Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side have won their last four league games on the trot – and haven’t conceded a goal – which has pushed the Blues up to fourth place in the Premier League standings, just one point off leaders Manchester City.
With the international break coming up next week, the Chelsea players will be aiming to go off to their respective nations full of confidence by beating an Everton side, who defeated West Ham last weekend.
Ronald Koeman’s men reside in sixth place in the standings after winning five games, drawing three and losing two so far this season although one positive for the club is that Lukaku is in fine form.
The striker, who left Chelsea for Goodison Park in 2013, is on seven league goals – just one behind top scorer Diego Costa.
Kick OFF
Chelsea host Everton on Saturday 5 November at Stamford Bridge. The game kicks off at 5.30pm BST.
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea – Conte will have a fully fit squad available apart from Cesc Fabregas, who remains out with a thigh injury, and Kurt Zouma who has returned to first-team training but, despite playing in two U-23s games recently, is not yet fully fit to feature against Everton.
Everton – Koeman, meanwhile, still has a string of absent players, which includes Maarten Stekelenburg (foot), Matthew Pennington (hamstring), Leighton Baines (hamstring), Tyias Browning (knee), Darron Gibson (unknown injury) and Muhamed Besic (knee).
Idrissa Gueye will also miss out after picking up his fifth booking of the season against West Ham on Sunday.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea starting XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro, Costa, Hazard.
Everton starting XI: Joel, Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Oviedo, Cleverley, Barry, Bolasie, Barkley, Mirallas, Lukaku.
KEY PLAYERS
CHELSEA: EDEN HAZARD
Despite a poor 2015/2016, Eden Hazard is still one of the jewels of the Premier League. The Belgian is a superstar on his day and can play as well as anyone in the league. With three goals and an assist in his last three Premier League matches, Hazard is looking like the player that led Chelsea to the league title and won player of the year. When he is playing at his top level, Hazard can win games by himself.
EVERTON: ROMELU LUKAKU
Another Belgian, after a slow start to the season Lukaku has been on a tear recently with eight goals or assists in his last seven matches. The former Chelsea man is one of the best goalscorers in the league and has formed a good connection with new boy Yannick Bolasie. Bolasie has assisted a Lukaku goal four times already this season, more than any other combination in the league.
KEY STATS
Chelsea are winless in their last three matches against Everton in all competitions after winning seven of their previous nine against the Toffees.
Chelsea have a +10 goal difference at home, compared to only a +2 goal difference away from home.
Diego Costa has scored more than a third of Chelsea’s Premier League goals this season, with eight of the team’s 21.
The tie features a clash between two of the top three goal scorers in the league this season.
Diego Costa has scored eight goals, most in the league so far, while Romelu Lukaku has scored seven goals, tied with Sergio Aguero for second.
BETTING ODDS
Chelsea to win: 8/15
Draw: 17/5
Everton to win: 11/2
PREDICTION
Everton returned to winning ways with a solid win over West Ham, but it will be difficult against a Chelsea side full of momentum at the Bridge. There is a plethora of in-form attacking talent across both sides, but the Toffees may find it too difficult to breach the most in-form defence in the league at the present time.
Chelsea 1 Everton 0