Chelsea have the opportunity to relocate to the top of the Premier League as they take a trip to deal with Everton at Goodison Park this mid-day. Victory would certainly take the Blues over Liverpool by a factor, a minimum of up until Arne Slot’s side face Tottenham later on today, and need to Spurs after that prevent loss, it will certainly be Chelsea investing Christmas up.
Enzo Maresca remains to urge his side are not in the title race yet they get on an eight-match winning run in all competitors and remain to excite. The Chelsea manager will certainly be pushed into a reshuffle in protection, with Marc Cucurella put on hold and the similarity Wesley Fofana and Reece James still wounded.
Everton rest just 3 factors free from the transfer area yet their kind has actually enhanced in current weeks. Sean Dyche’s side held Arsenal to a goalless pull in north London last weekend break, having actually whipped Wolves prior to that. The Toffees are unbeaten in their last 5 home suits. Follow all the activity with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog site listed below, including specialist evaluation from Malik Ouzia at the ground!
Everton vs Chelsea most current information
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Kick- off: 2pm GMT|Goodison Park
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How to view: Not on TELEVISION in UK
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Everton group information
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Chelsea group information
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Standard Sport forecast
Maresca supplies Guiu upgrade
12:26, Matt Verri
Enzo Maresca wishes to maintain Marc Guiu at Chelsea following month – yet states he prepares to pay attention if the demonstrator requires a January financing step.
It has actually been an exceptional week for the Spanish ahead, that complied with 2 objectives at Astana last Thursday with a hat-trick in the 5-1 knocking of Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League last evening.
With 6 objectives in all, the 18-year-old coatings the team phase as the competitors’s leading marker, yet Chelsea do not play the initial leg of their last-16 connection up until March and first-team mins might be tough ahead by in between once in a while.
He has actually not played a min in the Premier League considering that the opening day of the period.
There have actually currently been records of financing rate of interest in Guiu in the teen’s homeland and Chelsea might quickly have a choice to transform exactly how his advancement is ideal offered in the 2nd fifty percent of the project.
“With young players like Marc, like Josh [Acheampong], like Tyrique [George], for me, the best thing for them is to be with us,” said Marecsa.
“Because they can understand every day the way we want to play, they can grow, we can teach them how we want them to play.
“So, I think it’s better if they stay with us. But then it depends a little on the desire of the players.
“If in this case, Marc’s desire is to get more minutes and to play more, then we see we sit with him and we will decide together.”
Can Blues keep denying title bid?
12:15 , Matt Verri
The pretence plumbed comic new depths this week as, when asked the now obligatory question about whether Chelsea are in this title race, Noni Madueke chose extreme evasive action as the wisest course.
“I don’t know what that is,” the winger told the BBC, launching his head towards the sand and sounding a bit like Jack Grealish that time it was put to him that he was a ‘football encyclopaedia’.
“I feel like title race talk in December, I’m not indulging in that,” the 22-year-old added. “The race hasn’t even started yet.” How the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City must wish that were true.
A smirk told you that Madueke, as with Enzo Maresca and all of his players, is by now in on the joke and they must all know that come four-o’clock, the party line could become impossible to hold.
Should the Blues beat Everton on their final Premier League visit to Goodison Park they will, at least briefly, climb to the top of the Premier League. Should Liverpool then fail to win at Tottenham later this evening, they will still be there come Christmas Day. From that position, in the Premier League era, Chelsea have gone on to win the title five times out of five.
Read our full preview here!
Blues wave goodbye to Goodison
12:06 , Matt Verri
This is Chelsea’s final trip to Goodison Park in the Premier League – they won’t be too sad about that.
The Blues have won just twice in their last ten visits to face Everton, and they were beaten 2-0 here in December last year.
This, though, feels like a very different Chelsea team.
Standard Sport prediction
11:57 , Matt Verri
It has not been easy for Chelsea against Everton in recent years but this young team have been so impressive all season, it’s hard to look past them.
With the squad so strong, the midweek fixtures have not put an added strain on the first-team stars and the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson should once again be rested.
Chelsea to win 3-1.
Chelsea team news
11:50 , Matt Verri
Enzo Maresca may have to get creative to solve a defensive headache this afternoon.
Marc Cucurella is suspended after his late red card against Brentford last weekend and Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Reece James are all still out.
Tosin Adarabioyo will likely partner Levi Colwill at centre-back, while Malo Gusto is sure to play on one of the flanks, but Maresca must decide which of Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga and youngster Josh Acheampong fills in on the other.
Moises Caicedo would usually be an option at right-back, but Maresca has revealed that Romeo Lavia is struggling to recover from a hamstring injury in time to play and the Ecuadorian will therefore likely be needed in midfield.
Further forward, Joao Felix is available again after returning from injury as a substitute against Shamrock Rovers in midweek.
That Noni Madueke started against Shamrock is probably bad news for his chances of doing likewise at Goodison Park, with Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto rested and ready to come in.
Predicted Chelsea lineup: Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Veiga; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Everton team news
11:43 , Matt Verri
Armando Broja cannot play against parent club Chelsea due to the terms of his loan move to Everton.
Dwight McNeil faces a late fitness test but James Garner and Timothy Iroegbunam remain sidelined.
The game may also come too soon for Youssef Chermiti.
How to watch Everton vs Chelsea
11:35
TV channel and live stream: The game will not be shown in the UK.
Free highlights: Match of the Day 2 will show highlights when it airs at 10.30pm GMT on BBC One on Sunday.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here with us, featuring expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at the ground!
Good morning!
11:28 , Matt Verri
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Everton vs Chelsea!
Enzo Maresca’s side have the chance, for a few hours at least, to move to the top of the Premier League table.
Everton, though, have been in better form recently, holding Arsenal to a goalless draw last weekend.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 2pm GMT from Goodison Park.
