Chelsea travel to Merseyside knowing a win over Sean Dyche’s struggling Everton will see them go top of the Premier League, temporarily at least, with Liverpool facing Tottenham in the late game on Sunday.
By Alex Roberts
Enzo Maresca remains adamant Chelsea aren’t ready to compete for the Premier League title, however, despite winning their last five league games, making them the most in-form side in the English top-flight.
Everton will have had over a week’s rest after their dogged 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the previous round of fixtures, taking them three points above Ipswich in 18th, although the relegation zone’s skeletal fingers still grasp at their heels.
Everton’s tough run continues
The Toffee’s easily have the hardest run of fixtures throughout the festive period. A point against Arsenal was a good start but upcoming games with Man City, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth after the Chelsea game, means Dyche needs to get something out of this one.
Dyche is the Ronseal of managers, he does exactly what it says on the tin. Everton’s defence is solid, failing to concede in four of their last five league games, but with that comes a worrying lack of goals.
Dwight McNeil remains their top league goal scorer with three, but he hasn’t bagged in seven games and Everton don’t seem to have many other ideas.
Title race? Not a chance!
At this point last season, eventual Premier League champions Man City were on 34 points after 16 games, the exact same as Chelsea. Maresca has taken one of the hardest jobs in football in his stride, but don’t you dare call them title contenders.
Not only are they winning game after game, but they’re also doing it in style, scoring 37 goals, making Chelsea the most potent side in front of goal in the league, with Cole Palmer leading the way having scored 11 goals.
The last time the West London club played Everton, they ended up as 6-0 winners, with Palmer scoring four goals, which is remarkably not the last time he’d do that.
Where would Everton be without Jordan Pickford?
In the Championship probably. Yes, there has been the odd high-profile error, but the England goalkeeper has been key to Everton’s continued survival in the Premier League over the last few seasons.
That became abundantly clear in their 0-0 draw with Arsenal. Pickford ended the game having made 10 recoveries, five saves, and had 49 touches, keeping Dyche’s side in it as they faced wave after wave of Arsenal attack.
Enzo Fernández is worth every penny
It’s taken nearly two years, but Enzo Fernandez is finally starting to show exactly why Chelsea spent the big bucks to secure his signature after his impressive 2022 World Cup campaign.
The central midfielder scored seven goals and provided three assists throughout the entirety of last season (40 appearances); he’s managed to beat that goal contribution tally in his last seven games across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing seven assists.
Prediction
Chelsea are doing a much better job of dispatching teams they should be beating this season. Everton’s defence full of man mountains won’t make it easy, but we’re going to go with 2-0 to Maresca’s side.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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