Chelsea make their first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium

Liverpool – When Chelsea step onto the Goodison Park replacement pitch on Saturday evening, they will be walking into uncharted territory in more ways than one. The Blues’ inaugural visit to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium arrives at a moment when both clubs are clinging to fading continental ambitions and both managers are feeling the temperature rise.

Chelsea enter the weekend having lost three straight matches in all competitions, a sequence that has derailed a once-promising push for the Premier League’s top five and ended their Champions League dream at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The 3-0 defeat in the French capital on Tuesday sealed an 8-2 aggregate humiliation and left head coach Liam Rosenior facing uncomfortable questions about the direction of BlueCo’s much-debated sporting project.

Rosenior, whose honeymoon period has evaporated rapidly, could find himself under intensifying scrutiny if his side are beaten on Merseyside. The reverse fixture in December saw Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea cruise to a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge; a repeat scoreline would be gratefully received by the current regime.

Everton, meanwhile, have discovered that relocation has not translated into instant momentum. Sean Dyche’s team have relied on away form to keep Europa League and Conference League hopes alive, but last weekend’s 2-0 loss at Arsenal allowed the cluster of clubs around them to pull clear. A home win this weekend would lift the Toffees above Brentford and trim Chelsea’s cushion in sixth to just two points.

Injuries are complicating selection for both camps. Everton hope James Tarkowski will shake off a knock to anchor the back four, though Jarrad Branthwaite is expected to remain sidelined. Jack Grealish and Charly Alcaraz are still unavailable, and on-loan Tyrique George is barred from facing his parent club. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who spent five years at Chelsea’s Cobham training centre, is set to start in an advanced midfield role.

Chelsea’s medical bulletin is equally grim. Club captain Reece James will miss several weeks with a hamstring injury, while centre-back Trevoh Chalobah suffered an ankle sprain against PSG and faces six weeks out. Levi Colwill remains a long-term absentee, and full-backs Malo Gusto and Benoît Badiashile are doubtful after illness. Should Badiashile not recover, teenage defender Jorrel Hato could partner Wesley Fofana in the middle. Jamie Gittens is unlikely to return until after the international break, but Brazilian teenager Estêvão has already rejoined the squad.

With both sides desperate to halt slumps and stake a claim for European qualification, the first-ever meeting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium carries stakes far beyond local bragging rights. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:30 BST, with broadcast coverage across USA Network, Sky Sports Main Event, DAZN Canada and affiliated streaming platforms.

Chelsea predicted XI: Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernández, Neto; Pedro.

Everton predicted XI: Pickford; O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.