When the fixture list came out for the 2015-16 term, Roberto Martinez had to look at this run just after New Year's and cringe. His Everton side had to play at Manchester City and at Chelsea in a span of just four days. Throw in a Capital One Cup tie against the Citizens as well, and the new year could've easily run the Toffees out of luck.
Instead, they've thrived, winning the first of two legs against City followed up by a scoreless draw at the Ethiad in the Premier League. Getting anything from this trip to Stamford Bridge would be considered an epic accomplishment.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea -138
Everton +395
Draw +285
Over/Under 2.5 (over -125)
ODDS ANALYSIS
We might have finally reached the tipping point for Chelsea. The Blues failed yet again on Wednesday to win a match as a huge odds on favorite at home, and now, they're being treated a little bit more like the mid-table Premier League team they're turning out to be.
No team has burned more holes in pockets this year than has Chelsea, and though it's still an odds-on favorite against Everton, a -138 price isn't as high as might have been the case had this fixture been played even six weeks ago.
The total is relatively low at 2.5 and -125 vig on the under.
KEY INJURIES
Radamel Falcao is still out of the lineup with a muscle injury which has been hampering him for months, while Eden Hazard has a groin injury which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the month. Those might be Chelsea's only notable injury problems, but obviously, the issues on the pitch for Guus Hiddink run deeper than who isn't available in the lineup.
Everton has been gritting through some really tough times of late on the injury front. All of Tom Cleverley, Seamus Coleman, Tony Hibbert, James McCarthy, Steven Naismith and Jeffrey Schlupp sat that match against Man City out on Wednesday, yet a point was still preserved. The mountain is still really high to climb, though Naismith could be back for Saturday's run-in with the Blues.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We have said before that as long as it's possible to mathematically get fourth and the Champions League, we will go for it. But then we have to win all these games, at home at least, because if you want to do that you calculate that you need 2.8 average points per game. That's difficult and you have to win your games at home." – Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink after a disappointing 2-2 draw at home against West Brom
RECENT FORM
We're not sure where Hiddink goes thinking this is a team which has European hopes for 2016-17. Chelsea is as good as dead at this point, and the 2-2 draw which felt like a loss at home on Wednesday only helped remove the pleasant results in the FA Cup and against Crystal Palace to kick off 2016.
Everton's scoreless draw against Man City was its fourth straight match with at least a point since losing 4-3 against Stoke City just after Christmas.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Tim Howard is really in fine form right now in the Everton net, and as American soccer fans know, when he gets going, he's really tough to get one past.
Chelsea's offense has started producing, but now the problems at the back are starting to get magnified. That makes this a really bad time to run into Romelu Lukaku, one of the top strikers in the Premier League this year.
That said, we still think the Blues are ultimately going to get all three points from this match, though it's still hard to find great value in backing them as odds on favorites when they're still sitting on an ugly 6-6-9 mark.
Chelsea 2, Everton 1
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Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between Chelsea and Everton will take place on Saturday, January 16, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at Stamford Bridge. The game will be broadcast live on USA.
