12 Jun 2019
The final Premier League game before next week’s international break sees Chelsea facing a tough trip to Everton in their quest for a top four spot in the Premier League
Chelsea have had a punishing trip back from the Ukraine after securing a 5-0 win over Dynamo Kiev to reach the last eight of the Europa League on Thursday.
Maurizio Sarri’s side went through 8-0 on aggregate and they are now 11/4 second favourites behind Napoli (12/5) to win the Europa League, as they joined Arsenal, who are 7/2, having overcome a 3-1 first-leg deficit to beat Rennes 3-0 in the return leg in London.
Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, but the timing of this game, so quickly after long jaunt, is a cruel fixture for their game in hand.
The Genting Casino Premier League odds have Chelsea at 8/11 to finish in the top four, with Arsenal at 5/6 and fifth-placed Manchester United at 13/10.
Everton still have designs on European football themselves next season, despite sitting in the bottom half of the table in 11th spot. Seventh spot guarantees a place in the Europa League next season and they are just seven points behind Wolves, who currently occupy that spot.
Everton seek a first Premier League win over Chelsea in seven attempts, and they looked like gaining a seventh point in three games when they went 2-0 up at Newcastle last weekend, only to lose 3-2 at St James’ Park.
Defensively, they are still looking a little light. While holding Liverpool to a 0-0 draw, they have still leaked 17 goals at home in seven games to teams above them in the table. They are 3/1 to keep a clean sheet against Chelsea, who come here on the back of salvaging a point at home to Wolves last Sunday, thanks to an Eden Hazard stoppage-time strike.
The hosts have managed just four points from their last six games and while it would be churlish to suggest that manager Marco Silva is under pressure, more was expected of Everton at the start of the season and they have not delivered.
The Genting Casino football odds have Everton at 3/1 to win this clash, while Chelsea are 19/20 to secure a win that has become increasingly rare at Goodison Park in recent years. The Blues have won just four of their last 13 trips to Merseyside.
There have been just three draws in the last 20 meetings, although the last two clashes ended scoreless, and the draw is on offer at 5/2. It is 7/1 that the trend of 0-0 draws will continue.
HAZARD TO END GOODISON RUN?
Hazard has faced Everton at Goodison Park six times, but seeks his first goal there and is 17/4 to score the first goal and 6/4 to net at any time.
The Belgian’s tally of 13 strikes and 11 assists in the top flight has seen him involved in 48 per cent of Chelsea’s goals and he will be looking to get among the goals again, since he has not scored away from home since a brace on Boxing Day at Watford.
Chelsea have struggled for goals this season, with top scorer Hazard the only player to have managed double figures, and the Blues could be without Gonzalo Higuain, who did not travel with the squad to the Ukraine, the 31-year-old Argentina forward apparently had a fever.
Games won to nil have been a fairly regular occurrence in recent years, with both sides scoring in just four of the last 13 meetings. It is 3/4 for both teams to net on Sunday and 6/4 for Chelsea to keep a clean sheet, which they have managed five times in their last seven games in all competitions.
Those seeking potential Everton goalscorers might plump for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has has impressed since returning to the team, with two goals in his past three appearances. He is 14/5 to score at any time and 8/1 to score the first goal.
For all the odds on this vital Premier League game, click here.
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