Chelsea predicted line-up vs. Everton: Two changes made as £52m striker edges closer to return

Chelsea will look to bounce back from their disappointing midweek defeat at Old Trafford when they travel back to the North West to face Everton on Sunday afternoon – and will be hoping that the Toffees can’t put up a repeat of their hugely impressive performance against Newcastle United.

If Pochettino is to pull off a win, he will likely have to do so without the services of nine players, with Chelsea’s injury issues not likely to soften any before the game at Goodison Park. They will, at least, be able to call upon England international Conor Gallagher once again as he returns from a one-match ban for his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion.

We’ve brought together all the latest injury updates and team news below, and ventured a predicted starting XI for what increasingly looks like a very tricky fixture for the Blues.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Chelsea have four defenders out with injuries and we aren’t expecting any positive updates ahead of the game at Goodison, with Malo Gusto (knee), Ben Chilwell and Trevoh Chalobah (both hamstring) all out of action, while Wesley Fofana isn’t expected to play again this season thanks to a serious knee ligament injury.

Reece James is expected to start after coming off the bench to replace Marc Cucurella at half-time during the defeat against Manchester United, although it remains to be seen whether he plays at centre-half again or in his preferred full-back role. Axel Disasi was one of Chelsea’s better performer on Wednesday in the right-back slot, and may have made a good argument for keeping his place.

Midfield

Gallagher returning from a one-match suspension means that Pochettino can call upon the entirety of what appears to be his first-choice midfield, with Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo and Cole Palmer all fit and ready to go and now new injury problems reported.

There are still plenty of injury issues, however, with young central midfielders Lesley Ugochukwu (muscle) and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) both out, although the latter is expected back in training over the course of the next week or so. Roméo Lavia, who hasn’t played since signing from Southampton, is back in training but isn’t expected to be ready to feature yet, although he could be ready to play before Christmas if there are no further setbacks.

Forwards

Summer signing Christopher Nkunku is edging closer to his first game for Chelsea and the former RB Leipzig forward is back in light training – but the game against Everton will almost certainly come too soon for him, with Chelsea focussing on restoring his match fitness. They are unlikely to risk him for at least another week or two, but he isn’t far from making the substitute’s bench.

Young winger Noni Madueke is the other player who will miss the journey to Liverpool, although he could be available again for next weekend’s game against Sheffield United after playing just three minutes of Premier League football since the end of October.

Full predicted line-up vs. Everton

Sánchez; Colwill, Silva, Disasi, James; Fernández, Caicedo, Gallagher; Sterling, Jackson, Palmer.