Chelsea
will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season in all competitions
when the host Everton on Sunday.
Less than 72 hours after a tricky Europa League game in Belarus, where they
were unconvincing in a 1-0 win over BATE, the Blues return to league action
on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm.
Chelsea have impressed this season after a disappointing 2017/18, with new
boss Maurizio Sarri keeping them within touching distance of leaders
Manchester City.
He has also been credited with the impressive start to the season for
midfielder Ross Barkley, who will come up against his old side for the first
time, if selected.
"I don't think it (the reception) will be the best," Barkley said ahead of
the game.
"I'm not nervous, I'm excited to play against my former club and team-mates
- I understand how some of them play, so that could be an advantage for me.
"On the day I might get a few nerves as it will feel a bit strange. I'm
looking forward to catching up with some of the staff there who I used to
get on really well with."
Despite Everton's bright start, questions have still been raised over the
Toffees' away form, having registered only one win on their travels to date.
But manager Marco Silva pointed to the circumstances surrounding the side
which had affected their early season on the road, and is confident they
will pick up points away from Goodison Park.
He said: "I don't have doubts that we will improve to the end of the season.
The first two away we played with 10 players and almost won.
"After we played Arsenal and Manchester United. They were more effective
than us. We had a very good win against Leicester and we were competitive in
all of them.
"I am sure we will improve this form. I don't have doubts about that."
Team news
Alvaro Morata, Marcos Alonso, David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger and N'Golo Kante
are expected to start for Chelsea in Sunday's Premier League clash with
Everton.
Morata, Alonso, Luiz and Rudiger were rested from the trip to Belarus,
staying in London, while Kante was an unused substitute after receiving a
late call-up due to Cesc Fabregas' illness.
Fabregas is a doubt for the Toffees game, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek may not
feature after a back complaint which boss Sarri described as minor.
Everton forward Richarlison is a doubt for their trip to Stamford Bridge.
The Brazil international, who rolled his ankle early in last weekend's 3-1
win over Brighton but played the full duration and scored twice, will be
assessed ahead of the match.
With on-loan defender Kurt Zouma ineligible against his parent club, there
could be a first Toffees start for fellow summer signing Yerry Mina. Phil
Jagielka and James McCarthy are available, while Jonjoe Kenny is another
doubt.
Opta stats
Chelsea are unbeaten in 23 home Premier League games against Everton (W13
D10) since losing 0-1 in November 1994.
In all competitions, Everton have won none of their last 28 visits to
Stamford Bridge against Chelsea (D11 L17).
Only one team has ever had a longer winless away run against an opponent in
Premier League history than Everton's current 23 against Chelsea - Spurs
went 25 away games without a win at Stamford Bridge between 1993 and 2016.
Everton have won one of their last 16 away Premier League games in London
(D6 L9), losing their last four in a row, all during 2018.
Chelsea are looking to remain unbeaten in their opening 12 games to a
top-flight season for only the second time, also doing so in 2014-15
(unbeaten in first 14).
Everton have lost 11 of their last 13 away Premier League games played on
Sunday (D2) since winning 2-1 at QPR in March 2015.
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas has had a hand in 10 goals in his last 10
Premier League games against Everton (5 goals, 5 assists).
If Chelsea avoid defeat here, Maurizio Sarri will set a new record for
longest unbeaten start in the competition by a manager (12 games),
overtaking Frank Clark's 11 games in 1994.
Coming into this matchday, no player has been involved in more Premier
League goals this season than Chelsea's Eden Hazard (11 - 7 goals, 4
assists).
Everton manager Marco Silva has lost all six of his away Premier League
matches in London - no manager has a worse 100 per cent losing rate in
London than Silva, with Nigel Pearson also losing six out of six in the
capital; only one manager has lost his first seven Premier League away games
in London (Mick McCarthy, who lost his first eight).
Merson's prediction
Chelsea put out a strong team at BATE Borisov, perhaps it was too strong. I
understand Eden Hazard needs the minutes but surely you'd rather him have
them against Everton rather than travelling all the way to Belarus. Chelsea
have a decent squad and will be there or thereabouts this season, but they
still need a proper goalscorer.
You only need to look at Alvaro Morata's late chance against Palace. Yes,
the game was won, but Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen,
Thierry Henry, Harry Kane and the like would have sealed their hat-trick
instead of trying to chip the goalkeeper, got the ball signed by everyone
and then gone home!
Everton have done well, especially with last week's big result against
Brighton, but Stamford Bridge will be too big a test for the Toffees.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
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