Everton host Chelsea FC on Sunday looking to break out of their recent funk before they enter the first international break of 2019. The Toffees have won just one match in their last six, and they will be hosting a side that they have not historically performed very well against.
The all-time series has seen 72 Chelsea wins, 54 Everton wins and 54 draws. Will Sunday see a deviation from the trend? Will the Evertonians make their presence felt in the top four race? Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides, starting with the hosts.
Seamus Coleman missed last week’s defeat at Newcastle United due to illness, but he could return to action here.
Striker Leighton Baines remains injured for the 11th place side while Phil Jagielka is a doubt.
Additionally, defender Kurt Zouma, as a Chelsea loanee, is ineligible to face his parent club in this Sunday matinee fixture. For the Blues, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is still working towards full match fitness as he continues to battle chronic back problems.
Van Ginkel remains out injured while Danny Drinkwater and Gary Cahill are too far out of favor to feature. Otherwise, the Blues are good to go.
Chelsea FC at Everton FYIs
Kickoff: Sunday, March 17, 4:40pm BST, Goodison Park
Chelsea Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Full match Preview and Series History: go to this link
Google Result Probability: Chelsea win 49%, Draw 27%, Everton win 24%
Odds via Sport Pesa: Chelsea 19/20, Draw 53/20, Everton 31/10
Prediction: Chelsea 2, Everton
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.