Everton vs Chelsea LIVE! Premier League match stream, latest score and goal updates today

Everton vs Chelsea – LIVE!

Chelsea have the chance to move to the top of the Premier League as they travel to face Everton at Goodison Park this afternoon. Victory would take the Blues above Liverpool by a point, at least until Arne Slot’s side face Tottenham later today, and should Spurs then avoid defeat, it will be Chelsea spending Christmas at the summit.

Enzo Maresca continues to insist his side are not in the title race but they are on an eight-match winning run in all competitions and continue to impress. The Chelsea boss is forced into a reshuffle in defence, with Levi Colwill seemingly shifted over to left-back to cover for the suspended Marc Cucurella.

Everton sit only three points clear of the relegation zone but their form has improved in recent weeks. Sean Dyche’s side held Arsenal to a goalless draw in north London last weekend, having thrashed Wolves before that. The Toffees are unbeaten in their last five home matches. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at the ground!

Everton vs Chelsea latest news

Kick-off: 2pm GMT | Goodison Park
How to watch: Not on TV in UK
Everton team news
Chelsea team news
Standard Sport prediction

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:27 , Matt Verri

26 mins: Great save!

Chelsea burst into life. Neto played in down the right, and he slides the pass through to Palmer.

He picks out Jackson in the middle, striker should score but Pickford denies him.

Rebound falls for Gusto, headed over the bar.

Malik Ouzia at Goodison Park

14:25 , Matt Verri

You’d assume that these conditions, being a bit of a leveller, would be help Everton but it’s actually making it really hard to gauge the weight of those direct balls into the channels.

Pickford has overhit three or four now.

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:23 , Matt Verri

23 mins: Everton with two awful clearances, as Sancho is allowed a couple of chances to shoot.

Third swipe at the ball from the Everton defence does the job.

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:22 , Matt Verri

21 mins: Pickford launches a kick out towards Harrison… and straight out of play.

It’s not been a great watch so far, conditions aren’t helping.

Haven’t really seen anything from Chelsea yet in attack.

Malik Ouzia at Goodison Park

14:19 , Matt Verri

Sean Dyche has been remarkably animated in this opening 18 minutes.

I haven’t seen him sit down once.

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:18 , Matt Verri

18 mins: Danger here for Chelsea, as Fernandez commits the foul and Everton have a free-kick in a really dangerous position.

It’s just about within range for Harrison and Young, you’d think. Both standing over it.

Young gets the nod, whipped over the wall but comfortably claimed by Sanchez.

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:16 , Matt Verri

15 mins: Doucoure free down the left, clipped ball into the middle is aimed at Calvert-Lewin but Chelsea hack it away.

All a bit chaotic when Everton attack, which is probably to their benefit.

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:13 , Matt Verri

12 mins: Jackson handles the ball about 15 yards inside his own half and this will be a chance for Everton to lump something into the box.

Tarkowski won the initial header at the back post, but nobody there for Everton to pounce in the box.

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:10 , Matt Verri

10 mins: Palmer has space in midfield, slides the pass out to Neto who is free on the right.

Can drive inside, onto his left foot and gets the shot away. Straight at Pickford.

Malik Ouzia at Goodison Park

14:09 , Matt Verri

The wind now is absolutely incredible and it’s blowing pretty much directly from one goal to the other.

There are bits of paper and a rogue cone on the pitch. Jordan Pickford looks very cold.

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:06 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Ndiaye skips away from Diasi, loses his footing but he wins the free-kick as Neto gets back to help his full-back.

Feels like that could be a key battle this afternoon, Ndiaye running at Diasi.

Everton 0-0 Chelsea

14:04 , Matt Verri

3 mins: Fairly low-key start to the match.

Gueye gives away an early free-kick, no surprise to see Everton keen to make a mark in midfield early on.

KICK-OFF!

14:01 , Matt Verri

We’re up and running at Goodison Park!

Here we go!

13:58 , Matt Verri

Teams are out onto the pitch, it’s a great atmosphere as you’d expect.

Reminder that victory for Chelsea would move to the top of the table, at least for a few hours.

If Liverpool then fail to beat Tottenham later this afternoon, Chelsea will stay top for Christmas.

Not long now!

13:52 , Matt Verri

Just under ten minutes to go until kick-off.

Speaking earlier when he first arrived at the ground, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez admitted he is not relishing these conditions.

“I’ve been looking outside the window of the bus and the wind looks really strong,” he said.

“It can be difficult to read the ball when it gets in the wind.”

Malik Ouzia at Goodison Park

13:47 , Matt Verri

From Chelsea’s defensive shape in the warm-up, it looks like Gusto at left-back and Disasi on the right.

