Everton begin their 2022/23 Premier League campaign by welcoming Chelsea to Goodison Park on Saturday.
The Toffees will be without a number of key players for the opening game of the season with Andros Townsend, Seamus Coleman, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tom Davies, Andre Gomes and Salomon Rondon all confirmed absentees, and there are also injury concerns for Allan, Asmir Begovic and Yerry Mina.
New signings James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil are expected to start the game against the Blues, with both players joining Frank Lampard's side from Burnley this summer, Demarai Gray, Dele Alli or Anthony Gordon expected to feature alongside McNeil in attack.
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So, what will the score be between Everton and Chelsea this weekend? And, what team will Lampard go with against his former club? We used FIFA 22 to get a pre-match score prediction.
Everton vs Chelsea score predicted by simulation
To run this simulation, we used FIFA 22, updating the squads with the latest transfers made in this window. Both sides lined up in their 2021/22 kits as FIFA 22 does not provide the 2022/23 ones.
We predict that the Toffees could set up in a 3-4-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Pickford; Godfrey, Mina, Tarkowski; Patterson, Doucoure, Iwobi, Mykolenko; Gordon, Alli, McNeil.
We predict that Tuchel's side could set up in a 4-4-2-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Havertz, Mount; Sterling.
Everton started the game in control, having more of the ball in the opposition's half and barely giving the visitors a sniff of the ball. Their biggest chance of the half came when Abdoulaye Doucoure was denied brilliantly from inside the penalty area.
Dele Alli, deputising as a striker in Calvert-Lewin's absence, did well to dribble through a sea of bodies and start an attack. As the Englishman broke into the box, he laid the ball off to Doucoure, and his powerful drilled effort was pushed wide of the post by Mendy.
Everton were in full control at the break, with Lampard's side having managed four shots to Chelsea's one. The Toffees started to find themselves frustrated as they failed to put away their chances, and against the run of play, Tuchel's side took the lead.
Reece James worked the ball down the right and drilled a cross to Sterling in the box. The English striker moved the ball onto his right foot and curled his shot into the far corner, leaving Pickford with no chance.
The goal took the sting out of Everton's attacks, and Chelsea took control of the game, setting the pace to their liking. Lampard's side struggled to find a way back into the game and suffered defeat in their opening game.
FIFA 22 predicted final score: Everton 0-1 Chelsea
Here are the full-time match stats.
FIFA 22 predicts that despite a strong showing for Everton in the first half, their lack of quality in attack could come back to bite them, with Chelsea narrowly passing by Everton in a 1-0 win. With Calvert-Lewin out injured, the Toffees may struggle for goals if they don't find a new forward before the end of the transfer window.
What do you think the score will be between Everton and Chelsea on Saturday? Let us know in the comments!
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