Everton vs Chelsea is the upcoming fixture in the Premier League. Tuchel’s blues look to start of the campaign well, while Everton looks to fend off another relegation.

Everton vs Chelsea: Match Preview:

Everton narrowly escaped relegation last term, earning themselves a season-opener against Chelsea on Saturday evening.

The Toffees, spearheaded by Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer Frank Lampard, collected a crucial three points in this fixture last May. Thomas Tuchel’s Blues waded through plumes of smoke that day at Goodison Park and spent much of the campaign’s conclusion stumbling through the fog of uncertainty sparked by the club’s high-profile sale.

After neither side quite enjoyed the summer reset they both envisaged.

Everton vs Chelsea: Head to Head:

Chelsea have an impressive record against Everton and have won 74 out of the 188 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Everton’s 59 victories.

Everton have won each of their last four matches against Chelsea at Goodison Park – this is Chelsea’s longest active losing streak against a Premier League team away from home.

Team News:

Everton:

Everton boss Lampard revealed during Thursday’s pre-match press conference that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is facing six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury that he suffered in training.

Yerry Mina is fit and available and should start in the middle of the defence, but Salomon Rondon is suspended, which could see Demarai Gray operate through the middle with support from McNeil and Anthony Gordon.

Seamus Coleman, Tom Davies, Andre Gomes and Andros Townsend are all still unavailable, but Allan could be back in central midfield despite his recent fitness issues, with Lampard not having too many options in that area due to the club’s injury issues.

Tarkowski is set to make his debut in a back three, with Michael Keane potentially the player to drop out if Mina is deemed fit enough to take to the field for the first whistle.

Chelsea:

As for Chelsea, there is likely to be a debut at the back for Koulibaly, while Sterling could play in a front three with England teammate Mason Mount and Kai Havertz.

Timo Werner is a fitness doubt for the Blues due to a hamstring issue, while there is also widespread speculation surrounding his future, so the Germany international is not expected to be considered for a start.

Tuchel will also need to make a call on Cesar Azpilicueta amid the speculation surrounding his future, but it is believed that the Spaniard is now set to remain at Stamford Bridge.

Reece James and Ben Chilwell are set to feature as the wing-backs, with Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante expected to start in the middle of the park.

Predicted Line-ups:

Everton Starting 11: Pickford; Tarkowski, Keane, Godfrey; Patterson, Doucoure, Allan, Mykolenko; Gordon, Gray, McNeil

Bench: Lonergan, Holgate, Iwobi, Dele, Nkounkou, Vinagre, Mills

Chelsea Starting 11: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Havertz, Sterling

Bench: Arrizabalaga, Emerson, Gallagher, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic, Ziyech

EVE vs CHE: Dream11 Predictions: