Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Everton
Match Time & Date:
22/12/2024
15:00
Prediction: 1-2
Chelsea
Goodison Park will be packed when Everton and Chelsea take on each other in a highly-anticipated Premier League game on Sunday afternoon. The Toffees have been showing signs of improvement of late, with the team crushing Wolves 4-0 at home, while holding star-studded Arsenal to a goalless draw at Emirates Stadium and, no doubt, they are brimming with confidence ahead of the visit of Chelsea. The good news for the hosts is that midfielder Dwight McNeil has overcome his injury.
Meanwhile, the Blues are on the right track to overtake Liverpool in top position in the standings. Chelsea are on a five-game winning run in the Premier League and seeing that manager Enzo Maresca rested several first-team regulars in the Conference League clash with Shamrock Rovers, we are tempted to put our money on the title hopefuls. Pedro Neto is back from suspension, but Marc Cucurella will have to serve his one-game ban against Everton.
Highlighted Player (Abdoulaye Doucouré):
French international midfielder Abdoulaye Doucour is a bundle of raw energy and a player who was voted Watford’s Player of the Season during the 2017/18 campaign. A deep-lying midfielder who takes part in play build-up from behind is a defensive asset who took time to blossom and announce himself at the international stage. He first burst to prominence at Ligue 1 side Rennes in 2012 after a year with the club’s B side and went on to play 75 league matches and score 12 goals.
Watford bought Doucoure in 2016 but sent him on loan to Granada, where he took part in 15 league matches. Determined to prove his worth in the Premier League, the Frenchman of Mali descent wasted no time in grabbing a starting spot under both Marco Silva and Javi Garcia, respectively, upon his return from Spain.
The total of 38 matches played along with 8 goals scored made Doucoure one of the most sought-after assets in the summer of 2018 but the player remained at Vicarage Road despite reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
Highlighted Team (Chelsea):
Over the years Chelsea have established themselves as one of the dominant forces in the English Premier League. Roberto Di Matteo helped the team win their first ever Champions League trophy (2011/2012), but it has to be noted that they were more than fortunate to beat Bayern Munich in the title game.
Chelsea have been playing at Stamford Bridge since 1876 and they are a real force to be reckoned with at home. The Blues have won seven FA Cups, five League Cups, two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups and the UEFA Europa League. Rafael Benitez was in charge of the team that faced Benfica in the 2012/2013 Europa League final, with Branislav Ivanovic scoring the winner for the Blues in the title clash.
After lifting the 2014/2015 Premier League trophy, the Blues largely struggled in the next campaign, which saw Jose Mourinho’s second spell with the club come to an end, and Antoine Conte went over to take the reigns for the 2016/2017 season.
Real Madrid
Pachuca
Arsenal
Crystal Palace
Newcastle
Brentford 
Monaco 
PSG
Southampton
Liverpool
Espanyol 
Valencia 
