Everton vs Chelsea Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Only three Premier League sides are unbeaten this season, and Everton are one of them.

They host Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday morning NZT, with a 12:30am kickoff, and the two clubs are level on 10 points after six games. Everton are fifth on goal difference and Chelsea sixth, so there’s a bit of table pride riding on this one too.

Chelsea arrive off a 5-1 thumping of Bournemouth, and I think that result has shortened their price more than it should. I’ve gone through both camps in this Everton vs Chelsea preview, and my pick doesn’t need Chelsea to lose.

My main angle pays $2.75 for anyone comparing prices across football betting sites this week.

Everton

I kind of rate this Everton side more than the market does at the moment.

They’ve conceded five goals in six league games, with three clean sheets already. At Hill Dickinson Stadium it’s two wins and a draw, and only Manchester United have scored there.

The 2-2 at Hull on 11 October annoyed me. Everton had the better of the game, and Thierno Barry missed an open goal from inside the six-yard box before finally scoring in the 68th minute. Mohamed Belloumi then came off the bench to equalise six minutes later.

Brennan Johnson also had a first-half goal ruled out for offside after a VAR check, so it could easily have been a more comfortable afternoon.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was the best player on the pitch that afternoon. He headed in the equaliser from an Ainsley Maitland-Niles cross and then set Barry up, and his late arrivals in the box from the No 10 role are what I’d worry about most if I were Chelsea.

Team News: Mykolenko missed Hull after picking up a leg problem on international duty, and his fitness is unclear.

Predicted Lineup: Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Keane, Branthwaite; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.

Chelsea

Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth flattered them a bit.

Jordan Henderson scored twice on his home debut, including a 25-yard free-kick, and they were 2-0 up inside three minutes. But Bournemouth had their moments, and Emiliano Martinez needed a double save to stop it getting interesting.

That was their first league win since 30 August. Before it, they’d lost at Arsenal and Brentford either side of a 2-2 draw at home to Hull. Their 13 goals conceded is the joint-worst record in the division.

Going forward, they’re dangerous. Joao Pedro scored twice against Bournemouth, and Morgan Rogers scored or assisted in each of their first four league games after his club-record move from Aston Villa. Anyone backing Chelsea on the best sports betting apps NZ is backing that front line to outscore their own back four.

Team News: Gittens is out injured. Chelsea have no other fresh concerns.

Predicted Lineup: Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill, Chavarria; Henderson, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro.

• Everton beat Chelsea 3-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium in March.
• None of the last five league meetings had both teams scoring.
• Chelsea have lost two of their three away league games.
• Chelsea’s last five matches in all competitions all went over 2.5 goals.
• Everton have drawn four of their six league games.
• Barry has scored in back-to-back league games.

I’m not backing Chelsea at $2.30.

That price is mostly because of their win over Bournemouth. In my mind, one big home win doesn’t fix how they’ve defended on the road.

Everton suit this game for me. They’re happy to let opponents have the ball, and Dewsbury-Hall gives them a way in on the break.

I’ll admit Chelsea’s attackers worry me. Cole Palmer can win a game on his own, and if Barry fluffs his chances like he did at Hull, Everton could easily lose a game they deserved a point from.

Jack Grealish against Josh Acheampong is the matchup I’m keenest on. Grealish was bright in the first half at Hull, and I’m not sure Acheampong has faced many wide players like him.

For me, both teams score. Chelsea haven’t managed a league clean sheet yet, and Everton have found the net in five of their six games.

I’ve got 1-1 in my head, but I wouldn’t be shocked by a 2-1 home win either.

Everton or Draw & Both Teams to Score @ $2.75

Both teams have scored in five of Chelsea’s six league games.

Brentford are the only side to shut them out, and that was the night Joao Pedro missed with a knee problem. He’s fit now.

Everton haven’t lost yet, and I can’t see them folding at home against a defence this loose. The head-to-head bugs me, with no BTTS in the last five meetings, but I’m happy to take that risk.

It’s worth a look at $2.75 on the best new betting sites if you’re shopping around.