Thursday marked a pivotal moment in Everton’s modern history as the Friedkin Group finalized their acquisition of a 99.5% stake in the club.
For fans and locals, this change in ownership brings a wave of optimism, offering hope that the days of financial uncertainty, points deductions, and tense relegation battles may soon be behind them. However, the Toffees remain embroiled in a fierce fight for survival, sitting just three points above the relegation zone heading into the weekend, though with the advantage of a game in hand.
For manager Sean Dyche, the arrival of new owners signals an increased level of scrutiny on his performance. Securing a result against an in-form Chelsea side would be the perfect way to impress his new bosses. While wins have been hard to come by for Everton recently—just one in their last seven Premier League matches—their resilience has been evident. Four draws in that stretch, including a commendable 0-0 result against title contenders Arsenal, demonstrate their ability to frustrate opponents and grind out results when needed.
Everton’s defensive resilience will face a stern examination against Chelsea’s high-flying attack. The Blues have been in scintillating form, extending their winning streak to eight games across all competitions following a commanding 5-1 triumph over Shamrock Rovers in midweek European action. Chelsea’s recent Premier League form is equally impressive, with a 2-1 victory over Brentford showcasing their ability to edge close encounters.
Enzo Maresca’s side has been an offensive powerhouse since May, outscoring every other Premier League team with an astonishing 51 goals. Chelsea also lead the league in wins and points during that period, cementing their status as the team to beat. They’ll be eager to maintain that momentum and keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table.
Goodison Park, however, has historically been a challenging venue for Chelsea. The Blues have lost five of their last six visits to Everton’s home ground, with four of those defeats coming without scoring a goal. It’s a statistic that will provide encouragement to Everton, who thrive on turning their home turf into a fortress against top-tier opposition.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be a key figure for the hosts, as the striker edges closer to a significant milestone—his 200th start for the club in all competitions. Calvert-Lewin has a knack for delivering in big moments, having scored twice against Chelsea in league action, both at Goodison Park and both in the month of December. With the stakes high, Everton will look to their talisman to deliver once again.
On the opposite end, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is a player to watch. Palmer has already tormented Everton once this year, scoring a stunning hat-trick in a comprehensive 6-0 victory in April. This season, he’s been instrumental for the Blues, leading the league in combined shots and chances created, with his involvement surpassing 100 attacking attempts. Everton’s defense will need to be at their sharpest to contain his influence.
While Chelsea’s attacking prowess grabs headlines, Everton have quietly established themselves as one of Europe’s most defensively sound sides in recent months. Since the start of October, no team across Europe’s top five leagues has kept more clean sheets than Everton, with six shutouts to their name. This newfound defensive solidity could prove crucial in thwarting Chelsea’s rampant attack.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for both sides. Everton are desperate to put more distance between themselves and the drop zone, while Chelsea are laser-focused on maintaining their pursuit of the league summit. As the Toffees begin a new chapter under ambitious ownership, a strong performance against one of the league’s best could be the perfect way to signal a brighter future.
Advertisement
Latest Press Conference
We’re on Social Media
World Time Zones
| Europe | GMT |
 London | 14:00 |
| Edinburgh | 14:00 |
 Madrid | 15:00 |
 Lisbon | 14:00 |
 Berlin | 15:00 |
 Paris | 15:00 |
 Amsterdam | 15:00 |
 Rome | 15:00 |
 Belgrade | 15:00 |
 Sofia | 16:00 |
 Warshaw | 15:00 |
 Tirana | 15:00 |
 Istanbul | 16:00 |
 Kyiv | 16:00 |
 Moscow | 16:00 |
| North America | GMT |
 New York, New York City | 09:00 |
| Texas, Dallas | 08:00 |
| Utah, Salt Lake City | 07:00 |
| California, Santa Clara | 06:00 |
| Alaska, Anchorage | 05:00 |
 St. John’s | 11:00 |
| Halifax | 10:00 |
| Toronto | 09:00 |
| Winnipeg | 08:00 |
| Edmonton | 07:00 |
| Vancouver | 06:00 |
 Mexico City | 07:00 |
| South America | GMT |
 Sao Paulo | 10:00 |
 La Paz | 09:00 |
 Lima | 08:00 |
| Australia | GMT |
 Perth | 21:00 |
| Eucla | 21:45 |
| Darwin | 22:30 |
| Adelaide | 22:30 |
| Brisbane | 23:00 |
| Sydney | 23:00 |
| Asia | GMT |
 Mecca | 16:00 |
 Kabul | 17:30 |
 Karachi | 18:00 |
 New Dehli | 18:30 |
 Dhaka | 19:00 |
 Jakarta | 20:00 |
 Singapore | 21:00 |
 Kuala Lumpur | 21:00 |
| Africa | GMT |
 Accra | 13:00 |
 Porto Novo | 14:00 |
 Casablanca | 14:00 |
 Johannesburg | 15:00 |
 Cairo | 16:00 |
 Nairobi | 16:00 |
Where to watch Everton vs Chelsea Live Stream, and on Satellite TV?
fubo Sports Network 2 DRM (Can),
Nova Sports Premier League (Gre),
Sky Sport Premier League (Ger),
SuperSport GOtv Football (Afr),
Supersport Maximo 1 Champions (Rsa),
SuperSport Variety 3 (Afr),