Chelsea team news: Graham Potter without two key stars vs Everton as Paul Merson and Chris Sutton agree on Saturday match prediction
On Saturday evening, Chelsea will aim to secure their fourth consecutive victory in all competitions as they face Everton.
Graham Potter, the manager of Chelsea, will have to manage without Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount for their match against Everton at Stamford Bridge tonight, despite the team being in good form with three consecutive wins in all competitions.
The team will be looking to continue their winning streak against Everton, but they will need to perform at their highest level to avoid any unexpected setbacks. Chelsea lineup that may be chosen to secure a victory against Everton at Stamford Bridge
Goalkeeper – Kepa
Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to start in goal for Chelsea against Everton, as Edouard Mendy is still recovering from a finger injury sustained during training in January.
Although Mendy is expected to return soon, Kepa will take his place in the lineup ahead of Marcus Bettinelli. Kepa has kept 11 clean sheets for Chelsea in all competitions this season and will aim to maintain another shutout against Everton in the upcoming game.
However, it remains to be seen if he can effectively defend against the attacking threats posed by Everton’s Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray throughout the match.
Defence – Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella
Chelsea is likely to keep the same three defenders who played in their win against Leicester City last weekend. Kalidou Koulibaly will be in the center with Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella on either side of him.
Cesar Azpilicueta is still recovering from a concussion, and Thiago Silva is out due to knee ligament damage suffered during a match against Tottenham last month.
Given their limited options and their strong recent performances, it would be logical for Chelsea to stick with their current defensive lineup. The team has only allowed one goal in their last three games.
Midfield – James, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell
Graham Potter must decide whether to include N’Golo Kante, who is now fit after an injury, in the starting lineup against Everton.
However, it is likely that Kante will start on the bench so he can gradually regain his full match fitness.
This means that Enzo Fernandez will continue to play in midfield alongside Mateo Kovacic. Reece James may return to the starting lineup instead of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who could be dropped. Ben Chilwell has been one of Chelsea’s top performers in recent weeks and is expected to start at left wing-back.
Attack – Mudryk, Felix, Havertz
Chelsea may choose to maintain the same attacking lineup that helped them score three goals against Leicester last weekend, with Mykhaylo Mudryk retaining his position in the absence of Sterling and Mount.
Mudryk, a young winger who provided his first assist for the club in the last game, will aim to continue adapting to the demands of the Premier League by contributing more against Everton.
Joao Felix is expected to start again in attack, with Kai Havertz a possibility to play as the center forward position, following his impressive performance at the King Power Stadium.
Havertz scored a delightful lob for Chelsea’s second goal in the last match, and he could occupy the same role if Potter decides to stick with a successful strategy against the Foxes.
Possible Chelsea XI (3-4-3) – Kepa; Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella; James, Fernandez, Kovacic, Chilwell; Mudryk, Havertz, Felix.
Paul Merson and Chris Sutton agree on their Chelsea vs Everton prediction
According to former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, he believes that Chelsea will maintain their recent form.
Writing for BBC Sport, he said: “Chelsea seem to be finding a bit of form, at last. Wouldn’t it be something if they won the Champions League under Graham Potter, after such a difficult start for him at Stamford Bridge?
“First things first, though, they should take three points on Saturday. Everton are another team who are decent at home but dreadful away. They have a really tough run-in, by the way, so their form on the road will have to improve at some point if they are going to stay out of the bottom three.”
Sutton’s Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Former Arsenal player Paul Merson has agreed with Sutton’s prediction, and he has been impressed with the team’s recent turnaround under Potter’s leadership.
“Everton got a fantastic win against Brentford but they have a bunch of hard games coming up, so they really needed to get three points against the Bees. Chelsea, on the other hand, are finally showing signs of clicking under Graham Potter after the Englishman decided to revert to a three-at-the-back formation,” he said on Sportskeeda.
“Some of the football they played against Leicester was unreal. In the second half, they sliced through the Foxes like butter and carved them open, with Mateo Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez pulling the strings in the centre of the park.
“I said it before and I’ll say it again – these guys are massive dangers in the UEFA Champions League as there’s just too much depth and quality in that squad despite how their league campaign has turned out so far.
“Raheem Sterling no longer makes Chelsea’s best team anymore, as Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix and Kai Havertz led the line to devastating effect against Leicester. Sterling did get the winner against Borussia Dortmund, but Potter is finally showing signs of finding his best XI and if Chelsea continue to win games, will he change his team? For now, if I were him, I wouldn’t change anything.”
Merson’s Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Everton
Chelsea team news: Graham Potter without two key stars vs Everton as Paul Merson and Chris Sutton agree on Saturday match prediction
Chelsea team news: Graham Potter without two key stars vs Everton as Paul Merson and Chris Sutton agree on Saturday match prediction
