Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Chelsea vs Everton
Kickoff Time: 2025-04-26 19:30 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Chelsea has been affected by its performance in European competitions, resulting in a decline in their league results. In the past three rounds of league matches, they have only earned five points. Currently, the team is two points behind Newcastle United, who are in fifth place, losing the initiative to secure a spot for next season’s Champions League. From recent games, it is evident that Chelsea emphasizes ball control and penetration in their tactics, highlighting the integration of flanks and center. During offensive plays, full-backs advance to participate in attacks, using dribbling, breakthroughs or crosses on the wings to form effective partnerships with midfielders and create goal-scoring opportunities for strikers. In fact, Chelsea’s tactical structure has already demonstrated an Italian-style logic—reassigning the tactical weight of both full-backs. When the team maintains possession, one full-back moves inward to fill the void in midfield, while the other maintains a traditional position on the flank. This dynamic balance allows players such as Marc Cucurella to shed purely peripheral duties and engage more in midfield. The enhanced ball-playing ability of the defense and midfield ensures the team retains tactical stability even under high pressing situations.
Everton’s form has been very stable, with a record of five wins, six draws, and two losses in the last 13 league matches. Their losses were against Liverpool and Manchester City, among other traditional powerhouses. Since David Moyes resumed his managerial role, Everton’s overall capability has significantly improved. However, due to no immediate relegation concerns, Moyes might start preparing for the next season earlier in the closing stages of the league. Recently, the team has experimented with switching between the 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2 formations during transitions, focusing on creating counterattack opportunities through high-pressure pressing and breaking defenses via wing crosses and through-balls. It must be noted that several key players’ contracts will expire this summer, including 32-year-old midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, 32-year-old center-back Michael Keane, and 35-year-old defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye; additionally, loanee strikers Armando Broja and Jack Harrison have underperformed, and the club management has decided not to trigger buyout clauses. Predictably, these players may play conservatively out of fear of injury, which could negatively impact Everton’s attacking and defensive capabilities.
In midweek, the Transfermarkt compiled a list of teams based on their possession rates in the Premier League this season: Chelsea ranks second with 58.4%, while Everton ranks second-to-last with 39.8%. It is foreseeable that Chelsea will dominate this game and take the initiative in attack, whereas Everton will adopt a high-pressing strategy in response. Keep in mind that under Enzo Maresca’s guidance, Chelsea has been adept at handling high-pressure situations. With the support of their home fans, Chelsea is expected to seize the chance to win all three points.
Chelsea’s Last 5 Games: WLDWD
25-04-20 Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
25-04-18 Chelsea 1-2 Legia Warszawa
25-04-13 Chelsea 2-2 Ipswich Town
25-04-11 Legia Warszawa 0-3 Chelsea
25-04-06 Brentford 0-0 Chelsea
Everton’s Last 5 Games: LWDLD
25-04-19 Everton 0-2 Manchester City
25-04-12 Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton
25-04-05 Everton 1-1 Arsenal
25-04-03 Liverpool 1-0 Everton
25-03-15 Everton 1-1 West Ham United
Head To Head Record:
24-12-12 Everton 0-0 Chelsea
24-04-16 Chelsea 6-0 Everton
23-12-10 Everton 2-0 Chelsea
23-03-19 Chelsea 2-2 Everton
22-08-07 Everton 0-1 Chelsea
Prediction: Chelsea to win