Chelsea gear up to lock horns with the Merseysiders Everton in the opening day fixture of the 2022-23 Premier League season at Goodison Park which has proven to be an unkind venue for the Blues with Everton having won each of their last four outings against Chelsea on home turf.
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues have a high-billed curtain raiser to the new league campaign to look forward to with Frank Lampard’s Toffees likely to hand a tough challenge to the visitors.
Everton are hopeful of improving upon a timid 2021-22 Premier League campaign which saw them finish in 16th place and narrowly escape the drop zone by just four points.
Lampard’s appointment midway through the season helped salvage something valuable for the Goodison Park outfit with the ex-Chelsea boss steering his new side to safety from the prospects of dropping into the second tier of English football.
Chelsea, meanwhile, after their third place finish in the league table last term head into the 2022-23 season under the new ownership of Todd Boehly with the American businessman keen to see Tuchel’s men deliver their very best on and off the football pitch.
The Stamford Bridge camp have lost established first-team names in Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Romelu Lukaku but the new arrivals in Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling are sure to bolster the squad available at Tuchel’s disposal.
Also Read – Chelsea open to a second loan spell for Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan
Chelsea’s last outing during their pre-season tour came in a 3-1 win over Italian side Udinese last Friday and with confidence on the high after the convincing showing, the Blues will be backed to put their best foot forward against their opening day opponents Everton.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Date – Saturday 6 August 2022
Time – 5:30 PM GMT
Venue – Goodison Park
TEAM NEWS
Germany international Timo Werner is a doubt for Chelsea’s opening day fixture due to a hamstring issue which could rule him out of making the matchday squad.
Also Read – Everton vs Chelsea – Chelsea Players’ Injury List Updates and News
There are no other injury concerns for the visitors to Goodison Park with Tuchel having his full squad to choose from including wantaway defensive mainstay Cesar Azpilicueta who looks likely to stay put at the Bridge despite the speculation surrounding his future with Barcelona keeping close tabs.
KEY BATTLE
James Tarkowski vs Raheem Sterling
The battle of the two new recruits for either side with ex-Burnley centre-back Tarkowski gearing up to play against the former Manchester City wide player Raheem Sterling following their respective transfers in the summer window.
Sterling’s presence in the Chelsea attacking lineup would ease the supporter’s worry about Tuchel’s decision to part ways with last year’s marquee signing Romelu Lukaku following his return to Inter Milan on loan.
The likes of Mason Mount and Kai Havertz are expected to provide company to Sterling in the front three for Chelsea which makes for an exciting attacking trio to watch out for.
MATCH PREDICTION
Chelsea look the stronger of the two teams and we expect the west Londoners to claim what should be an easy win over Everton.
Everton 1-3 Chelsea
