Chelsea vs Everton Prediction: Toffees can stifle Chelsea’s UCL bid

Chelsea will continue their pursuit for Champions League football next season when they take on Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (12:30, live on TNT Sports 1).

The Blues have lost just one of their last seven league encounters, although they were bailed out by two late goals away to Fulham last week, while defeat to Manchester City last time out snapped Everton's nine-game unbeaten run. Read on for my Chelsea vs Everton predictions, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Malo Gusto could miss the rest of the campaign after being forced off against Fulham last Sunday, joining Wesley Fofana in the treatment room.

With one eye on the Conference League semi-finals, Enzo Maresca could rotate his side this weekend, but fans will no doubt be buoyed by the long-awaited return of Romeo Lavia, who has missed the last five matches with injury. The Belgian was an unused substitute against Fulham but could feature from the off on Saturday.

As for the visitors, James Tarkowski is set to miss the rest of the season through injury, after he was forced off against Manchester City last week with a hamstring problem.

Orel Mangala also won't feature again this year after suffering an ACL injury back in January. Jesper Lindstrom is recovering from a hernia operation, while Armando Broja is ineligible to play as he can't play against his parent club.

Beto is expected to lead the line as Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Chelsea vs Everton Odds

The hosts are favourites to claim all three points at 3/5, giving them an implied win probability of 62.5%, with the draw available to back at 3/1, and an Everton win is 5/1.

Cole Palmer, who hasn't scored in 16 matches, netted four in this fixture last year and is favourite to score anytime at 11/8. Beto is shortest-priced for the visitors at 13/5.

Draw @ 3/1

Chelsea's dramatic 2-1 win over Fulham last weekend boosted their chances of qualifying for the Uefa Champions League next season, but there is little margin for error for the Blues heading into the weekend.

The top-four race is highly competitive as the likes of Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa are all competing for those precious UCL spots.

Maresca's side have been inconsistent since Christmas, and while they've only lost one of their last seven Premier League contests, they're too short for me to back here, so I'm going to play the draw as I believe that's where the value lies.

Everton have lost only two of their last 13 league matches - a 1-0 derby defeat at champions-elect Liverpool and last weekend's 2-0 loss at home to Manchester City, who scored twice in the final 10 minutes.

The reverse fixture was a 0-0 draw and I'm expecting a similar outcome on Saturday afternoon.

Michael Keane to receive a card @ 100/30

Michael Keane came on to replace Tarkowski after the 32-year-old went off injured in last week's defeat to Manchester City, and the latter is expected to be absent this weekend.

Keane had a tricky time after coming on against City, picking up a booking within a couple of minutes, and he looks a decent price to be cautioned again at Stamford Bridge.

The centre-back has been booked in four of his last seven top-flight starts for the Toffees, and the former Burnley man's rustiness may lead to a rash challenge or two.

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