Everton v Chelsea - Match preview and odds

Premier League

Football
Published: 12/09/2015

12:45pm - Goodison Park

After a brief international break, the Premier League action gets back underway this weekend with a lunchtime kick-off between Everton and Chelsea on Merseyside.

Vulnerable Chelsea

Having had a mixed start to the season, Everton will be hoping that they can give their Premier League campaign a boost by beating a Chelsea team that has looked uncharacteristically vulnerable during their opening games.

Jose Mourinho’s men have only won one of their last six games in all competitions and occupy thirteenth place in the league, having gained just four points from their opening four fixtures. Their poor start means that they are already eight points adrift of league leaders Manchester City. Roberto Martinez’s team are only one point better off than their opponents but they have performed much closer to their own expected level.

Inconsistent Everton

Everton have not won any of their last four home games, having lost three and drawn one. Prior to that, they only lost one of their previous fourteen. It is this kind inconsistency that has often been a source of frustration for Everton fans during the reign of their Spanish Coach. However, it was away from home where they really struggled last term.

In the corresponding fixture last season Chelsea ran out winners by 3-6 score line but could only manage a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge.

The Toffee’s have only lost twice at home to Chelsea in the last seven Premier League meetings but both of those defeats came in the last three meetings. Overall, the team from Liverpool has won 46% of their home games against their opponents.

Team news

Everton still have seven players in the treatment room although Bryan Oviedo could return this weekend. Those that will definitely not feature include Tom Cleverly, Leighton Baines and Darren Gibson. Meanwhile Chelsea should have a full squad to choose from with Oscar and Victor Moses both expected to be fit.

Betting odds and tips

A win could see the home team briefly break into the top four before the start of the afternoon’s fixtures, while the home team could also make a significant move up the table by recording their second away win of the season.

Despite Chelsea’s recent blip in form, the bookmakers have placed them odds-on with a best price of 19/20 available. There have only been two draws in the last 13 Premier League meetings between the two teams so the 5/2 on offer does not look very good value.

Everton can be backed at 16/5 with bet365 and based on the season’s performances so far, this looks like the best value bet in the Winner’s Market.

In the anytime goal score market, Pedro could be worth a bet at the 45/17 price on offer from 888sport and unibet. Everton striker Romelu Lukaku can be backed at the same price to score against his former club.

For fans of correct score betting, the 15-1 on offer from bet365 for a 2-1 home win looks like a tempting price.

Go To bet365
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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (12/09/2015) but are subject to change.

12/09/2015     © Frixo 2024

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