WILL Chelsea return to form on Saturday against Everton? We gave Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) responsibility to take us through the game.
Everton v Chelsea | Saturday 12:45 | BT Sport 1
Four games gone in the season and Chelsea lie 13th in the table. At this point last season they were first. Four games gone and Chelsea have four points. At this point last season they had 12. Quite a story eh?
The medium-term injury to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois while on international duty is a big blow to the club and nothing seems to be going for them at the moment. The presence of the international break is a fascinating one. Will having a week and a half away from each other help the cause? Should they be even more vulnerable now?
Everton have already beaten Chelsea this season. That of course was in a very public duel for the services of John Stones. Despite going odds on Stones never turned up at Stamford Bridge and he remains an Everton player for now.
It’s been a fairly positive start to the campaign for Everton. An emphatic win at St Mary’s has been supplemented by draws against Tottenham and Watford. They took on Man City as well and gave them a run for their money but ultimately didn’t create enough chances and lost 2-0.
Man City were 4/6 that day at Goodison, Chelsea are odds against 11/10 on Saturday. That’s a huge difference. Perhaps too big? It certainly made me sit up and take note.
Chelsea have won three of their last five fixtures directly after the first international break of the season and they’ll be hoping to improve that record on Saturday and I think they well.
Everton will provide a stoic test here (we’ve witnessed that hardiness in three of their four league games this season) but the opportunity to back a hurting, angry, determined Chelsea at odds against looks too good to turn down.
Today could be the day things start to turn for the club and while it wouldn’t be one of my favourite bets of the weekend, at 11/10 I have to get involved. I’ll also beef it up with a punt on them winning by exactly one goal at 3/1.
TOPICS English Football Tips FootballBest Bets
Everton v Chelsea – Chelsea to win (11/10 Ladbrokes)
Everton v Chelsea – Chelsea to win by exactly one goal (3/1 Stan James)
