Chelsea vs Everton tips and predictions: Tricky Toffees to respond to latest points deduction

Chelsea’s development under Mauricio Pochettino has been modest but visible, with the Argentinian winning a third of games pre-Christmas and half since.

Ninth would be seen as an underachievement given the vast amounts of cash invested, but it’s not entirely his fault the club has assembled an expensive collection of individuals.

The club have spent over £850m across two weekends so a ninth-place finish would go down as a failure, but there’s still the chance of European football.

Everton are fighting their fight at the opposite end of the table, recently docked points for the second time this season and just two ahead of Luton.

Their last deduction elicited a fantastic response with Sean Dyche’s side going on a winning run and they’ll need to do the same now to guarantee their safety.

Everyone at the bottom face some winnable games and the Toffees have to travel to Kenilworth Road in May, so bonus points at Stamford Bridge would go down a treat.

Chelsea have found their shooting boots in recent weeks but playing a more expansive game has come at a cost. The Blues have scored 20 and conceded 15 in seven matches.

They’ve become the league's entertainers with no fewer than seven stoppage-time goals in seven matches, five of which decided where the points went.

Everton rarely provides such drama anyone looks capable of scoring against Chelsea and they have the necessary weapons to strike on the break.

 

Team news

Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Levi Colwill, Reece James and Lesley Ugochukwu are expected to miss out.

Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi and Ben Chilwell are doubtful, while Robert Sanchez and Raheem Sterling are suffering from illness.

Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gana Gueye will return on Monday James Garner and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are expected to shake off training knocks to join them.

Arnaut Danjuma, Andre Gomes, Lewis Dobbin and Dele Alli have been ruled out.

 

Key stats

- Chelsea have scored 20 goals in their last seven matches
- Chelsea have conceded 15 goals in their last seven matches
- Everton won four of five after their last points deduction
- Everton are unbeaten in four of five meetings

 

Suggested bets

Everton +0.5 Asian handicap

Both teams to score

Over 2.5 goals