Chelsea vs. Everton: Match preview and where to watch
This late in the Premier League season, a majority of the matches played can be seen as pivotal to one race or another. Chelsea is on a current run that includes games against Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton, so while the term crucial has been used a lot lately in terms of the top four race, it’s with good reason. The Blues have catapulted themselves up the table under Thomas Tuchel and now sit in an automatic Champions League qualifying place. However, Everton is hot on their trail. Carlo Ancelotti’s men sit one-point (46) behind Chelsea (47), so it’s impossible to overstate the importance of this clash.
The Blues have played a possession-heavy style under Tuchel, if there’s one individual who knows how to counter that style, it’s Ancelotti. The Italian knows the German’s style well after a handful of meetings between the two. Everton’s summer spending spree gave the former Chelsea boss the personnel he needed to defeat the Blues, as we saw in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park.
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Chelsea was on the losing end of things earlier this season, but dominated the Toffees in this fixture last season. Billy Gilmour bossed up the midfield on that day as the Blues tore Everton apart en route to a 4-0 victory. A similar result would go a long way in cementing Chelsea’s top four ambitions, especially given some of their rivals have dropped points in recent weeks.
Where can you view the live stream of Chelsea vs. Everton?
Date: Monday, March 8
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. GMT)
Location: London, England
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
TV Info: NBCSN (USA), BT Sport (UK)
Live Stream: NBC Sports
The Blues have gotten off to a flying start under Tuchel and are unbeaten in his first 10 games as manager. If you include Frank Lampard’s final game in charge, Chelsea hasn’t lost in 11. The Blues have massive victories over Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool in that span. It hasn’t always been pretty, but points are points—no matter how they’re won. On the flip side of things, Everton has rebounded nicely after a string of poor results. A victory in the Merseyside Derby jumpstarted the win streak and the Toffees have suddenly won three games on the bounce. One side’s unbeaten run will come to an end on Monday.
Chelsea will likely be the favorite in this match for a few reasons. First and foremost, the Blues are at home. They haven’t lost at Stamford Bridge in over two months since their loss to league leaders Manchester City. Tuchel’s side is also the healthier of the two. The statuses of Tammy Abraham and Thiago Silva are up in the air, but Everton will be without a number of key pieces, most notably in midfield. If there’s anybody who can manage around a few knocks though, it’s Ancelotti.
This bout promises to be an intriguing tactical battle between two of the league’s most accomplished managers. The stakes are high, the stage is set and all we’re left to do now is count down the minutes.
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