Everton vs Chelsea: prediction, head-to-head, and probable line-ups – 21 March 2026
On Saturday, the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool will host one of the headline clashes of the Premier League’s Matchweek 31 as Everton welcome Chelsea. The hosts are looking to solidify their European ambitions on home soil, while the Londoners arrive desperate to recover from a painful Champions League exit and keep themselves in the hunt for a top-four finish. I suggest a bet on goals in this encounter.
Match preview
Everton come into this fixture as a side whose season is increasingly turning into a delicate balancing act between surging forward and slipping back. David Moyes’ men have alternated wins and losses with almost mathematical precision, and in the last round they nearly snatched a point from Arsenal, only to concede in the 89th minute and again at the death into an empty net. Still, eighth place and proximity to the European spots suggest the Toffees are having a much livelier season than many anticipated.
The main concern for the hosts is the situation with James Tarkowski, whose absence from the squad against Arsenal was glaringly obvious. If the captain misses out again, Everton’s back line will lose not just its leader but also its main reference point in terms of structure and toughness – especially against a team with plenty of agile players between the lines. That said, the Toffees know how to make these home games scrappy and uncomfortable, although they have yet to beat a top-half side at their new stadium.
Chelsea arrive in Liverpool emotionally battered after back-to-back defeats to PSG in the Champions League round of 16 and another slip-up in the league against Newcastle. For the first time in a long while, the team has lost three competitive matches in a row, and it’s no longer just a tough run of fixtures – the Blues’ play is plagued by squad turbulence and a distinct lack of their usual swagger. Yes, the PSG tie was a challenge of its own, but Chelsea’s league form is also starting to wobble.
Injuries and absences are only adding to the visitors’ nerves ahead of this trip. Several defenders are either doubtful or ruled out, Reece James is sidelined again, and constant reshuffling at the back has left the team searching for any kind of defensive stability. That makes the visit to Everton particularly tricky: Chelsea already have a poor away record at Goodison, and now, with confidence at a low ebb, they can hardly be considered clear favorites.
Probable line-ups
- Everton: Pickford, Mykolenko, Keane, Branthwaite, O’Brien, Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, McNeil, Beto
- Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Neto, Garnacho, Pedro
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the last round, Everton lost to Arsenal, conceding the decisive goal in the 89th minute, while Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League after two defeats to PSG.
- Chelsea have scored just two goals in their last eight away matches against Everton.
- No more than two goals have been scored in nine of the last 11 meetings between these teams.
Prediction
This looks like a match where the billing is bigger than the goal expectation. Everton at home will surely try to drag the game into a tight, physically demanding contest, while Chelsea in their current state are unlikely to risk open football given their own vulnerabilities. The hosts have a chance to rely once again on discipline and pressure in key moments, while the visitors must count on their greater individual talent up front – but right now, neither side looks particularly confident.
