Everton vs Chelsea: preview
We discuss the predictions for the match between Everton and Chelsea in the context of the 7th matchday of the 2026/27 Premier League.
In the season, Everton has not lost a single match, but now the hurricane Chelsea arrives, which on a good day can crush almost any team.
Key points
Everton
1. Everton has not lost eight consecutive matches
The run continued after the international break with a 2:2 draw at home against Hull City. Everton usually does not play very productive matches, but they showed a spectacle in the second half: they scored two goals and conceded two, losing the victory by a goal in the 74th minute.
In total, Everton has zero defeats in the Premier League and the English League Cup in eight matches, but the victories remain insufficient. In the first six league matches, they beat Crystal Palace (2:0) and Ipswich Town (1:0) and also secured four draws. Thanks to a more stable defense, the iris are above Chelsea in the table according to additional indicators. Together with Brentford and Manchester City, they remain teams without defeats in the Premier League.
2. David Moyes can repeat the lineup from the Hull City match
Among Everton’s regular players, only the left‑back Vitaly Mikelonko is absent due to injury; Jarrad Branteit takes his place, and Michael Kin returns to the centre of defence. Overall, David Moyes has no reason to change the lineup, and in the early matches he did not alter the initial formation much. Before the encounter with Chelsea, there was a full week of preparation, an ideal format for stability.
3. Will Everton lose its first match of the season?
The four victories in the Premier League and the League Cup were achieved with impeccable defence. In the six league matches, they have conceded five goals, a level comparable to leaders Manchester City and Arsenal. Playing against Chelsea, the most entertaining team in the Premier League, will be very difficult in the goal exchange, despite the positive past statistics: six wins and a draw in eight previous home matches. If Everton becomes the pursuer, even securing a draw will be problematic.
Chelsea
1. Every Chelsea match is a party
After the international break, Chelsea returned with a home rout against the strong Burnley (5:1). And if Juan Pedro’s goal‑scoring ability has accustomed us, seeing two goals from veteran Jordan Henderson was surprising.
A fun game has nothing to do with stability. The Londoners do not repeat in six consecutive matches; after a win comes a draw or a loss and so on. In one night, the victory over Brighton (4:3) with a near comeback from the opponent, then a decent battle with Arsenal (1:2), and then a will‑less defeat against Brentford (0:3) away. Chelsea is variable, and the version we will see at Hill Dickinson probably doesn’t even know Habi Alonso.
2. The return of Moisés Caicedo added balance to the blue team’s play
The Ecuadorian midfielder, before the international break, played minimal minutes against Brighton, leaving with an injury. The long break allowed him to recover well; already with Burnley we saw a completely different Chelsea. Moisés Caicedo took the game in midfield, linking defence and attack. That midfielder was very needed for Alonso.
Juan Pedro also returned to the lineup. The striker missed the match against Brentford, where Chelsea did not score and lost by a rout. With Burnley, the Brazilian striker scored a brace.
3. Chelsea lost every Premier League match
Throughout the season, the defence played reliably only in the first phase of the English League Cup against Luton Town (2:0). Can we talk about a problem? For example, Brighton and Leeds United are still beaten with only three goals conceded. From a distance, this will be reflected, but today Chelsea remains not a rival of Arsenal and Manchester City.
With a goal conceded by Everton, it can be attempted, if all the good in the attack remains. Thanks to the class of the forwards and the powerful offensive action, two or three goals can always be expected.
Approximate lineups
4-2-3-1 3-4-2-1 1-1-1
Pickford 4 Branteit 5 Kin 6 Tarovski 2 Meitland‑Niles 45 Armstrong 37 Garner 10 Grish 8 Duesbury‑Hall 22 Johnson 11 Barry 1 Martinez 34 Achimpong 5 Lacroa 6 Colville 7 Neto 25 Caicedo 14 Henderson 29 Chavarria 10 Palmer 17 Rodgers 9 Pedro
Betting trends
In the season, Everton has not lost a single match. In Chelsea’s last five matches, two defeats and a draw. 1X costs 1.70. In the last six personal meetings there was no goal exchange. OZ-no costs 2.30.
Forecast
Everton vs Chelsea 17.10.2026 15:30
Everton in the Premier League and the English League Cup has not lost any of the eight matches. The defence seems very good, in terms of goals conceded, the team is at the level of leaders Manchester City and Arsenal. The statistics of the last personal meetings at home with Chelsea are also purely positive: six wins and a draw with only one defeat. Does this indicate a good result on Saturday? They come to play the hurricane Chelsea, ready to open the game on both sides. The Londoners can concede three goals, as they did with Brighton and Leeds United, and still win. In open football, Everton probably has no chance to win, even a draw would be problematic.
Chelsea, on the other hand, received reinforcement with healthy Moisés Caicedo. The midfielder played an excellent match against Burnley last week, which allowed Chelsea to win at home 5:1. If Everton enters the goal exchange, they risk not resisting. Earlier or later, the iris’s successful run will stop. And Chelsea seems to be the first obstacle.
Forecast: 1-2