Malik Ouzia at Goodison Park

13:43 , Matt Verri

A cold, windy, grey day on Merseyside, but the mood is upbeat after a momentous week in Everton’s modern history.

I think this’ll be a real challenge for Chelsea.

Dyche explains McNeil absence

13:39 , Matt Verri

Sean Dyche has explained his decision to name an unchanged lineup this afternoon, with Dwight McNeil not yet fit enough to return.

“Yes, he’s still settling his knee down,” Dyche says.

“We don’t think it’s too drastic, but it is taking a bit more time than we hoped for.

“The side gave a very strong performance, very good disciplined performance, very good organisationally [at Arsenal] and we’re going to have to perform somewhat like that again today against a very good side in Chelsea.”

Maresca lays out James plan

13:33 , Matt Verri

Reece James handed Chelsea a boost by returning to training on Friday, but Enzo Maresca has vowed to take a “slowly, slowly” approach to his latest comeback.

James has not featured since the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in early November because of a hamstring problem picked up during the subsequent international break.

The club captain has been plagued by a series of fitness problems – and, in particular, hamstring injuries – over the past three years and has made only six Premier League appearances across the entirety of 2024.

The 25-year-old had surgery last winter in a bid to resolve the issue and did return to full fitness during preseason, only to pick up a fresh problem that eventually ruled him out until mid-October.

James had managed just four appearances for the Blues this term when his latest injury struck and Maresca says the club will be cautious in coaxing him back into action this time around.

“Reece finally [on Friday] will start with us for part of the session, so slowly, slowly, he will be back,” Maresca said.

“That doesn’t mean he is going to be with us on Sunday [against Everton] or next Sunday.

“The plan for him [on Friday] is to be with the team for part of the session and from there to try to build the right condition for him. Then finally he can be back with us.”

New era for Everton

13:26 , Matt Verri

Everton’s takeover by the Friedkin Group was confirmed this week.

A statement issued by the club on Thursday morning said the Toffees had been acquired by Roundhouse Capital Holdings Limited, an entity within the Friedkin Group.

The club said the deal had received the necessary regulatory approvals from the Premier League, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, the Football Association and the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Premier League’s statement confirmed the Friedkin Group had purchased a 98.8 per cent stake in Everton.

It marks the end of a turbulent period for the club under the ownership of Farhad Moshiri.

The club have twice been sanctioned under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) in the last 13 months, and had eight points in total deducted last season.

In the building!

13:18 , Matt Verri

The Blues have arrived at Goodison…

Chelsea duo in danger of suspension

13:09 , Matt Verri

Players who pick up five yellow cards in the first 19 Premier League matches of the season will receive a one-match ban. The threshold for a suspension after that point in the campaign is raised to 10 bookings after 32 matches.

Therefore, Chelsea’s match against Ipswich Town on December 30 is the final game in which suspensions will be handed out for a fifth yellow card.

With four yellow cards each, both Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez are the Chelsea players in immediate danger as they need to avoid a booking against Everton, Fulham and Ipswich to avoid a one-game ban.

Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia and Noni Madueke are all on three yellow cards, so they too need to be careful over the next three matches.

Meanwhile, Malo Gusto, Joao Felix and Renato Veiga have more breathing room on two and therefore just have to avoid a booking against the Toffees to no longer be a suspension risk.

Four yellow cards: Nicolas Jackson and Robert Sanchez

Three yellow cards: Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia and Noni Madueke

Dele bids farewell to Everton

13:01 , Matt Verri

Dele Alli says it’s time for him to turn a new page after confirming his Everton exit in an emotional farewell message on social media this week.

Though the former Tottenham star has been without a club since his contract with the Toffees expired in the summer, he has continued to train with the Merseyside outfit.

However, amid being offered the chance to revive his career in Italy with Como – managed by ex-Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas – Alli has taken to Instagram to officially announce his Everton departure.

In the lengthy post, the 28-year-old expressed his gratitude to the club’s staff, players and fans for supporting him during a difficult time in his life.

“As widely published this week, 2025 may set me on a new path with some exciting opportunities,” he wrote. “Before any of that happens it’s very important for me to make clear how grateful I am of all the fans, staff and players at Everton FC for the support they have given me.

“It’s been an incredibly tough journey trying to put the final pieces together to regain match fitness and I cannot thank the Everton staff enough for the hard work they have put into this process.

“Unfortunately, things haven’t worked out as we all would have hoped and I think it’s the right time for me to turn a new page.

“I want to wish everyone at this amazing club the very best of luck and hopefully we will see each other again soon.”

