Michael Kenrick 25/04/2025 21comments  |  Jump to last

There are some truly dreadful statistics about the Premier League fixture looming for Everton this weekend at Stamford Bridge, that David Moyes would do well to knock on the head:

  • Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 29 Premier League home games against Everton – their longest run without defeat against the same opponent in the club's league history.

  • Everton last won a league game at Stamford Bridge in 1994.

  • The Toffees' 6-0 defeat last season is their biggest margin of defeat in this fixture since also losing 6-0 at Stamford Bridge in 1948.

So the stage is set for another logic defying deiplay by Everton under David Moyes, although changing the painful recent history will be made that much more difficult without James Tarkowski, whose run of 111 successive Premier League appearances comes to an end after he sustained a hamstring injury in the defeat against Manchester City last weekend.

On-loan forward Armando Broja is ineligible to face his parent club meaning Beto is likely to start up front, while Youssef Chermiti may be recalled to the matchday squad after he missed out on selection last weekend. 

Calvert-Lewin is some distance from being match-fit, while Orel Managala remains out for the season.

For Chelsea, defender Malo Gusto has been ruled out after he suffered a muscular injury in their win at Fulham. Marc Guiu, Wesley Fofana, Omari Kellyman and Mykhailo Mudryk remain out.

 

Reader Comments (21)

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Kunal Desai
1 Posted 25/04/2025 at 13:30:04
This isn't a very good Chelsea side. Cole Palmer has been out of form for sometime, lets hope he doesn't find his form tomorrow.

Control the game like we did against Forest and we can break that 30 year hoodoo.

Steve Brown
2 Posted 25/04/2025 at 13:45:40
This is the side I would like to see picked, as we need to make decisions on certain players:

Pickford
Patterson O’Brien Branthwaite Myko
Gueye Garner
Ndiaye Alcaraz McNeill
Broja.

I am guessing this will be the side picked:

Pickford
Young O’Brien Branthwaite Myko
Gueye Garner
Harrison Doucoure Ndiaye
Beto.

Dave Abrahams
3 Posted 25/04/2025 at 13:56:27
Chelsea will want the win tomorrow to help them try and get a top five place so they can join the European elite next season and gather a big financial gain but they have been hit and miss this season not consistent.

Everton are safe but will miss Tarkowski enormously in defence and can’t see anyone replacing him that will give me the confidence to believe Everton will get anything from this game except a draw.

How the defence lines up is anybodies guess but Moyes’s choice and hardly any fan agreed with the substitution he made last week—— O’Brien or “Oh fuckin’ no” at centre back with Patterson, Colman or Young all getting the thumbs down from different posters.

Good luck with that Moyes you’re on a loser whoever you choose!

Eric Myles
4 Posted 25/04/2025 at 14:03:12
Steve #2, as much as you would like to see Broja play he's ineligible as he's a Chelsea player.
Nigel Scowen
5 Posted 25/04/2025 at 14:31:10
Patterson, OBrien, Branthwaite, Myko to start in defence for me.

Time for a win at the Bridge me thinks 🤞

Liam Mogan
6 Posted 25/04/2025 at 14:38:20
Dave 3 - 'Oh fuckin no' 🤣🤣🤣
Neil Cremin
7 Posted 25/04/2025 at 14:47:25
I know that many are calling for O Brien to move in to replace Tarks but the for me, dare I say it, the biggest loss is Tarks leadership and direction not on his footballing ability. My biggest fear is that role will now fall to Pickford who in my option causes more confusion and will upset any pair of CH in front of him. At least Tarks could manage Pickford.

Hope I'm wrong but without any leadership in the heart of defence, I think we will be very vulnerable. Maybe its time for Branthwaite to step up and take control. I think it is a little too early for O’Brien to take on that role. Commet the hour, commet the man.

Agree with Dave #3 that no matter what decision is made Moyes will have made the wrong one.

Steve #2, even if Broja was available, Beto in my opinion offers more of a threat, works harder and is faster even if if his first touch is suspect.

Finally, on the constant shouts for Alcaraz to be included from the start, his more recent decision making on the pitch has been found wanting where he had options in a breakaway against City at 0:0 and took the wrong one. If that was Doucs, there would have been the usual uproar.

We have nothing to lose but I would like to see the likes of Chemitri (if fit) and Tim to be given more game time to assess the squad against top 6 contenders for next season.

Steve Brown
8 Posted 25/04/2025 at 15:01:31
Neil, I agree on Beto being the better attacking option away from home as he plays off the last defender’s shoulder. But, we do need to play Broja if we are to decide on his activation clause.

