Chelsea

The worry for Everton is James Tarkowski is out for the season with the hamstring injury he sustained against Manchester City.

That is a massive blow for them at the back, because they did not look the same team defensively once he went off.

Everton are without striker Armando Broja too, because he is on loan from Chelsea and cannot face his parent club, but I feel like he has kind of been on trial in the past couple of games anyway.

David Moyes has been having a look at Broja, probably to weigh up whether or not to sign him permanently in the summer, but Everton are probably better off with Beto leading their attack.

He will be a threat running in behind when they try to break forward, and Abdoulaye Doucoure will get up there too in support.

They might get some joy here because while Chelsea are still in the mix for the top five after their fightback to beat Fulham, things are clearly still not right with them.

An element of their fans are just not having Enzo Maresca and his style of play, and it will be interesting to see how the Stamford Bridge crowd react if things don't go to plan on Saturday.

I am really not convinced by Chelsea's attack at the moment, especially with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson so out of form. Even with Tarkowski missing, they could struggle to break Everton down.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has says this season is "not a failure" compared with the previous two campaigns.

The Blues finished 12th and sixth in their previous two campaigns - the first full seasons under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, during which there has been significant turnover both of players and managers.

They currently sit sixth - two points behind Newcastle in the final Champions League qualification spot in fifth.

"Compared with the past two years, it [the season] is not a failure," said Maresca.

"How many times in the past two years have Chelsea been in the Champions League [places]? And this season we have been there almost all season. It's an improvement or not? It's already an improvement."

Chelsea were in second place - two points behind leaders Liverpool - and being spoken about as potential champions in December, but suffered a prolonged dip in form at the start of 2025.

However, Maresca believes progress has been made and accused external figures of failing to recognise it.

"Compared with the last two years, it's quite clear there is an improvement," he added.

"If you want to see it, you see it. If you don't want to see it, you don't see it. Depends which way [you look]. I see it.

"We have the obligation to bring this club to where it belongs. The results have been there. Me as a manager, the club, we all have ambition. I think we are going in the right direction and hopefully we can be there very soon."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Everton at Stamford Bridge (12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca confirmed Malo Gusto will not be available after being substituted in last weekend's win at Fulham but it "does not look like an important injury" and the right-back will "hopefully he will be available for the next game".

• He added striker Marc Guiu is still out but is hopefully "one week to two weeks" away from returning, while young defender Aaron Anselmino remains sidelined.

• On Romeo Lavia, who has recently returned to the first team after injury: "He was on the bench against Fulham. He is back and training with us. With Romeo, we will try the same thing we are trying with Reece James. We know we need to use them step by step."

• Maresca was asked about fan frustration at recent inconsistent form: "I can understand it. We are trying to keep them happy. The fans are the same. They were thinking Chelsea is back and showing they are happy. Now we are not winning the same amount of games, they are showing they are not happy."

• More on the club's current state: "As a manager, the club, we all have a vision. We are in the right direction. Hopefully we can be there very soon. Our target is the Champions League. We are going to try to finish in the right way. I said many times, the players are working hard every day to bring this club to where it has to be. The journey has just started."

• On Christopher Nkunku, who was left out of the squad last weekend: "He's in the squad. He has been good. He's training well. In this moment, if he's in the squad, one offensive player has to be out. That's probably Ty [George]. We decided. Malo is out, so we can bring in another one. Any decision I take is for the best of the club. I know Christo cost a lot and Ty is from the academy. I am here to take these kind of decisions."

• He reflected on his first 50 games in charge: "Personally, very happy. I have learned many things. To play every three days, in different competitions, has been a journey of learning. We had some bad moments, some good moments. We are just at the beginning of the vision."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Only against Brighton (four) has Chelsea's Cole Palmer scored more Premier League goals than he has against Everton (four), with all four against the Toffees coming in this exact fixture last season.

However, Palmer is without a goal in his past 11 league appearances.

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We asked you to tell us one thing - good or bad - that is currently going under the radar at Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Will: The fact we haven't won a domestic trophy since 2018. For a club like us, you would think we were in a parallel universe. Seven years. Yes, that's right - seven years...

Don: The dropping of Christopher Nkunku for 'technical reasons'. Has Enzo Maresca finally lost patience with him and have we seen him in a Chelsea shirt for the final time? Maybe not, but his Premier League form has been underwhelming. The last time he really affected a game was at Bournemouth away a few months ago. His Conference League form has been average, but his penalty miss against Legia Warsaw sums up where he is right now.

John: The loan players that are due to return, such as Axel Disasti (that's a deliberate misspelling), Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix. We still have a bloated squad that is lacking in desire to play for the shirt.

Eoin: What is going on with Mykhailo Mudryk? There has been no mention of him since his initial denial of any wrongdoing.

