Chelsea vs. Everton Premier League Odds, Picks & Predictions for Saturday (Dec. 12)

Chelsea vs. Everton Odds

Odds updated as of Thursday night and via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.

Chelsea are one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League following a 3-1 drubbing of Leeds United at the weekend, and the Blues enter Saturday’s matchup with Everton with a chance to temporarily move back to the top of the table.

They’ll travel to Goodison Park to take on the Toffees, who have fallen off the pace after a blistering start to the league season.

The must-have app for soccer bettors

Custom scoreboard for your bets

Free soccer picks from experts

Live odds for every game

Download Now 

Chelsea

Few people were higher on the Blues than I was at the start of the season, with new signings galore to plug clear holes in the team from last year.

But more than any of their new signings, the re-emergence of N’Golo Kanté is the No. 1 reason that Chelsea has improved so much defensively.

Fullbacks Reece James and Ben Chilwell, when able to get forward, have been lethal in connecting with new signing Timo Werner and recently, Olivier Giroud. I’m holding a title future on the Blues, and they are sure to be in the top 4 of the league down the stretch.

I’m not going to read too much into their thrashing of Leeds because there’s no team that plays more into the Blues’ style than Leeds did on Saturday. In a high-paced, high-pressing game, Chelsea’s superior quality easily ripped apart Marcelo Bielsa’s side and produced 4.8 xG. That result is inflating the price on this match.

Everton will not play that way, as they rank ninth in possession rate and eighth in pressing rate. The Blues showed against Manchester United and Spurs that they still have issues with teams willing to leave them the ball and force them to go out and beat them.

United and Spurs are the two teams next to Everton in pressing intensity. Everton is sure to copy that approach.

Everton

Everton settled for a draw with Burnley at the weekend, and they were the victims of getting Burnley’d.

The Toffees dominated the entire game, but didn’t finish their chances and Burnley blocked enough shots and survived to steal the point.

In the league, Everton jumped out to four straight wins before both their performances and results took a dip. They don’t have much depth, so an injury here or there really hampers how well they play.

The performances have bounced back, though, and the results haven’t yet. They had problems defending Leeds, but not creating chances. They are an average Premier League defense but they are still one of the six best attacks, based on expected goals for.

_BookPromo=49

Betting Analysis & Pick

Perhaps the most interesting development tactically in this match will be how Frank Lampard chooses to stop James Rodriguez, Everton’s best creative threat.

If he chooses to have Kanté man-mark him, their best defensive midfielder could get pulled out wide more than the other attacking threats of other teams. That could open up more space for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to attack the Chelsea center backs directly.

Chelsea’s price has become a bit inflated here based on previous performances of both teams. The Blues are in good form, but the injury to Hakim Ziyech leaves me a bit concerned about their ability to break through Everton’s defense.

It’s a great buy-low, sell-high spot here and I’ll back to the Toffees to grab at least a point off the Blues. I make Chelsea -100, so there is some value on Everton.

The Pick: Everton +0.5 (+110)