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Key events
David Moyes’ Premier League record at Stamford Bridge shows no wins from 19 games. This statistic highlights his challenges at major venues, notably Anfield as well. He recently spoke with TNT’s Darren Fletcher, who began by wishing the Everton manager a happy 62nd birthday.
Moyes reflected on his team’s performance: “They’ve lifted themselves incredibly and achieved some impressive results, ensuring our safety in the Premier League. They have all risen to the occasion, displaying form comparable to the teams at the upper echelons of the league. While we surely need to enhance some elements in the summer, this group has performed admirably.”
Cormac Culkeen notes: “If we blend football with Shakespeare, then José Mourinho might just be the ideal Macbeth. It aligns beautifully with the concept, in my opinion.”
Fun fact: A South African footballer named MacBeth Sibaya once graced the pitch.
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella shared his thoughts with TNT Sports: “The team’s spirit is high. Today presents a significant opportunity for us. Following a successful comeback last weekend, we look to secure another three points as we approach the season’s conclusion.
“We need our fans to rally behind us—we will face challenges, but unity is crucial to overcoming them. Our preparations have been thorough, and we acknowledge the importance of this match. We are ready to give it our all.”
Enzo Maresca, celebrating his 50th match in charge of Chelsea, will have to observe from the stands due to a ban. “I’ll be watching from behind the bench,” he admitted, looking slightly bashful. “With five matches remaining, our goal is to win them all, starting today.”
On Cole Palmer’s scoring struggles, he remarked: “I feel optimistic about today; it could be the day for Cole to break his drought.”
Gary Naylor provides a creative perspective: “I’m currently in Stratford Upon Avon for a matinee of Much Ado About Nothing. Imagine Beatrice and Benedick in Shakespeare’s original rom-com, but set in the vibrant world of football and celebrity culture, where scandal-ridden rivalries are all the rage. It has potential… or perhaps not. In this scenario, Beatrice represents a journalist while Benedick is a player, which seems fitting. Who else from Shakespeare’s repertoire could resemble footballers? Gazza, for example, fits the role of Falstaff perfectly. If Enzo Maresca faces defeat today, he should certainly keep an eye out for a Cassius and Brutus,” he mused.
Naylor encouraged readers to share their own Shakespearean football analogies. He humorously admitted, “I wasn’t much of a scholar in English Literature, though I did take a sixth-form trip to Stratford to witness Shakespeare’s genius. My main takeaway, however, was purchasing a New Order album at a local record shop—‘Brotherhood,’ if I recall correctly.”
Peter Crouch lightens the atmosphere: “I’ve been joking about my tan, attributing it to my height, which allows me to be closer to the sun,” he quipped.
Beto, the Everton striker, once had a streak of five goals in five games back in February, but his recent form has waned. With two international appearances for Guinea-Bissau factored in, he has now gone nine games without finding the net.
Chelsea’s attacking options are undeniably talented. Neto’s performance this season has been inconsistent; though he spent a considerable time sidelined due to a hamstring injury, his overall contributions have been disappointing—five goals in 39 appearances, with merely four in the league. However, his recent injury-time winner against Fulham may signal a return to form.
Yara El-Shaboury is covering the events at Stamford Bridge:
Yesterday, Enzo Maresca mentioned that Chelsea’s summer transfer strategies will be contingent on the team qualifying for the Champions League next season, making today’s match against Everton crucial for those aspirations.
Despite recent challenges, Chelsea fans outside Stamford Bridge remain optimistic, chanting for Cole Palmer’s return to form as they await the team bus. This shows the unwavering support for the 22-year-old, who is currently experiencing a goal drought of 16 games. He will feature alongside Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, and Nicolas Jackson.
In a notable change for Chelsea, this is Romeo Lavia’s first start since January. More significantly, Cole Palmer’s extended goal drought is a topic of concern. As Lavia partners with Enzo Fernandes in midfield, Moses Caicedo has shifted to right-back, leaving skipper Reece James on the bench.
It’s intriguing to discuss an Everton team missing James Tarkowski’s name. A hamstring injury has sidelined the defender for the rest of the season, thereby ending his impressive streak of 109 consecutive Premier League appearances.
Teams
Chelsea: Sanchez, Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Lavia, Enzo, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Jackson.
Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, James, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Sancho, Nkunku.
Everton: Pickford, Patterson, O’Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana, Garner, Doucoure, Harrison, Ndiaye, Beto.
Subs: Virginia, Begovic, Keane, McNeil, Chermiti, Young, Coleman, Alcaraz, Iroegbunam.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire).
Preamble
This season, Chelsea has played 49 matches across all competitions, with only two finishing in a draw. The first was against Everton just before Christmas, resulting in the end of an eight-game winning streak and marking the start of a downturn in form. Enzo Maresca’s squad subsequently faced two defeats. The stalemate with Everton appears to have acted as a turning point from which the team has struggled to recover. Nevertheless, Chelsea is still vying for a top-five finish and a Champions League berth next season, a battle that remains tight. With teams like Liverpool and Arsenal occupying two spots, a five-team race exists for the last three positions among Man City (61 pts), Nottingham Forest (60), Newcastle (59), Chelsea (57), and Aston Villa (57). Chelsea, Forest, and Newcastle hold a game in hand after Man City’s recent 2-1 win over Villa.
Conversely, Everton’s initial surge under David Moyes has faltered. Although he did lead his team to valuable points that alleviated relegation fears, current form shows just one league victory in the last eight games. A more optimistic outlook is that five of those matches ended in draws, with losses only to Liverpool and Manchester City.
While these factors suggest Everton might just secure another point here, their last encounter at Stamford Bridge paints a different picture. Back in April 2024, Chelsea delivered a resounding 6-0 defeat to the Toffees, with Cole Palmer netting four goals, including a hat-trick within the first 30 minutes.
As the situation crystallizes at both ends of the table, the contest for European qualification is heating up. Let’s get started! Kick-off is at 12.30pm.
Source
www.theguardian.com