This weekend’s Premier League action gets underway on Saturday lunchtime as Everton and Chelsea square off at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The two teams begin the weekend level on points, sitting fifth and sixth in the table respectively, with Everton marginally ahead thanks to their superior goal difference.
It may not have been the most spectacular start to the season for David Moyes’ side, but it has perhaps gone under the radar that they have avoided defeat in each of their opening six league games.
However, Everton have drawn four of those six matches, most recently being held to a 2-2 draw away to Hull last weekend.
Chelsea, meanwhile, roared back to winning ways with a 5-1 demolition of Bournemouth last Saturday, a game in which my recommended bet landed.
That triumph ended a three-game winless run in the top flight, and the Blues will hope that momentum can carry them to another victory on Merseyside on Saturday.
How the bookies view it: Toffees to come unstuck
Everton’s two Premier League wins this season have both come at home, but they are not expected to add to that tally here, with a Toffees victory trading at 23/10 on bet365.
As already mentioned, four of Everton’s six league games this season have ended all square, so a repeat could offer value at 11/4 with bet365.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are 11/10 favourites on bet365 despite losing each of their last two away games.
Head to head: Chelsea in charge
Chelsea lead the overall head-to-head, having won 78 of the 196 meetings. Everton have claimed 61 victories, while the other 57 have ended all square.
However, Everton beat Chelsea 3-0 at home last season, and a repeat of that scoreline on Saturday pays a whopping 40/1 with bet365.
Players to watch: Rogers on a roll
Morgan Rogers has made an impressive start to life at Stamford Bridge, scoring four goals in Chelsea’s opening six Premier League games of the season. The Blues ace has had multiple shots in each of those six matches, and backing him to repeat the trick here, with at least one effort on target, makes for an attractive bet builder at 5/6 on bet365.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has registered at least one shot on target in five of Everton’s six Premier League games this season, so backing him to do so again looks good value at 5/4 on bet365.
Predicted line-ups
Vitaliy Mykolenko’s availability remains in question after he missed the draw with Hull. Aside from that, the hosts have a clean bill of health.
Chelsea remain without the injured duo of Emmanuel Emegha and Jamie Gittens, while captain Reece James is a major doubt after sustaining a hamstring injury ahead of last week’s win over Bournemouth.
Everton: Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Keane, Branthwaite; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry
Chelsea: Martinez; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Henderson, Chavarria; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams have scored in five of Chelsea’s six Premier League matches this season, but the price on a repeat here is too short to back as a single selection.
However, using the bet builder to combine BTTS with both teams to receive a card boosts the odds to evens on bet365.
This combination has landed in four of Chelsea’s six top-flight fixtures this season, while it would also have been a winning selection in Everton’s 2-2 home draw with Manchester United last month.
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