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Match preview
Will Chelsea’s improved form continue?
The Blues come into this one having won three on the spin for the first time since mid-October.
Having narrowly beaten Leeds 1-0, Graham Potter’s team prevailed 3-1 at Leicester a week ago, with Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovačić all on target.
Remarkably, this was the first time Chelsea had scored 3+ in any game since demolishing Wolves 154 days earlier.
Despite that, the Blues remain tenth, five points off the potential European spots and 11 points adrift Tottenham in fourth.
In-between those two league wins, Potter’s team beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, with Raheem Sterling and Havertz on target.
Before then, will Chelsea leapfrog local rivals Fulham into ninth with another win here?
Everton’s need for points is far greater, starting the weekend 15th, just one point clear of danger.
Last weekend, they made it three home wins out of four under Sean Dyche, beating Brentford 1-0, with Dwight McNeil on target after just 35 seconds.
While the Toffees’ home form remains impressive, they continue to be wretched away from Goodison Park.
Since their sole away win of the season on 1 October, the Blues have played nine times in all competitions, losing six, drawing the other three, conceding multiple goals in seven of these fixtures.
Meanwhile, Everton are winless in 33 visits to Stamford Bridge, excluding a penalty shootout win in the FA Cup 12 years ago.
Their most-recent league victory there came in November 1994, Paul Rideout the scorer, with Neville Southall, who’s now 64 year old, between the sticks back then.
That fact is unlikely to change here.
Chelsea team news
After an impressive win over Leicester, Graham Potter is unlikely to change too much.
Reece James was rested at the King Power, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek filling-in, but is likely to return here.
In attack, Raheem Sterling picked up an injury against Dortmund, with Mykhaylo Mudryk getting a start in his place.
Alongside, Kai Havertz will be seeking to score in back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time since 13 March last year, the week Roman Abramovich was sanctioned.
When Chelsea beat Everton 1-0 on the opening day, it was Thomas Tuchel vs Frank Lampard, with Jorginho the only scorer; a lot has changed.
Predicted XI (5-2-3): Arrizabalaga; James, Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella, Chilwell; Fernández, Kovačić; João Félix, Mudryk; Havertz.
Everton team news
Similarly, after an impressive win and a week on the training ground, Sean Dyche could name an unchanged line-up.
Demarai Gray has excelled as the ‘false nine’, chosen over Neal Maupay, who’s only goal this season came in September.
Michael Keane’s recall the defence, chosen over Conor Coady, has reinvigorated the back-line.
At left-back, Ben Godfrey could keep his place, with Vitaliy Mykolenko missing out.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Keane, Godfrey; Doucouré, Gana Gueye, Onana, Iwobi, McNeil; Gray.
Chelsea vs Everton: Head to head statistics
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Premier League table
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