Everton vs Chelsea
Premier League 2018-19
Venue: Goodison Park
Date: Sunday, 17 March, 2019
Kick-off: 4:30pm GMT
Chelsea need a result on Merseyside on Sunday as Maurizio Sarri's Blues face Everton hoping to boost their chances of a Premier League top-four finish.
The Blues had the perfect chance to make themselves favourites for a top-four spot last weekend, but slipped up with a 1-1 home draw against Wolves as Arsenal beat Manchester United.
Maurizio Sarri's side can still go level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal - and even leapfrog them if they manage to win by six goals at Goodison Park - against Marco Silva's inconsistent Everton side.
However, the Toffees' recent stalemate against Liverpool shows that the Merseyside club have the tactical know-how to make this a cagey game for Chelsea.
Everton vs Chelsea team news and predicted line-ups
Gonzalo Higuain could return to contention after missing Thursday's 5-0 Europa League win at Dynamo Kiev.
Argentinian striker Higuain did not travel for the European tie due to illness and faces competition to regain his starting spot following Olivier Giroud's hat-trick in Ukraine.
Sarri, who appears to have no fresh selection issues, is expected to restore the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Jorginho and Eden Hazard to his starting line-up.
Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines are both in contention to return for Everton. Coleman was absent for last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Newcastle because of illness while Baines has not featured since the start of February because of a back injury.
Kurt Zouma will be unavailable to face his parent club while fellow centre-back Phil Jagielka is unlikely to return until after the upcoming international break.
Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Digne, Baines, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Chelsea XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Emerson, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Giroud, Hazard
Score prediction: Everton 2-2 Chelsea
The Toffees will be hampered by Chelsea loanee Zouma being ineligible, with Jagielka's expected absence leaving them short of centre-backs.
However, Chelsea have shown in recent weeks that they are far from solid, so expect a tight game on Merseyside with Silva battling to save his job.
Everton vs Chelsea tickets
For ticket information, click here to head to the Everton website.
Chelsea tickets are currently sold out.
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change
Match odds
- Everton to win: 31/10
- Draw: 11/4
- Chelsea: 19/20
First goalscorer odds
- Gonzalo Higuain: 4/1
- Eden Hazard: 9/2
- Olivier Giroud: 5/1
- Richarlison: 7/1
Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.
TV channel and live stream, and online coverage
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports' Premier League and Main Event channels, and is available via Now TV with a day pass on offer for £8.99. Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via SkyGo and the SkyGo app.
You can follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Chelsea have won 25 of the clubs' 53 Premier League meetings, with Everton winning just nine times along with 19 draws.
Their last two League meetings have ended 0-0, however.
