Chelsea vs Everton
Aside from an FA Cup victory on penalties in 2011, you have to go back to 1994 for the last time Everton won at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.
So, if they were to end that record on Monday night, it’s fair to say it would provide some Premier League highlights to savour for the Toffees.
It’s the return to Stamford Bridge of Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti and the Italian will always have a place in the hearts of the Chelsea faithful for achieving something there that no one else has ever managed – a Premier League and FA Cup double.
However, it will arguably be an even greater achievement if the veteran Italian can guide his current club into the Champions League next season.
Win on Monday night – when the fourth placed hosts take on the fifth placed visitors – and that possibility will suddenly gain more weight.
Talking Points
Everton are certainly in fine form and have enjoyed some impressive results on the road recently, not least when they ended their Merseyside derby drought in fine style.
Yet this is very much a clash of two sides in form.
Chelsea remain unbeaten since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival, at home and abroad.
and their most impressive win to date also came at the home of Everton’s city rivals Liverpool on Thursday night.
The Blues have the third-best home form in the league this season, collecting 23 points from 13 matches, while Ancelotti’s Everton have won each of their last three in the Premier League without conceding, which has seen them move to within a point of Monday night’s opponents with a game in hand.
Indeed, only runaway leaders Manchester City (20) have won more matches than Everton (14) in England’s top flight this term, so a positive result at Stamford Bridge would leave the Merseyside Blues in a strong position ahead of three winnable games against Burnley, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion.
To do so, they could do with their talisman James Rodriguez who, along with captain Seamus Coleman and Tom Davies, are all expected to feature in the squad, although may not be ready to start.
Midfielder Allan is expected to be in the starting line-up though after recovering from injury, while in-form Gylfi Sigurdsson is making it hard for Ancelotti to leave him out.
Yerry Mina and Fabian Delph are definitely missing.
Chelsea could welcome back experienced defender Thiago Silva, who has been struggling with a thigh problem, although Tuchel is unlikely to take any risks when it comes to the Brazilian.
If so, Andreas Christensen – who performed well at Liverpool on Thursday night – is likely to retain his place at the heart of the defence.
Top scorer Tammy Abraham remains a slight doubt with an ankle problem but the west Londoners are otherwise in excellent shape and with Timo Werner showing signs improvement in recent weeks, he will spearhead the home attack once more.
It’s Monday night at the Bridge and it should be an entertaining affair.
History
Paul Rideout was the matchwinner back in October 1994, the last time the Toffees won a league game on Chelsea turf.
Much has changed since then but, while Chelsea have not lost any of their subsequent meetings in the capital, they have also been frustrated by the Merseysiders.
Chelsea have won 14 with 11 draws in the last 25 meetings.
Overall, Chelsea have a total of 73 victories compared to 57 Everton wins and 53 draws.
Last season in this fixture – almost a year to the day – Chelsea ran riot with a 4-0 thrashing of the Toffees as Mason Mount, Pedro, Willian and Olivier Giroud were on target.
Earlier this season, Ancelotti guided his current employers to a 1-0 success at Goodison Park when a Sigurdsson penalty was enough to separate the sides.
Betting Tip
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Chelsea vs Everton | Double Chance Everton or Draw @ 2.32 |
| March 9, 02:00 (GMT+8) |
Chelsea have the edge with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds.
If you fancy a home win, then look closely at Chelsea 1X2 @ 1.58 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.06.
Everton, meanwhile, are available 1X2 @ 5.60 or Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 1.84.
It’s clear this is expected to be a tight game but whether there will be many goals or not has clearly baffled our experts too, given that Over 2.50 goals is priced @ 1.92 and Under 2.50 goals @ 1.98.
I do not expect a repeat of this fixture last season – correct score 4-0 is priced @ 29.00 – but the draw @ 3.85 has caught my eye.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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