Unbeaten Toffees up against Xabi Alonso’s scoring machine. Everton vs Chelsea prediction
Everton and Chelsea will meet on Saturday, October 17, in the seventh round of the English Premier League. The match will be played at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, with kickoff at 13:30 CET. I am backing a winner in this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- Everton are unbeaten in ten consecutive matches.
- Chelsea have conceded in each of their previous six matches.
- At least three goals have been scored in each of Chelsea’s previous six matches.
- The Londoners have scored 7 of their 15 goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches.
- Everton have scored against Chelsea in just one of their previous five head-to-head meetings.
- Chelsea have beaten Everton in Liverpool just once in the last nine years.
Everton: backing structure and home advantage
Everton have made a confident start to the season, although they have not always turned promising spells into victories. After six rounds, the team have collected ten points: two wins and four draws, with no defeats. The Merseyside side have conceded just five goals, a figure that reflects David Moyes’ priority of ensuring defensive solidity.
Everton look particularly well organised at home. The team beat Crystal Palace 2-0 and edged past Ipswich 1-0. Against more high-profile opponents, the Toffees have also shown that they can impose themselves in a contest: their meeting with Manchester United ended 2-2, while their trip to Tottenham produced a goalless draw.
In the previous round, Everton drew 2-2 with Hull. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall equalised, and Thierno Barry put the team ahead, but they were unable to hold on to their advantage. The match showed that the team can create chances and grow into games, but defensive concentration remains a key concern, particularly when opponents increase the pressure late on.
Much will depend in attack on the link-up between Jack Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall and Barry. Grealish helps connect midfield with the attack and carry the ball forward, while Barry must exploit the space in behind the defenders and get on the end of passes into the box. Against Chelsea, the hosts must not only remain compact defensively but also transition quickly into counterattacks: sustained pressure from the Londoners could force Everton to retreat too deeply towards their own goal.
Chelsea: a vibrant attack and fresh momentum after a thrashing
Chelsea head to Liverpool after an emphatic 5-1 victory over Bournemouth. Before that, the team had suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brentford, so the latest result was an important response to the criticism. After six Premier League matches, the Londoners have ten points, meaning a win over Everton would cement their place in the upper half of the table and keep their upward momentum going.
The star of the meeting with Bournemouth was Jordan Henderson. The veteran scored twice and provided an assist, opening the scoring as early as the second minute. At 36 years and 115 days, he became the oldest English player to score for Chelsea in the Premier League since John Terry in 2017. The experienced midfielder’s contribution gave the team not only goals but also confidence.
Joao Pedro, who scored twice against Bournemouth, is no less important. The Brazilian is among the league’s most productive players at the start of the season, with five goals and three assists in the Premier League. In 2026, he also remains one of the most prolific players in the division in terms of goal contributions.
At the same time, Chelsea cannot yet be described as a fully balanced team. The Londoners previously conceded three goals against Brentford, while the meetings with Brighton and Hull were also high-scoring affairs — 4-3 and 2-2 respectively. The team are capable of creating a large number of chances, but they sometimes leave opponents space for counterattacks.
Expected lineups
- Everton: Pickford, Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Garner, Armstrong, Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry.
- Chelsea: Martinez, Colwill, Lacroix, Acheampong, Neto, Chavarria, Caicedo, Henderson, Rogers, Palmer, Joao Pedro.
What should you bet on?
Chelsea look more dangerous in attack, especially after scoring five against Bournemouth, but their defensive inconsistency gives Everton a genuine chance. Along with Bournemouth and Newcastle, Chelsea have conceded more goals than any other team this season. The Toffees are playing at home and have already beaten the Londoners on their own turf, so this should be a competitive match. If Chelsea can produce their usual attacking level, they will certainly have a chance to claim victory. My pick is Chelsea to win with a draw-no-bet handicap.
