CHELSEA will be looking to boost their bid to finish in the top-four of the Premier League when they entertain Everton on Sunday afternoon.
Frank Lampard's side looked well on course to take fourth spot, however, the Blues shaky form at Stamford Bridge has presented Chelsea's top-four rivals with a fighting chance in the chase for Champions League qualification.
The capital club are also beginning to wobble away from home – Chelsea have failed to win on the road since the turn of the year – and last Saturday's 2-2 draw away at Bournemouth has brought four teams within five points of them.
Yet, Chelsea's unpredictability was once again evident in midweek when Lampard's troops eliminated Liverpool from the FA Cup and the Blues will be looking to claim a Merseyside double when they go toe-to-toe with the Toffees this weekend.
Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge will see Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti return to his former club for the first time and the Italian's influence has been a game-changing factor in Everton's revival this season.
Only Man City and Arsenal have been able to topple the Toffees in the ten Premier League games that Ancelotti has presided over and the Blues upward progression was clear to see last Sunday when Everton had a late winner ruled out against in-form Manchester United.
The Betting Odds
Injury-ravaged Chelsea go into this fixture as odds-on favourites at 19/20 with SportNation, however, that price does not appeal to me given that the Blues have won just six of their 14 Premier League home games this term.
Three of Chelsea's last five league games have ended all-square and a repeat on Sunday is at a best 14/5 with UniBet, while a first Everton success at Stamford Bridge since 1994 is an unfancied 3/1 with Bet 365.
The Betting Angles
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard had a pop at his attacking players last weekend after left-back Marcos Alonso bagged a brace in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
The Spaniard's double on the south coast means that Alonso has scored Chelsea's last three Premier League goals and I like the look of the 5/6 (Coral) on offer for the Blues defender to have one or more shots from outside the box on Sunday.
Alonso arrowed a fine 20 yard strike into the bottom corner against Spurs at Stamford Bridge recently and the 5/6 (Coral) that is available for Spanish defender to have pop from distance this weekend looks like a nice alternative angle of attack.
Taking this approach does not require the shot to be on target – any attempt form outside the box from Alonso would see this bet land – and the aforementioned price catches the eye in a contest that points towards goals.
I've had a lot of success by backing goals in games involving these two teams this season and I fancy both sides to get on the scoresheet on Sunday, however, there is little in value in the general 4/7 that is available for both sides to strike.
However, combining both teams to score with with each to collect a card via Bet 365's Bet Builder feature will boost those odds up to a much a more attractive looking 11/8 (Bet 365)
Everton have scored in each of their last 11 top-flight road trips, however, the Toffees have failed to keep a clean sheet away from home since the opening weekend of the season.
With that in mind, coupled with the fact that Lampard's leaky defence have only managed two shutouts in their last 16 league matches, the above-mentioned combination takes appeal.
What's more, given that this could be a key match in the battle for the final Champions League berth, value could lie in the card markets at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, referee Kevin Friend averages just under 3.5 cards per game, however, I wouldn't be surprised to see that card-count increase this weekend in what could be a full-throttle fixture between two sides who harbour top-four ambitions.
Under Lampard's stewardship Chelsea games tend to be open and entertaining encounters, which in turn could lead to cynical fouls being committed by both sides and with that I mind, I like the look of backing both teams to collect over 19.5 booking points at 7/4 with Betfred.
This English Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton will be played on Mar 8, 2020 and kick off at 14:00. Check below for our tipsters best Chelsea vs Everton prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.