Everton vs Chelsea Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

Chelsea have the opportunity to reclaim top spot in the Premier League, albeit only temporarily, when they face Everton on Saturday evening.

The Blues have been in sumptuous form since the start of October and are just two points off the summit; with Spurs and Liverpool not in action until the following day.

Everton's bright start under Carlo Ancelotti has tailed off, and the Toffees find themselves now down to ninth ,five points adrift of their weekend opponents

Here's 90min's preview of the game.

Where to Watch

When is Kick-Off? Saturday 12 December
What Time is Kick-Off? 20:00 ( GMT )
Where is it Played? Goodison Park
TV Channel/ Live Stream?  BT Sport (UK), NBC Sports (USA)
Referee? Jon Moss

Team News

The hosts are without first-choice full-backs Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman, as both continue rehabilitating their respective hamstring injuries, while Fabian Delph faces his own spell on the sidelines after the injury-plagued midfielder picked up a hamstring problem of his own in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.

Chelsea will be able to call upon Christian Pulisic from the start should Frank Lampard wish to do so, but Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech have joined the extensive list of hamstring injury casualties - an issue that appears to be rearing its head across the country as the hectic fixture schedule continues to wreak havoc.

Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma will return in the heart of defence after being rested in midweek, and Olivier Giroud should retain his Premier League place ahead of Tammy Abraham.

Predicted Lineups

Everton: Pickford; Godfrey, Mina, Keane; Davies, Allan, Doucoure, Iwobi; Rodriguez, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison

Chelsea: Mendy; James, Zouma, Silva, Chilwell; Havertz, Kanté, Mount; Pulisic, Giroud, Werner

Recent Form

Everton started the season like a house on fire, winning their first four games, but standards have slipped in the last few weeks. Defeat against Leeds at Goodison Park was disappointing, and the Toffees have also chalked up defeats at Newcastle and Southampton recently.

They do, however, have a decent record against Chelsea, which they'll hope will stand them in good stead for a positive result.

Chelsea may have drawn two of their last five games, but they do look like a side very much in-form. Defensively they look more solid, and their record on the road is particularly impressive this season - they are yet to lose in their five outings.

Here's how both sides have fared in their last five games in all competitions.

Everton

Burnley 1-1 Everton (05/12)
Everton 0-1 Leeds (28/11)
Fulham 2-3 Everton (22/11)
Everton 1-3 Manchester United (7/11)
Newcastle 2-1 Everton (1/11)

Chelsea

Chelsea 1-1 Krasnodar (08/12)
Chelsea 3-1 Leeds (05/12)
Sevilla 0-4 Chelsea (02/12)
Chelsea 0-0 Tottenham (28/11)
Rennes 1-2 Chelsea (23/11)

Prediction

Chelsea's good start will only mean something if they continue to string together positive results, something they've struggled to do against Everton in recent years.

Ziyech's absence is a blow, but with Pulisic, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount at his disposal, Lampard still has plenty of firepower to earn all three points.

Everton will be no pushovers, but the absence of Digne or Delph on the left could blunt them going forwards, and leave them powerless to stop Reece James from overlapping into dangerous crossing positions.

Prediction: Everton 1-3 Chelsea