Chelsea have options

12:53 , Matt Verri

We might have to wait and see exactly how that Chelsea defence lines up.

It’s written out as though Colwill is at left-back, with Tosin and Disasi the centre-back partnership.

But it could prove to be Disasi at right-back, Guston over on the left and Colwill alongside Tosin in the middle.

Everton team news

12:50

Starting XI: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Mangala, Gueye, Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Beto, O’Brien, Chermiti, Coleman, Lindstrom, Armstrong

Chelsea team news

12:46 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Disasi, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Veiga, Madueke, Casadei, George, Felix, Nkunku, Guiu

Stand by…

12:39 , Matt Verri

All the team news from Goodison coming up in the next five minutes or so.

Everton hoping to have McNeil back, Chelsea needing to fill a gap in the absence of Cucurella.

Stage is set!

12:32 , Matt Verri

Sun not exactly shining over Goodison…

Maresca offers Guiu update

12:26 , Matt Verri

Enzo Maresca wants to keep Marc Guiu at Chelsea next month – but says he is ready to listen if the striker demands a January loan move.

It has been a superb week for the Spanish forward, who followed two goals at Astana last Thursday with a hat-trick in the 5-1 thrashing of Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League last night.

With six goals in all, the 18-year-old finishes the group stage as the competition’s leading scorer, but Chelsea do not play the first leg of their last-16 tie until March and first-team minutes could be hard to come by between now and then.

He has not played a minute in the Premier League since the opening day of the season.

There have already been reports of loan interest in Guiu in the teenager’s homeland and Chelsea may soon have a decision to make over how his development is best served in the second half of the campaign.

“With young players like Marc, like Josh [Acheampong], like Tyrique [George], for me, the best thing for them is to be with us,” said Marecsa.

“Because they can understand every day the way we want to play, they can grow, we can teach them how we want them to play.

“So, I think it’s better if they stay with us. But then it depends a little on the desire of the players.

“If in this case, Marc’s desire is to get more minutes and to play more, then we see we sit with him and we will decide together.”

Can Blues keep denying title bid?

12:15 , Matt Verri

The pretence plumbed comic new depths this week as, when asked the now obligatory question about whether Chelsea are in this title race, Noni Madueke chose extreme evasive action as the wisest course.

“I don’t know what that is,” the winger told the BBC, launching his head towards the sand and sounding a bit like Jack Grealish that time it was put to him that he was a ‘football encyclopaedia’.

“I feel like title race talk in December, I’m not indulging in that,” the 22-year-old added. “The race hasn’t even started yet.” How the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City must wish that were true.

A smirk told you that Madueke, as with Enzo Maresca and all of his players, is by now in on the joke and they must all know that come four-o’clock, the party line could become impossible to hold.

Should the Blues beat Everton on their final Premier League visit to Goodison Park they will, at least briefly, climb to the top of the Premier League. Should Liverpool then fail to win at Tottenham later this evening, they will still be there come Christmas Day. From that position, in the Premier League era, Chelsea have gone on to win the title five times out of five.

Read our full preview here!

Blues wave goodbye to Goodison

12:06 , Matt Verri

This is Chelsea’s final trip to Goodison Park in the Premier League – they won’t be too sad about that.

The Blues have won just twice in their last ten visits to face Everton, and they were beaten 2-0 here in December last year.

This, though, feels like a very different Chelsea team.

Standard Sport prediction

11:57 , Matt Verri

It has not been easy for Chelsea against Everton in recent years but this young team have been so impressive all season, it’s hard to look past them.

With the squad so strong, the midweek fixtures have not put an added strain on the first-team stars and the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson should once again be rested.

Chelsea to win 3-1.

Chelsea team news

11:50 , Matt Verri

Enzo Maresca may have to get creative to solve a defensive headache this afternoon.

Marc Cucurella is suspended after his late red card against Brentford last weekend and Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Reece James are all still out.

Tosin Adarabioyo will likely partner Levi Colwill at centre-back, while Malo Gusto is sure to play on one of the flanks, but Maresca must decide which of Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga and youngster Josh Acheampong fills in on the other.

Moises Caicedo would usually be an option at right-back, but Maresca has revealed that Romeo Lavia is struggling to recover from a hamstring injury in time to play and the Ecuadorian will therefore likely be needed in midfield.

Further forward, Joao Felix is available again after returning from injury as a substitute against Shamrock Rovers in midweek.

That Noni Madueke started against Shamrock is probably bad news for his chances of doing likewise at Goodison Park, with Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto rested and ready to come in.

Predicted Chelsea lineup: Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Veiga; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson