CHELSEA host Everton in Monday evening's early Premier League match-up. James Cantrill (@JimmyThePunt) shares his thoughts on the fixture.
Chelsea vs Everton | Monday 8th March 2021, 18:00 | BT Sport
Fourth meets fifth at Stamford Bridge this evening as the race for Champions League football hits the home straight.
Hosts, Chelsea, look rejuvenated under their new supremo Thomas Tuchel. The German manager has led them on a ten game unbeaten run that has seen them beat the likes Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham.
However, tonight will be no cake walk as The Toffee’s boast quite the record on the road. Everton are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League away games, winning seven of those. Their last defeat away from Goodison Park came against Newcastle at the start of November as they have taken 29 points from a possible 39.
Everton have played four away games against top half opposition- Spurs, Leicester, Man Utd and Liverpool- winning three, drawing one, scoring eight and conceding three (all of which came against Manchester United).
Furthermore, under Tuchel, Chelsea have played four EPL fixtures at home. Their two victories came against Burnley and Newcastle- the sides with the 18th and 17th worst away records in the league- and they were held to drab 0-0 draws against Manchester United and Wolves.
Whilst Tuchel has made an impressive start to life in England, I don’t think his side warrant their price of 53/100 especially considering they are facing a side who sit just a point and a place below them in the Premier League table.
Therefore, Bet365’s price of 1.910 for Everton to win with a +1 head start on the Asian Handicap is too good to turn down. This means that the best is a winner if the visitors draw or win and we have the extra security that if Chelsea win by a solitary goal – as they have done in five of their seven wins under Tuchel – we get our stake back.
Given Everton’s record this season, I also think it is worth taking an away victory here at the prices available.
It is impossible to predict exactly how Carlo Ancelotti will set out his stall this evening as the Italian has deployed three different formations in as many games. However, one thing that is for certain is that his Brazilian bagsman will feature from the off.
Richarlison has scored six in as many games as he has doubled his tally for the season in the last four weeks. He scored the games only goals vs West Brom and Southampton, the opener at Anfield and the equaliser against Man City so will be brimming with confidence for this evening's trip to the capital.
The prices for him to score anytime certainly take appeal, however, it is worth noting that he has scored first in all three of Everton’s last three games. Therefore, it may be worth taking him to score first in what could be a game shy of goals.
Best Bets
Chelsea vs Everton – Everton +1 Asian Handicap (1.91 Bet365)
Chelsea vs Everton – Everton to win (31/5 SBK)
Chelsea vs Everton – Richarlison to score at anytime (17/4 Unibet)
