Chelsea will be looking to continue their title assault by keeping the pressure on Manchester City, with Everton standing in their way.
Recommended bets
1pt Alvaro Morata to score and win at 7/4
1pt over 10.5 corners at 11/10
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Chelsea v Everton (Sunday, 1415 GMT, Sky Sports Premier League)
Chelsea's next challengers after an unbeaten start to the season are Everton, who have themselves gathered form with four wins in their last five.
The Blues have shown few issues returning to league action after playing in the Europa League, winning two and drawing one, and on home turf it is hard to see them being beaten here.
Thursday's 1-0 win over Belarus outfit BATE saw Oliver Giroud score his first Chelsea goal since May, as well as Eden Hazard making his first start since returning from injury. The Belgian played 60 minutes and he could line up against the Toffees from the start.
Maurizio Sarri's side have been effective when required, playing good football under the former Napoli boss, with Jorginho and Ross Barkley (a January arrival) looking solid additions in the middle while Alvaro Morata is enjoying a run in the team after a disappointing 2017/18.
Everton, meanwhile, are continuing to improve under Marco Silva, beating Brighton last week.
Their last trip to London was a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in September, so the Portuguese will be looking for more from the Toffees this time around - but he may have to do it without key forward Richarlison, who is a doubt after limited involvement in training on Friday.
Betting guide
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Everton (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)
Chelsea with the return of their star man, Everton without one of theirs, a home win is expected. A number of the Blues team are playing well - Barkley, Willian, Morata - so adding Hazard to the equation only spells more trouble for the Merseysiders. Watch out for Barkley's performance as he comes up against his boyhood club with a point to prove.
Best bet: Over 10.5 total corners at 11/10
The Blues' last six Premier League games have all had eight or more total corners and they face a team second in the corner taking charts for this season (69 in 11 games). In what could be an entertaining game with plenty of chances, the set piece count could easily reach double figures and above evens presents good value.
Goals: Alvaro Morata to score and win at 7/4
The Spaniard is in red-hot form by his standards, netting three goals in his last two Premier League appearances and he was rested in midweek. He was unfortunate not to get his hat-trick in the win over Crystal Palace, missing a late one-on-one when he went to dink the goalkeeper - which shows his levels of confidence. The 26-year-old has had a tough time at Stamford Bridge, so he will be hoping this spell can continue to keep him ahead of Olivier Giroud in the pecking order. At just over 2/1 to score in a Chelsea win, it's tempting.
RequestABet: Chelsea to win, Morata to score, over 10.5 total corners and Seamus Coleman to be carded
Opta statistics
- Chelsea are unbeaten in 23 home Premier League games against Everton (W13 D10) since losing 0-1 in November 1994.
- In all competitions, Everton have won none of their last 28 visits to Stamford Bridge against Chelsea (D11 L17).
- Only one team has ever had a longer winless away run against an opponent in Premier League history than Everton’s current 23 against Chelsea – Spurs went 25 away games without a win at Stamford Bridge between 1993 and 2016.
- Everton have won one of their last 16 away Premier League games in London (D6 L9), losing their last four in a row, all during 2018.
- Chelsea are looking to remain unbeaten in their opening 12 games to a top-flight season for only the second time, also doing so in 2014-15 (unbeaten in first 14).
- Everton have lost 11 of their last 13 away Premier League games played on Sunday (D2) since winning 2-1 at QPR in March 2015.
- Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fàbregas has had a hand in 10 goals in his last 10 Premier League games against Everton (5 goals, 5 assists).
- If Chelsea avoid defeat here, Maurizio Sarri will set a new record for longest unbeaten start in the competition by a manager (12 games), overtaking Frank Clark’s 11 games in 1994.
- Coming into this matchday, no player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (11 – 7 goals, 4 assists).
- Everton manager Marco Silva has lost all six of his away Premier League matches in London – no manager has a worse 100% losing rate in London than Silva, with Nigel Pearson also losing six out of six in the capital; only one manager has lost his first seven Premier League away games in London (Mick McCarthy, who lost his first eight).
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Odds correct as of 1450 GMT on 09/11/18
