchester City 3 – 0 Everton
Chelsea – Everton Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
Head to head: 74 – 54 – 58
There have been a total of 186 meetings between the two teams so far and Chelsea clearly lead the head-to-head comparison with 74 wins. Everton have won three of their last five league games against the Pensioners, but all of those victories were at home. At Stamford Bridge, Everton are currently 26 matches without a win.
Chelsea – Everton Tip
For Chelsea against Everton, the prediction must take into account the Toffees’ recent slump. However, the fact that the Pensioners have also lost their defensive stability recently, conceding eight goals in their last three competitive games, should not go unmentioned. Against this background, at least one goal by the visitors cannot be ruled out.
While the Londoners remain clear favourites, especially as they have not lost a home game against the Toffees since November 1994, we still find the greatest value in betting that both teams will score.
