Everton had a big win last weekend against Nottingham Forest, but face a different challenge when they travel to London to take on 5th placed Chelsea.
David Moyes did not have anything new to report on
the injury front, but will get a couple of midfielders back for the Saturday afternoon game. Idrissa Gueye has completed serving his three-game suspension following his red card away at Manchester United, while Tim Iroegbunam also missed the Forest game after accumulating five yellow cards.
Hosts Chelsea will have star Cole Palmer available but Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk are suspended. Levi Colwill, Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia are all out injured, and Wesley Fofana faces a late fitness test after picking up an eye injury in the midweek Champions League defeat at Atalanta.
Who’s Out?
Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Merlin Röhl (hernia), and Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) are confirmed out, though the latter pair have resumed training – “Jarrad and Merlin are back on the grass and doing some work. Merlin is obviously much further on than Jarrad but they’re both back on the grass and hopefully we’re starting to see a chance to get them back soon. It would be a big help.”
Everton squad available vs Chelsea
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite (INJURED), Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson, Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Röhl (INJURED)
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish, Dibling, Alcaraz
Strikers: Beto, Barry
Tactics and Formation
Everton will likely stick to the 4-2-3-1 they’ve used so far.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 8/10
Michael Keane – 9/10
James Tarkowski – 9/10
Jake O’Brien – 8/10 O’Brien has been playing well, and Moyes will likely default to a more defensive mindset at Stamford Bridge.
James Garner – 9/10 He could be at right back, he could be in the middle, but Moyes will probably reunite him with Gana.
Idrissa Gueye – 8/10 Gana’s industry in the middle has been sorely missed over the last three games.
Jack Grealish – 8/10
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 10/10 KDH is the Blues’ most in-form player right now and even though he was incredible from a deeper role, his best spot is further upfield.
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10 Cannot receive enough plaudits for his workrate, and for creating Barry’s maiden goal last weekend.
Thierno Barry – 8/10 The striker is getting closer and closer (and closer and closer) to his first Everton goal Can finally stop saying this about the forward.
Bench
Mark Travers
Tom King – When was a third goalie ever needed?
Nathan Patterson
Adam Aznou – Has to be wondering when he’ll ever get proper minutes.
Tim Iroegbunam
Dwight McNeil
Tyler Dibling – See Adam Aznou above.
Carlos Alcaraz
Beto








