Chelsea vs Everton: Latest team news, predicted lineup and injuries
Chelsea host Everton at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will look to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive when they host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Blues’ league form has been up and down in the last few months and has left them with a fight on their hands to secure a top-five finish and a return to the top table of European football.
Enzo Maresca’s side produced a superb last-ditch comeback against Fulham to win 2-1 away from home last weekend.
But results elsewhere mean they are still two points behind fifth-place Newcastle with five league games remaining.
Despite being in the semi-finals of the Conference League, the priority will surely be the league over the next few weeks, with the tricky visit of Everton next up for the west London club.
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On the injury front, Chelsea will no doubt be buoyed by the long-awaited return of Romeo Lavia, who missed the last five games with his latest injury.
The Belgian was an unused substitute last time out but could be in line for his first minutes since mid-March at the weekend.
Reece James is expected to come back in at right-back after being taken off at half-time to preserve his legs ahead of a crucial run-in.
But there was concern for his replacement Malo Gusto who made way in the closing stages with a muscular injury.
‘Not a good one. Unfortunately, it looks like a muscular injury,’ Maresca confirmed in his post-match press conference.
Further forward, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson are hoping to end their respective goal droughts, with Neto and Noni Madueke likely to flank the duo in attack.
But it could be another match watching from the sidelines for the struggling Christopher Nkunku, whose omission from last weekend’s matchday squad was later described as ‘technical’ by Marescsa.
Elsewhere, Wesley Fofana, Marcu Guiu and Omari Kellyman remain sidelined with longer-term injuries, while Mykhailo Mudryk is still suspended.
Predicted Chelsea XI to face Everton
Sanchez; Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo, Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Where to watch Chelsea vs Everton? Kick-off time and TV channel
The Premier League clash between Chelsea and Everton kicks off on Saturday, April 26 at 12.30 pm.
The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11am.
TNT Sports subscribers can also stream the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
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