Match Preview : Richarlison Doubtful, Kovacic To Start, Sarri To Drop Barkley Against Former Club?

Chelsea will face Everton on Sunday in the Premier League. The match will be very important for the Blues to keep pace with the League leaders Manchester City, who face off against domestic rivals United later in the day.

Team News :

Chelsea :

The Blues will have a fully fit squad ahead of the match against Everton. Eden Hazard is all set to make his first Premier League start after the match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian winger played 60 minutes in the match against Bate Borisov at Belarus on Thursday in the Group Stage encounter of the Europa League. Maurizio Sarri opted to give him adequate rest after the one hour mark in the match. In the previous match against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, Eden Hazard came at the 60 minute mark. The scoreline was 1-1 at that point of time. Just after he came, soon he made the difference. Chelsea got a free kick and Hazard sent a perfect ball towards Alvaro Morata who made it 2-1 for the Blues.

Eden Hazard has been very much influential for the Blues in this season. Most of the times, the Blues have to depend on the Belgian winger to create more chances of Goal in the game. The fans will hope that Eden Hazard will continue to give same performance recovering from his injury. Alongside Eden Hazard, we can expect Alvaro Morata to start as the centre forward of Chelsea in this match against Everton. The Spanish centre forward was rested in the match against Bate Borisov in the Europa League. He was left at Cobham to prepare himself for the match at Stamford Bridge. Willian was also in the bench for the Blues against Bate Borisov on Thursday. He came in the field at the one hour mark replacing Eden Hazard. Pedro is going to sit in the bench in this match against Everton though he sealed the win for the Blues against Crystal Palace in the previous weekend.

Ross Barkley is also going to be benched in this match against Everton. The English midfielder has played full 90 minutes against Bate Borisov while Mateo Kovacic came from the bench. So, it is very much likely that Mateo Kovacic will start in the midfield of the Blues alongside N’Golo Kante and Jorginho. David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger will be back in the central defense while Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta will operate from the opposite flanks in the defense. Kepa Arrizabalaga will keep his position under the bars for the Blues.

Everton :

The manager of Everton, Rafa Silva has confirmed that Richarlison has not trained with the first team on Friday and he is doubtful against Chelsea on Sunday. On the other hand, Kurt Zouma can not play against his parent club; so Yerry Mina can get his first start in Everton colours.

Predicted Starting Eleven :

Chelsea :(4-3-3)

Goalkeeper : Arrizabalaga

Defenders : Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso

Midfielders : Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic

Attackers : Willian, Morata, Hazard

Everton : (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper : Pickford

Defenders : Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne

Midfielders : Gueye, Gomes; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Bernard

Attackers : Richarlison.

My Predicted Scoreline :

Chelsea 3-1 Everton.