Joe: Estevao Willian coming in this summer. It will be interesting to see how he fits in.

Nick: I think the future looks incredibly bright. When you look at the age profile of the team, this squad should be coming into its best patch in two to three years and hopefully the playing style will have settled by then as well. They could dominate the league in the future.

Peter: Stamford Bridge, although it is our home, is a shoddy old dump. We need a new stadium with a capacity for 75,000-plus supporters. If that means leaving Stamford Bridge, then so be it. We need to invest £2bn in a multi-purpose modern stadium.

Chelsea are battling Manchester United and Real Madrid for the signature of River Plate's 17-year-old Argentine midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who has a release clause of £38m. (Mail), external

Meanwhile, Blues forward Joao Felix, who is currently on loan at AC Milan, has begun talks over a return to his former club Benfica in the summer. (CaughtOffside), external

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Following the news of Chelsea's interest in Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, we asked for your views on the potential move.

Here are some of your comments:

Louis: Please, can we just sign a goalkeeper and a centre-forward? I like Huijsen but we have Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, and more on loan. A new centre-back is not what we need. Only if we offload one or two would I want us to sign Huijsen.

Steve: Don't let Chelsea get hold of him. We already have too many players who don't get enough game time without ruining his progression. Anyway, we won't be in the Champions League next season - we'll be lucky if we make the Europa League with our one-strategy manager.

Crawf: Fits the Chelsea model of buying up young talent. Certainly looks like he has the tools to go on and be a great defender for years to come, adding to his value and sell-on. Suspect he is good enough now to get first-team action regularly at Chelsea, but would he be guaranteed that with the other clubs in for him?

Chris: What is wrong with the people running our club? We need success - now. Trophies - now. Not another young signing. We need an experienced leader, dominating from central defence, a solid goalkeeper and two top-class, proven strikers that pull in close to 20 goals each next season. £50m for a 20-year-old who may not get a start? Ridiculous. But that's Chelsea for you.

Dave: Exciting? Yes, the potential is undoubtedly exciting - but is exciting potential what the club needs right now? No, we've got enough of that. A bit of boring, but high quality, experience is what the club needs at centre-back. A steady partner for Colwill to grow alongside. A partnership of Huijsen and Colwill is potentially great, but who is stepping up as the senior leader between them?

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Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen is attracting genuine interest from Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle heading into the summer transfer window, according to BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.

Initial reports have indicated Huijsen has a £50m release clause - information that has been confirmed by multiple BBC Sport sources.

It is understood that while regular playing time to ensure his continued development will be a key consideration for Huijsen when he comes to settle on his future, the prospect of Champions League participation will also be a factor.

Chelsea have a good relationship with Huijsen's advisors which could also prove crucial.

Now, we know we have already asked you for comments earlier on Wednesday - and we'll get to those - but let us know what you think about a potential move for Huijsen first.

Is the 20-year-old an exciting target? How do you feel about the £50m release clause? Would he be the right fit for Chelsea or should they be looking elsewhere?

Let us know here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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That angry feeling from Chelsea fans looked like it was going to rear its head again when they were 1-0 down at Fulham with 83 minutes on the clock.

Two late goals and the smiles were back, along with an organised charm offensive after the game from players and staff.

‌The negative mood has been bubbling under the surface for a while - maybe ever since Clearlake Capital acquired the club as an investment vehicle.

However, staggering sums have been spent on players, there is still a decent chance of Champions League football next season and also the likelihood of a European trophy lift in a month's time.

So, why the fan frustration?

‌There are a number of reasons.

Right at the top is being told it was their fault for not making a good enough atmosphere at home games. This is a lot to swallow, especially when many of the loudest fans have been priced out of attending and others feel they are unwanted in their own home, with wealthier supporters being more sought after.

Then add in the many insipid performances since December, often delivered in a dull, predictable fashion.

Enzo Maresca's methods can look a bit dated, given the game's successful clubs have pivoted towards a more cavalier style. If your club has spent billions and had to sell off some of the assets to afford that spending, the fans expect style and swagger as well as real success.

‌It may all come down to Conference League success to save the season, even if top five is the real aim of the club and, crucially, the heartfelt desire of the club's financiers and accountants.

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Enzo Maresca continues to work under the microscope after Chelsea had to come from behind to rescue three points against Fulham on Sunday.

You know your club best, so give us a peek behind the curtain and tell us the one thing no-one is talking about at Chelsea but really should be.

Let us know here

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will discuss the sale of the club in a new book set to be released this summer after giving his first interview in four years.

Abramovich, who remains sanctioned by the UK Government due to alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin, has conducted a two-part interview about the £2.5 billion sale of Chelsea in 2022 to American consortium Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, a deal which took place after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The interviews took place in Abu Dhabi in January and in Istanbul a year prior and are said to include Abramovich's account of his initial takeover of Chelsea FC in 2004: the sanctions, his efforts in the previous peace process and his suspected poisoning in March 2022.

