Match Preview | Chelsea v Everton

Pivoting on a knife edge are the words I’ve used to describe this second Moyes run at Everton. Not to be hyperbolic, which as fans we can occasionally be, but rather to highlight that if the fan base was split about Moyes returning to Everton then the run game-to-game has done little to shift the fans to a majority decision. It has been far from bad and in many cases better than what we’ve experienced over the last few years. Yet, Saturday felt like the latest ‘missed opportunity’ of which there have been a handful since January. It is deeply impressive that David Moyes has steered Everton to mathematical safety with time to spare. Particularly given the tough run of fixtures. It is equally as impressive that David Moyes has only suffered 3 league defeats since returning for his second spell. However the pendulum did feel as though it had swung back towards ‘panic’ when James Tarkowski went off injured at the weekend and the manager chose to put Michael Keane into a tightly contested game, despite having a CB at RB and 3 RB options on the bench. It is not the loss to Manchester City that worries me. Despite their poor form this season, there is no shame losing to a side that has spent the amount City has season on season. The worry comes more from the lack of ‘real choice’ available to David Moyes and then how (or rather who) he chooses to grind out these remaining results.

Results elsewhere at the weekend meant Everton will leave Goodison Park and head to Bramley Moore Dock as a Premier League side. A statement that never felt in any real doubt since the managerial change at the beginning of the year. The new ownership group also continue to flex their muscles off the pitch this week, meaning there is a lot to be excited about for the future of the club. Perhaps many who read this will tell me to calm down and enjoy the ride. The concerns do not come from the new owners, nor do they really come from David Moyes. They come after what has felt like an eternity of ‘false dawns’. It comes after seeing sides like Newcastle, Aston Villa and more recently Nottingham Forest play Championship football, gain promotion and leapfrog Everton as all 3 now look likely to play in European competition next season.

It’s a trip to Chelsea at the weekend. Not an ideal opponent for Everton to ‘bounce back’ against. A forgettable record at Stamford Bridge and a Chelsea side far from in form, if anything very similar in expectation vs reality to Manchester City.

If You Know Your History… Everton v Chelsea Through the Years

Chelsea were an ever present opponent for David Moyes during his first spell as Everton manager. They were also a fairly consistent thorn in his side. From joining in 2002 it would take David Moyes 8 years to get a victory over Chelsea in any competition. His first win over the London side came in February 2010, nearly a year after the FA Cup Final defeat. The back end of Moyes’ initial time as Blues boss did become more fruitful. The initial win in 2010 inspiring a total of 4 wins and 3 draws before departing for Man Utd.

Earlier this season Sean Dyche’s Everton ground out a 0-0 draw against a dangerous Chelsea side. Last time out at Stamford Bridge, Everton lost 6-0 in what became the Cole Palmer Show, something David Moyes and Everton will be keen to avoid a repeat of this time round.

Over the years there have been some memorable moments (not always good), some wild scores and some notable players to play for both sides. Personally I will never forget the Tim Cahill overhead kick at Stamford Bridge all those years ago. Fans will also not forget the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Lukaku who came from Chelsea to Everton. Equally, I am sure few fans will forgive Chelsea taking Ross Barkley from Goodison Park.

History suggests Everton are the underdogs for this one, whilst The Toffees have 60 wins over Chelsea, this weekend’s opponents boast 76 wins over us. We’ve managed to share the points on 57 occasions, dating back to 1907.

Team News

David Moyes confirms that James Tarkowski is out for the rest of the season, needing an operation on his hamstring. He joins Jesper Lindstrom in the medical room for the rest of the campaign. Dominic Calvert Lewin is close to return to first team training but still unavailable this weekend.

Wesley Forfana is out for the rest of the season with a thigh injury. Chelsea will also be without Mykhailo Mudryk who is suspended. Malo Gusto could return after returning to first team training following a thigh injury.

What the Manager Says

Moyes on Contracts and Transfers – “We’ve got those decisions to make in the coming weeks. A lot of it will be with the new owners to see where we can go with the budget for next season. We’ve got an idea of what we want to do and what we need to do. We will try and give the players information when we are ready to do so. If you can get business done early then it’s good.

Moyes on Keeping the Squad Motivated – “We’ve got to finish the season well. I’ve got no reason to criticise them. Those games we’ve had have been tough but we expected them to be tough. The players have done what they had to do and picked up really good results.

Everton Key Player

Jake O’Brien – He has gone from a squad player under Sean Dyche to one of the first names on the team sheet under David Moyes. The big Irish defender now becomes one of the biggest talking points following the injury to James Tarkowski. O’Brien has made the hybrid full back position his own under Moyes and it looked as though he was set to continue there until at least pre-season. Now with the ever present Tarkowski out for the season Jake O’Brien might see himself slotted back into his preferred center back position.

We know without doubt he will play this weekend. The question is where. Does he continue at full back and potentially has to deal with Cole Palmer? Or does he get a chance next to Branthwaite in what many Evertonians would hope to be Everton’s defensive partnership for years to come? Returns to fitness from Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson, alongside Ashley Young, means that Moyes does have options for the fullback position. He is simply left with Michael Keane at centre back if he doesn’t opt to tuck O’Brien in.

Wherever O’Brien ends up this weekend, he will be key for The Toffees. He will be tasked with keeping England’s bright Palmer in his pocket or he will need to form a strong partnership with Branthwaite against a side with a lot of attacking options. Jake O’Brien has also been crucial for the scrappy, smash and grab goal that Everton may rely on should they look to take anything away from London this weekend.

One to Watch for Chelsea:

Cole Palmer – The England international has been off the boil and out of form in recent weeks. Yet it would be foolish of Everton and me to not highlight the danger he poses. Everton know all too well from their last visit to Stamford Bridge just how dangerous Cole Palmer can be. Whilst recent stats and performances would suggest he is far away from those heights right now, it only takes one good performance to silence the doubters. Chelsea will rely on the creativity and ability of Cole Palmer to boost their chances of scoring this weekend. Chelsea’s recent form has been up and down largely in part to the ‘cooling off’ of Cole Palmer. The young lad might however be relishing the idea of coming up against a fragile Everton defence. We saw last weekend against Man City how the feeling and energy changed depending on who was at the back for Everton. Moyes’ selection tomorrow feels like his biggest since returning. Yet there might not be an ideal answer should Palmer rediscover his form. I am sure he’d back himself against veterans Coleman and/or Young. He’d likely fancy his chances against the inconsistent appearances of Nathan Patterson.

Final Thoughts

David Moyes has said that Everton cannot choose when they win games. He also firmly believes that despite confirming their Premier League status for another season, this season is far from over. My thoughts are that a side who has been motivated to survive for the best part of 4 years now will struggle to find energy and results once that goal has been fulfilled. Another reason on the long list of why an overhaul of player and culture is needed at Everton Football Club. At this point the squad seems to pick itself for David Moyes. The only questions that remain is if Dwight McNeil can start a game and if he doubles-down on the decision to play Michael Keane. The relief of safety has quickly been parked. The attention already turning to who deserves to put on that royal blue jersey heading into next season and the new stadium.

Prediction

1-1. This feels like a regular occurrence for me. In all honesty, I am not expecting a lot from this weekend’s game. Tarkowski’s injury combined with mathematical safety suggests to me that Everton will struggle to find the energy to compete against the squad depth and European aspirations of Chelsea. However, I cannot in good faith suggest a defeat under David Moyes. With that said. I will go for a scrappy score draw. Perhaps boldly suggest Michael Keane gets on the scoresheet…