The Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea on December 22, 2024, presents a compelling narrative for both teams. Chelsea, currently in contention for the league title, is just two points shy of the leaders and seeks a crucial victory at Goodison Park . Conversely, Everton's recent form shows promise; they recently drew with Arsenal and secured a commanding 4-0 win against Wolves. However, their current standing at 16th suggests ongoing struggles that may affect their performance against a higher-ranked opponent.
The west London club are unbeaten since October with their deficit to the league leaders a mere two points. They concluded their Conference League league phase on Thursday night with a 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers as Enzo Maresca once again used the extremities of his mammoth squad.
Everton fans have had the sweet relief of not having to watch their side too much this month, and Goodison is bound to be buoyant on Sunday given the news surrounding the Friedkins' takeover.
The Blues sit just two points behind leaders Liverpool and could replace them at the summit with three points on their final trip to Goodison Park, if only for a few hours at least.
While The Reds boast a game in hand and Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insists his team are not in the title race, moving top of the League would undoubtedly be a huge statement of intent.
Able to make sweeping changes to the side who beat Shamrock Rovers 5-1 in the Conference League on Thursday night, Chelsea would usually look strong favourites.
Everton possible starting lineup: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez; Caicedo, Tosin, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia, Enzo; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Prediction for Everton vs Chelsea
Chelsea are the clear favourites to win this game because they come into this game after winning eight back-to-back games.
Prediction: Everton 1-4 Chelsea
In terms of player availability, both teams face significant challenges. Everton's Dwight McNeil remains uncertain due to injury concerns while Chelsea will miss key player Marc Cucurella due to suspension . Both teams have shown defensive strengths recently; however, Chelsea's historical difficulties at Goodison Park—having lost five of their last six visits—may complicate their aspirations for an away victory.
Predictions for this match lean towards a narrow Chelsea win; analysts suggest that the odds favor them scoring over 1.5 goals during the match . As fans look forward to this encounter, broadcast options remain limited in certain regions. While US audiences can access live coverage through various platforms, UK viewers are restricted to radio broadcasts via BBC Radio 5 Live . This situation highlights the evolving landscape of sports media consumption amid growing interest in Premier League fixtures.
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