Chelsea vs Everton Football Match Score 5 Aug 2022
Chelsea’s opening fixture of the 2022/23 campaign sends them north to face Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday evening. Thomas Tuchel isn’t a manager that often pulls his punches in the press and blasted a lack of “commitment physically and mentally” after his side were dispatched 4-0 in a preseason friendly against Arsenal. Despite admitting he had an increased role in recruitment earlier in the summer, Tuchel made an “urgent appeal” for more “quality players” a fortnight before his side’s trip to Merseyside. Here’s the XI Tuchel may cobble together from Chelsea’s apparently threadbare squad.
Chelsea kick off their 2022/23 Premier League campaign against former boss Frank Lampard and his Everton side at Goodison Park on August 6. Thomas Tuchel’s charges secured a Champions League spot in the final weeks of 2021/22 despite a controversial end to the season off the pitch at Stamford Bridge. The Todd Boehly ownership era has triggered optimism for Chelsea fans, with the club now free to sign new players, as Tuchel plots a challenge against Liverpool and Manchester City in the coming months. Lampard survived a possible first relegation from the Premier League last season but the former England international is planning for the start of the season without Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton have an excellent record over Chelsea in recent seasons, with four points from their two Premier League games against them in 2021/22 and four successive home wins in the top flight. However, their injury issues make a fifth such victory in a row look unlikely, as a new-look Chelsea aim for a strong start to the 2022/23 season with a win on Merseyside. The Premier League returns to the fold with a set of fixtures to start the new season as Everton lock horns with Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea side at Goodison Park on Saturday. Everton finished in 16th place in the Premier League standings last season and have endured a shocking slump over the past year. The Toffees eased past Dynamo Kyiv by a 3-0 margin last week and will need to take it up a notch in this fixture.
Chelsea, on the other hand, secured a third-place finish last season and are in a transitional phase at the moment. The Blues defeated Udinese by a convincing 3-1 margin in their previous game and will look to achieve a similar result this weekend. Chelsea have not met their objectives in the transfer market and face an uphill battle in the coming weeks. The Blues are yet to sign a first-choice centre-forward and will need the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz to step up and shoulder the goalscoring burden. Everton and Chelsea are set to return to Premier League action this weekend after a turbulent campaign last time out.
The Toffees will play their first competitive fixture since securing their top-flight status against Crystal Palace in May, while Frank Lampard will also prepare to face his former side. Chelsea are in the middle of a transitioning period as they look to bring in new faces as a number of others depart. They have so far made four new signings but are likely to look a little under prepared when they travel to Goodison Park on Saturday. With Chelsea still in search of another centre-back, James Tarkowski is definitely one of the front runners in this debate. The 29-year-old has only recently joined Everton on a free transfer this year after spending seven years with Burnley.
Tarkowski has plenty of Premier League experience, has seen Europa League action back in 2018/19 after a successful campaign with Burnley, and has previously been called up to the England squad for two international friendlies. The English centre-back established himself as a constant starter in Sean Dyche’s Burnley side after creating a defensive partnership with Ben Mee. Standing at around six feet tall, Tarkowski is known for winning his headers and throwing himself into challenges but seems to be in the ref’s book a lot. The 29-year-old could slot into Chelsea’s right centre-back role, playing alongside Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulabily as a back five.
Other noticeable players that are worth a mention would be Yerry Mina, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Anthony Gordon. Branthwaite is yet to break out into the Everton squad but at the age of 20, there is still time and one to look out for in the future. There are just two days until Chelsea kick-off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton. Former manager Frank Lampard got the better of Thomas Tuchel in this fixture last season, eventually proving the catalyst for the Toffees’ Premier League survival. The Blues will be looking to get off to a similarly strong start as last season, where they looked the team to beat in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Edouard Mendy will continue between the sticks this season, and with Kepa’s expected move away he is likely to be under even less stress as Chelsea’s number one this season. The Blues will return to old faithful in terms of the back five, and Reece James will be looking to build on a sensational prior campaign with a start here. Cesar Azpilicueta has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona this season, although he remains at the club and will captain the side to begin the season. Ever-reliable Thiago Silva will begin what could be his last season at the top in the middle of the back three, still being backed to perform by Tuchel.
Kalidou Koulibaly is the first to be handed his Chelsea debut, following his signing from Napoli. After an impressive pre-season, fans will be excited to see him in the Premier League. Left-wing-back will see the long-awaited return for Ben Chilwell to the first team, with a serious injury ending his season back in November last year.
