Chelsea vs. Everton: Predicting a bit of Carabao Cup magic from the youth
Tuesday’s Carabao Cup fixtures saw exactly one upset: Bristol City over Crystal Palace. Not much magic in this cup yet, which is concerning. Will some Chelsea youngsters find the spark?
The only consolation Everton can take about facing Chelsea at this point in their season is that it’s the Carabao Cup, and Antonio Conte needs to rest his starters. Then again, losing to a team of teenagers (and one bloke in his mid-30s) will only salt the Toffees’ recent wounds.
Here are our predictions for what could and should be an entertaining and stress-free game for the hosts.
Travis Tyler: Chelsea 2 – 0 Everton. The Blues will rotate heavily and Everton will have the new manager boost, but the Stamford Bridge youngsters will prevail. Everton will look the better team with a strong lineup, but find they can only shoot towards row Z. Musonda will score both goals on a lightning counter. Assists courtesy of Willy Caballero’s head blinding the defender going for the aerial and Chelsea’s ball boy, who just wants a Charly Musonda kit after the match when he pops out at him in the tunnel like that Mean Joe Green commercial.
Brendan McDonnell: 2 – 0. Who knows what to expect from the Toffees after firing Ronald Koeman? That said, I’m far more concerned who appears in the starting XI for Chelsea. As my friend texted me, “If Willy Caballero isn’t the oldest player on the pitch by at least 12 years, I’m going to get upset.” This is the prime opportunity for Charly Musonda to show why the Blues kept him and not my beloved Bertrand Traore.
Barrett Rouen: 3 – 2. This will be a shoot out with the Chelsea children all having a good time.
Abhishek Pancholi: 4 – 0. Everton’s new manager will choose to play it safe in his first game, allowing a resurgent Chelsea to pile more misery on a Toffees side already low on confidence. Charly Musonda to score yet another, while Michy Batshuayi bags a brace.
Kevin Peacock: 4 – 3. Chelsea, boosted by their Watford fight-back, take on an Everton side likely to be inspired by the sacking of Koeman. There’s generally a positive reaction when a manager goes. For the third game in row the goals keep flowing at Stamford Bridge. The Blues run out on top with an extra time winner by super-sub Michy Batshuayi.
Vishnu Raj: 2 – 0. Even though Everton could be rejuvenated after the managerial change, Chelsea’s stars will dominate the proceedings after 20-25 minutes in the match. Andreas Christensen and Charly Musonda will particularly shine.
Next: Chelsea can not afford to let any players go on mid-season loans