Before these, Abramovich's most recent interview was to Forbes in March 2021 and, aside from a short statement in January that year about Frank Lampard's sacking and statements about Chelsea's 'Say No to Anti-Semitism' campaign, he had not given an official interview since 2006.

The book named "Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC" is written by Nick Purewal and will also tell other stories from that accelerated 95-day sale - run by Raine Bank under the supervision of the UK government - and will be released by Biteback Publishing this summer.

The funds from the sale remain in a frozen bank account while Chelsea are aiming to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy for the first time under the new American ownership.

Chelsea have joined the race for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, 25, and will challenge Manchester United for the signature of the Portugal international. (Teamtalk, external)

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BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions as we approach the final handful of games.

Dave asked: Hi Phil, what would say needs to happen to make Chelsea's season a success? A top five finish? Uefa Conference League trophy, or both? Do you think they are in a better place now than a year ago?

Phil replied: Hello, Dave.

Chelsea is a really strange one. I actually thought they might be title contenders around November/December when they were looking so good and Cole Palmer was in such great form.

Since then it has all gone very flat, with Chelsea fans clearly having reservations about Enzo Maresca's style.

Obviously, winning a trophy is always success – and Chelsea should win the Europa Conference League - but I do believe their season will only be viewed as a success through the prism of Champions League qualification.

For a club of Chelsea's stature and ambition, qualifying for the Champions League is actually more important than winning the Conference League.

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Chelsea's last-minute win over Fulham on Sunday earned them three important points in the race for the Champions League places.

At full-time, just moments after Pedro Neto had lashed in the winner, the team rushed to the delighted away support. It looked like an important moment of connection, with the players trying to atone for their poor recent performances and the fans happy to be able to show some appreciation after weeks of grumbling and growing tensions.

One person was not there to see it, however. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had gone down the tunnel without much hesitation after the final whistle and, while he later claimed he just wanted to let his squad enjoy the moment, it was hard not to see it as a pointed gesture from a man who was being jeered by those supporters in the first half.

While the players have been criticised for playing poorly, they can easily earn back the love of the fans with better performances - or even just a couple of good goals, as we saw on Sunday.

The problems with Maresca are deeper. They are a question of philosophy as much as results.

He has said he only knows one way to play, and will not change it. Chelsea fans have made it very clear they do not like that style.

Good results will always mask any problems, but they will not solve them entirely. Without something fundamental changing, Maresca is only ever going to be a few bad results away from the sort of disharmony that has been hanging over this team since Christmas.

That is not a solid base for a team to build on, and it is cause for concern no matter what happens in the final games of the season.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Manchester City midfielder Nico O'Reilly will sign a new contract at Etihad Stadium after Chelsea showed an interest in the 20-year-old. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Tottenham are weighing up a £30m summer offer for Blues midfielder Renato Veiga. (Football Insider), external

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea have guaranteed they will finish above 15th in the Premier League which automatically triggers an obligation to buy winger Jadon Sancho.

The Blues would pay between £20m and £25m to Manchester United for the on-loan attacker after beating Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

However, they have a £5m clause to get out of the deal and senior officials have privately refused to rule out using it to get out of signing Sancho permanently.

The 25 year old has three goals and 10 assists in 34 matches for Chelsea this season.

Manager Enzo Maresca has explained a decision will be made at the end of the season.

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There are still some causes for concern at Chelsea after the comeback win, with struggling forward Christopher Nkunku left out due to a "technical decision".

In addition, Enzo Maresca said that defender Malo Gusto's muscular injury is "not a good one" and the Frenchman joins defender Wesley Fofana and striker Marc Guiu on the injured list, with winger Mykhailo Mudryk provisionally suspended following a failed drugs test.

After the match, Maresca said his decision not to celebrate with the away end was more about giving his players time in the spotlight.

He said: "I was very happy because it is a nice feeling to win the game at the end but I think it was a moment for the players because they deserve to celebrate with the fans.

"That's the reason I left the pitch immediately. And then when we scored the second one, I celebrated and this was the reason they give me the yellow card, but it was a nice moment between the players and the fans to share that moment. I said many times, the players need to feel that support."

There remains concern about the 16-game goal drought of Cole Palmer and Chelsea's general lack of production from their forward line.

Jadon Sancho's strike against Ipswich last week, ending a run of 21 games without scoring, was the first by a Chelsea forward in the league since 25 February.

Striker Nicolas Jackson has not found the net in 13 matches, while matchwinner Pedro Neto's goal was his first in eight matches.

Read the full analysis piece by Nizaar Kinsella here