Granted he is ineligible for the Chelsea game - I forgot that.

I think Moyes has actually decided against signing Broja and Alcaraz on a permanent transfer already.

Mike Gaynes
9 Posted 25/04/2025 at 15:42:25
Neil #7, agree pretty much down the line.

Agree also with the universal sentiment that O'Brien must start next to Branthwaite. I don't care who plays RB, just get Jake into the middle.

Steve #8, Boyland at the NY Times reports Moyes and Everton are "unconvinced" by Alcaraz, and predicts the final five games to be an audition. The issue is clearly that he's a #10 and ONLY a #10, not a wing, where he's been tried. Moyes is also not enthralled with his passing, specifically the moment against City that Neil cites (I think it was the right decision, just a poor pass.)

I'd like to see him start in his best position for a couple of games -- it would have to be all five to trigger his purchase obligation -- but Moyes clearly prefers Doucoure.

Raymond Fox
10 Posted 25/04/2025 at 15:47:28
The betting is approx. 8/15 Chelsea 9/2 Everton 12/5 Draw.

The odds compilers are not fancying us it seems, which with Chelsea needing a win badly and us not so much I can see where they are coming from.

Its a shot to nothing for us so why not play an attacking formation.
Having said that we are not exactly stacked with such players.

Liam Mogan
11 Posted 25/04/2025 at 16:08:52
I don't think Alcaraz has been given enough of a chance. A handful of starts and substitute appearances out wide are not enough to make a decision on.

Seems like the club/Moyes are unwilling to automatically activate the transfer and that's driving his restricted minutes.

Mike Gaynes
12 Posted 25/04/2025 at 16:16:24
Agreed, Liam. Hope that changes. I really like the kid.
Steve Brown
13 Posted 25/04/2025 at 16:27:39
Liam/Mike,

Alcaraz gets castigated for a stray pass against City, but I have rarely seen Doucoure and Harrison do anything but give the ball away.

Certain players have been given endless chances, simply because they press, track back and cover.

When a manager picks a player for his ability without the ball, then it says a lot about standards in the squad.

Joe McMahon
14 Posted 25/04/2025 at 16:39:54
This is going to be tough. No Tarks, and David Moyes record against all the big boys. The 29 PL home games v Everton doesn't count the one Martinez got, as John Terry was about 6 ft offside in the 98th minute when he made it 3-3. Yes I'm clutching at straws at another horrible fixture for Everton.

I so want to be wrong, but this has another Everton defeat written all over it. Just hope we do finish above Wolves & WHU to avoid 17th. Negative me I know.

David Bromwell
15 Posted 25/04/2025 at 16:40:07
Re Neil, no 7, agreed leadership and organisation will be key if we are to get anything from this game so surely if he is fit Coleman should at least start the game, with Harrison helping him out.
Derek Knox
17 Posted 25/04/2025 at 16:50:56
Steve and Liam, spot on there with Alcaraz, can never understand the dogged persistence with Harrison and Doucoure who rarely produce anything. One thing with Alcaraz though is his impetuosity, he has been yellow carded for kicking or throwing the ball away. Just a rush of stupidity.
Martin Farrington
18 Posted 25/04/2025 at 16:59:18
I cant see anything other than a Chelsea "return to form" for this encounter and Palmer bracing the net.
Pix, OB, Myk, Bran, OFN, Harr, Illy, Gueye, Garn, duc, beto
Steve Brown
19 Posted 25/04/2025 at 17:03:01
Joe, we were 16th when Dyche departed, so progress is finishing the season higher than that.

We have not won in our last 29 league visits to Chelsea, so it is fair enough to be pessimistic.

John Hall
20 Posted 25/04/2025 at 17:50:39
Bring back Holgate to shore up our defence (said no one ever!)
Jay Harris
21 Posted 25/04/2025 at 17:59:17
I love these stats that say we haven't won there in 29 games but ignoring the fact that to my mind many have been draws which is very creditable against a billion pound squad who managed to dodge PSR.
It is a major blow to lose Tarks as we were quite settled and solid at the back so something has to give.
Chelsea are mainly a play from the back type of side with a reluctance to play it long so with Jarrad and Jake both having pace it might be time to try a higher line and push up the pitch.
We need to watch out for cuceralla who plays a wandering wing back role so if we play Patto he will need Harrison to support him.
I just wonder if Seamus is still up to it as I would love him to see the season out.
Brent Stephens
22 Posted 25/04/2025 at 19:03:46
U21s showing how to do it, against Man Utd. Sherif shot in the first minute (he'll live!). 1-0

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