Everton vs Chelsea predictions: Palmer to steer Blues to victory
- Chelsea can move top of the Premier League with a win
- Everton are the second-lowest scorers in the division
- Recommended bet: Cole Palmer to score at any time and Chelsea to win
Chelsea will be looking to turn up the heat on Liverpool in the Premier League title when they take on Everton in the Premier League at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues sit just two points behind the table-topping Reds, who have played a game less, and a win for Enzo Maresca's side would send them top of the standings.
Liverpool would have the chance to get back into first position when they head to Tottenham later on Sunday, but that will be a tough trip and Chelsea will be eager to keep the pressure on their title rivals.
Team news
Everton duo Timothy Iroegbunam and James Garner remained sidelined until the new year, while Dele Alli and Youssef Chermiti are also in the treatment room.
Dwight McNeil missed the draw at Arsenal with a knee issue and will be assessed closer to the game, but Armando Broja is unavailable to face his parent club.
Chelsea are still without Wesley Fofana and Reece James, who are both pencilled in for a January return, while there are doubts over Benoit Badiashile.
Romeo Lavia could come back into the fold after missing the last three matches, but Marc Cucurella and Mykhailo Mudryk are both suspended.
The stats
Everton have won just one of their last seven matches, with three of those fixtures ending in 0-0 draws.
The Toffees have scored just 14 league goals, leaving only Southampton (11) below them in this department.
Sean Dyche's side are unbeaten in five matches at home, winning two and drawing three.
Chelsea extended their winning streak in all competitions to eight matches with Thursday's 5-1 Conference League win over Shamrock Rovers.
The Blues have won their last five away games, beating Leicester, Southampton and Tottenham in the league and Heidenheim and Astana in Europe.
England international Cole Palmer leads Chelsea's scoring charts in the top flight, netting 11 times.
Prediction
Chelsea are playing with supreme confidence and the fact they were able to rest a host of their first-team regulars in midweek means that they will be fresh and raring to go for this trip to Merseyside.
The Blues have scored with ease during their current eight-game winning streak, notching 26 times and they are the leading scorers in both the Premier League (37) and Conference League (26).
Even an Everton defence that has kept four clean sheets from their last five fixtures will find it difficult to keep Chelsea at bay, especially as the visitors have Palmer in their ranks.
The English star has scored 11 times in the league, exactly half of what he managed in the previous campaign, and he has fond memories of facing the Toffees having netted four times in the 6-0 victory the last time these two met in April.
An in-form Palmer can hit the back of the net again and fire the Blues to glory.
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