Chelsea try to finish a winless run of 4 video games once they tackle an Everton facet who’ve received 4 of their previous 5 matches.
BBC Sport examines among the key themes going into Saturday’s assembly at Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea in want of a win
Chelsea’s drop-off in kind continued in midweek as they let a one-goal lead slip to within the Champions League on Tuesday.
The result’s reflective of underwhelming performances within the Premier League in current weeks. A reputable draw in opposition to leaders on 30 November was adopted by a shock defeat at Elland Street, earlier than Chelsea laboured to a goalless stalemate at
It’s the second time this season that Chelsea have gone three Premier League matches with out profitable and their present tally of 25 factors after 15 video games is six fewer than at this stage final season.
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There was a major decline in Chelsea’s underlying numbers in each defence and assault throughout their present winless run and Enzo Maresca should as soon as once more cope with out the providers of key midfielder Moises Caicedo, who serves the ultimate recreation of a three-match suspension.
Chelsea have struggled in assault and defence in current matches [BBC]
Everton goal first league win at Chelsea since 1994
Chelsea haven’t misplaced at house to Everton within the Premier League for 31 years and whereas the fixture could look like a welcome one on paper, Caicedo’s absence might show essential in opposition to the in-form guests.
That is the quickest Everton have reached 24 factors since 2020-21, when Carlo Ancelotti was supervisor and James Rodriguez operated at quantity 10.
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The Toffees remained seventh – their present place in 2025-26 – till March of that season, once they went to Stamford Bridge and misplaced 2-0.
Everton then received simply three of their closing 12 video games to fall away from the European locations and end tenth.
Ancelotti left in June 2021 and took maintain through the subsequent reigns of Rafael Benitez, Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche, which resulted in two scrapes with relegation.
We could also be at an earlier stage of the present marketing campaign, however the journey to Stamford Bridge nonetheless looks like a litmus take a look at of Everton’s functionality to problem for European soccer for the primary time since Ancelotti’s departure.
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Dewsbury-Corridor returns to Chelsea
Whereas Rodriguez could now not be in situ, Everton can nonetheless name on a formidable quantity 10.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor joined Everton from Chelsea for an preliminary £24m final summer season after struggling for normal soccer in west London and he has excelled on Merseyside, lacking only one recreation due to suspension.
[BBC]
The 27-year-old’s kind has surged in current weeks, scoring the , a goal-of-the-month nominee in opposition to and starring in Everton’s maiden Premier League win at Bournemouth.
He then scored once more within the final weekend, an integral a part of Everton’s run of 4 wins in 5 matches regardless of dropping right into a number-eight function to cowl for the suspended Idrissa Gueye.
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“He’s a very good footballer, a devoted footballer,” stated supervisor David Moyes after the win over Forest. “We’ve got given him the prospect to play commonly which he missed at Chelsea. He is needed to play deeper, however his performances have been superb.”
The quandary for Moyes now’s whether or not to stay or twist, with Gueye as soon as once more accessible – however just for one recreation till he travels to the Africa Cup of Nations, together with winger Iliman Nidaye.
Dewsbury-Corridor will likely be determined to make an affect in opposition to his former employers no matter his chosen place, though former Everton midfielder Leon Osman believes that his long-term future is in a deeper function.
“His finest place will likely be as a quantity eight, just a little bit deeper and field to field,” he stated.
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“However that is not taking away from the very fact he is performed additional ahead due to the make-up of the workforce and has nonetheless been certainly one of Everton’s finest gamers.
“He’ll play passes but additionally make channel runs both facet of the striker and never many quantity 10s try this.
“So he is doing that brilliantly however I believe as his profession progresses, and Everton progress as a workforce, there’s each likelihood he’ll make his manner just a little additional again.”