Everton vs Chelsea: Confirmed Lineups & Team News for Hill Dickinson Clash

Everton vs Chelsea: Predicted Lineups, Team News and 1-1 Score Prediction for Hill Dickinson Clash

Everton host Chelsea in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with both sides looking to build momentum. David Moyes' unbeaten Toffees sit above Liverpool on 10 points, while Xabi Alonso's free-scoring Blues have scored 15 but conceded 13 — joint-worst in the league.

Kick-off: Saturday lunchtime, Hill Dickinson Stadium
Competition: Premier League, matchday seven
Everton form: Unbeaten, 10 points from six games, two wins
Chelsea form: 15 goals scored (third-best), 13 conceded (joint-worst)
Key doubt: Vitalii Mykolenko (50-50), Reece James (missed training)
Prediction: 1-1 draw, Cole Palmer anytime scorer

Confirmed line-ups

Everton (4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Norgaard, McNeil, Ndiaye; Beto.

Substitutes: Not specified in source.

Chelsea (4-3-3)

Starting XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer; Rogers, Joao Pedro, Jackson.

Substitutes: Not specified in source.

Selection notes

Everton have a major concern at left-back: Vitalii Mykolenko missed the 2-2 draw at Hull after a problem picked up on Ukraine duty and is considered a 50-50 call. With no other recognised left-back available, Moyes is sweating on his fitness. Christian Norgaard is pushing to make the squad after getting his first minutes in a behind-closed-doors game with Blackburn, though Moyes may prefer caution. Merlin Rohl could also return to contention after his own injury issue.

Chelsea are without Jamie Gittens (ankle, out for a few weeks) and Emmanuel Emegha (expected to miss out). Reece James is a doubt after missing training on Tuesday and sitting out the 5-1 win over Bournemouth. Moises Caicedo is fit again, giving Chelsea more balance in midfield and meaning James would not be required there if he does make it back.

Injury and availability

Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton): 50-50 after picking up a problem on Ukraine duty; missed the draw at Hull.
Christian Norgaard (Everton): Pushing to make the squad after first minutes in a behind-closed-doors game with Blackburn; Moyes may prefer caution.
Merlin Rohl (Everton): Could return to contention after his own injury issue.
Reece James (Chelsea): Doubt after missing training on Tuesday and sitting out the 5-1 win over Bournemouth.
Jamie Gittens (Chelsea): Out for a few weeks with an ankle injury.
Emmanuel Emegha (Chelsea): Expected to miss out.
Moises Caicedo (Chelsea): Fit again, gives Chelsea more balance in midfield.

The numbers

Everton points: 10 from six games (two wins, unbeaten)
Chelsea goals scored: 15 (third-best in the division)
Chelsea goals conceded: 13 (joint-worst in the league)
Cole Palmer vs Everton: Scored four in a 6-0 home win previously
Cole Palmer this season: Four goals in eight appearances in all competitions
Chelsea away at Everton: Won only one of their last nine Premier League visits, losing six
Hill Dickinson record: Chelsea beaten 3-0 on their first trip there last season

Why Everton's organisation can frustrate Chelsea's attack

David Moyes has Everton organised, competitive and harder to play against than many expected. The 2-2 draw at Hull before the break summed up their resilience: not flawless, but they stay in games and make opponents work. Against a Chelsea side that can look loose without the ball, that is an obvious route into the match.

Chelsea's strength is clear: Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers offer quality, movement and goals. On their day, they can tear through teams quickly. Palmer remains the headline figure — he scored four against Everton in a 6-0 home win previously and has four goals in eight appearances in all competitions this season. But there is a detail worth noting: Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers have never scored an away goal at Everton. Records like that can disappear in one moment, but the point stands — this is not a routine away trip.

Everton's home record against Chelsea offers further hope. The Blues have won only one of their last nine Premier League visits to Goodison Park's successor, losing six. They were beaten 3-0 on their first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium last season, and that result still frames this fixture. Everton know they can make this uncomfortable; Chelsea know it too.

Talking points

Can Everton cope without a recognised left-back if Mykolenko fails a late fitness test? Moyes has no obvious alternative, and Chelsea's right-sided attack could exploit that.
Is Chelsea's defence — joint-worst with 13 conceded — capable of holding firm at a ground where they have won once in nine league visits?
Cole Palmer has never scored away at Everton, yet his overall record demands attention. Will that barren run end, or is it a genuine bogey ground?
With Caicedo fit again, should Reece James be risked if he is not fully recovered, or is Chelsea's midfield balance better without him?

What happens next

Everton and Chelsea both return to Premier League action after the international break, with the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium set to shape the early-season narrative. Three points for Everton would strengthen their surprising top-half push; a Chelsea win would ease concerns about their leaky defence. The next team news update will confirm whether Mykolenko and James are fit to start.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vitalii Mykolenko playing for Everton vs Chelsea?

Mykolenko is considered a 50-50 call after missing the draw at Hull with a problem picked up on Ukraine duty. Everton have no other recognised left-back available.

Is Reece James starting for Chelsea vs Everton?

James is a doubt after missing training on Tuesday and sitting out the 5-1 win over Bournemouth. Moises Caicedo is fit again, giving Chelsea more balance in midfield.