Everton host Chelsea at the newly named Hill Dickinson Stadium on a Saturday in March 2026. Kickoff is set for 5:30 pm GMT (6:30 pm WAT). The Liam Rosenior led Blues who currently find themselves sixth in the table and in the hunt for a Champions League spot will be looking to make up for their recent losses and draws that have seen their momentum stall.
Meanwhile Everton who are sitting in 8th are hoping to build on a decent run of form at home that will be just as vital in this key mid table clash as both sides continue to push for a spot in Europe
Match Summary
Everton have been one of the pleasant surprises of the season , holding their own nicely in mid-table and doing a admirable job of standing firm at Hill Dickinson Stadium when they take on the bigger teams.
There’s been a point to prove for them , and they’ve been pretty tough to beat on home turf thanks mostly to their solid defensive unit and well-planned counter attacks – but a couple of recent losses have left progress stalled. Under Rosenior Chelsea have shown some real quality but have been criticised for their inconsistent form of late, particularly in defeats that have held them back in their bid for the top four.
In the earlier fixture between the two sides this season Chelsea snatched it at Stamford Bridge, but this Merseyside clash looks like it could be a scrappy and low scoring affair – there’s been a good chance of under 2.5 goals in several of the previous meetings, thanks in no small part to Everton’s organisational skills which have frustrated a few of Chelsea’s attack. Expect some real physical battles, set piece scrambles and tension as both teams vie for those coveted European spots before the international break.
Head-to-head: Chelsea may have a slight edge in recent times, but when it comes to home games against them Everton have been pretty solid.
Possible Lineups
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford – Garner, O’Brien, Keane, Mykolenko – Gueye, Iroegbunam – McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye – Beto
With no major new injuries the sides remains pretty settled, with Beto in the lead, and Iliman Ndiaye offering a bit of flair on the wing.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez – Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella – Caicedo, Fernández – Palmer, James, Neto – Pedro
As for Rosenior’s Blues, there are still a few ongoing concerns ( Colwill is doubtful, Gittens is out) but with Cole Palmer on form, he looks like being Chelsea’s main source of creativity out there, while Pedro will be up front to provide another option.
Prediction
Chelsea’s got the edge on the back of their individual quality, plus they still need to make up some lost ground. Cole Palmer is likely to unlock Everton’s defense. The Blues have the kind of midfield control that should dictate the pace of the game but Everton’s home form and some of those clever counters they’ve been working on may just do enough to earn them a goal. It’s going to be a tight low scoring game, but Chelsea’s desire to stay on track for the Champions League should just about see them squeeze out a really narrow and hard earned win.
Final score prediction: Everton 1-2 Chelsea
