Chelsea v Everton – Match Preview and Betting Tip
By winning the Europa League on Wednesday evening in Amsterdam, Chelsea have already ensured that the ‘interim’ managerial period of Rafael Benitez has been a successful one. Under usual circumstances, booting out a manager that had won a major European trophy and stabilised the club in the league during a transitional period would be something of a folly, but with Stamford Bridge’s attendees adamant that they want Rafa out, there is no prospect whatsoever of his relatively successful short-term tenure being made more permanent.
On this occasion it looks distinctly as if the fans are going to get what they want, much though it involves a rare climb down from Chelsea patriarch Roman Abramovich. Mourinho will soon be back in town, and no doubt the gutter press will be salivating with glee at the prospect that the Portugese will offer them some tasty bon mots to fill their back pages.
Benitez has already ensured that Mourinho will walk into a club with a strong and developing squad with Champions League football. But Chelsea could still finish fourth in the table if they fail to win here. This would necessitate them playing a qualifying match for the Champions League before the Premeir League begins next season, so this will be an eventuality that the Blues will be determined to avoid by beating Everton.
Meanwhile, Everton’s players will be hoping to send off their long-serving manager David Moyes with a win. This is Moyes’ final swansong before he joins Manchester United, in search of the trophies that simply seem beyond Everton’s modest budget. The Toffees are a team that simply never lie down, and one can expect them to be particularly determined here under the circumstances.
Having scored a brilliant individual goal in the Europa League final, Fernando Torres may be preferred to Demba Ba up front for the Blues. Frank Lampard may also feature, while John Terry is likely to be absent due to injury.
Last Six Meetings
Premier League – 30th March 2025 – Everton 1 – 2 Chelsea
Premier League – 11th Feb 2025 – Everton 2 – 0 Chelsea
League Cup – 26th Oct 2025 – Everton 1 – 2 Chelsea
Premier League – 15th Oct 2025 – Chelsea 3 – 1 Everton
Premier League – 22nd May 2025 – Everton 1 – 0 Chelsea
FA Cup – 19th Feb 2025 – Chelsea 1 – 1 Everton
Chelsea (possible 4-2-3-1)
Cech
Azpilicueta • Ivanovic • Cahill • Cole
Lampard • Ramires
Mata • Oscar • Hazard
Torres
Everton (possible 4-2-3-1)
Howard
Coleman • Distin • Jagielka • Baines
Gibson • Osman
Mirallas • Fellaini • Pienaar
Anichebe
Betting Prediction
Chelsea look the stronger of these two teams, and I expect them to see off Everton at home in a close game. It seems reasonable to assert that Chelsea have been the third best team in the Premier League this season, and they deserve to achieve the third-place spot.
Final Scoreline Prediction:Chelsea 2 – 1 Everton
Other Recommended Bets: Over 2.5 Goals, Both Teams to Score.
