LIVERPOOL – Everton’s headed to Stamford Bridge on April 26, 2025, for a Premier League showdown with Chelsea, and the team news out of Goodison Park tells a story of grit, gaps, and a few glimmers of hope. The Toffees, under David Moyes’ steady hand since his January return, are piecing together a squad battered by injuries but fueled by a stubborn streak that’s kept them mid-table despite a rough season.
The confirmed Everton starting XI is a mix of reliable workhorses and young blood: Jordan Pickford in goal, with a backline of Nathan Patterson, Jake O’Brien, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Vitaliy Mykolenko. The midfield trio of Idrissa Gueye, James Garner, and Abdoulaye Doucoure will look to grind out possession, while Jack Harrison and Iliman Ndiaye flank striker Beto up top. On the bench, Moyes has options like Dwight McNeil, Youssef Chermiti, Ashley Young, Seamus Coleman, and Carlos Alcaraz, plus keepers Joao Virginia and Eldin Begovic. It’s a lineup built to scrap, not dazzle, with Moyes leaning on defensive solidity and counter-attacking pace.
Injuries, though, are the real headline. James Tarkowski, Everton’s defensive rock, is out for the season after a hamstring injury against Manchester City on April 19. His streak of 111 straight Premier League games is over, and his absence leaves a gaping hole. Orel Mangala and Jesper Lindstrom are also sidelined until next season, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin, though back in light training, won’t be ready for weeks. Moyes, speaking ahead of the match, didn’t sugarcoat it: the squad’s stretched thin, but there’s no room for excuses against a Chelsea side chasing Champions League glory.
Everton’s form has been patchy but resilient. Since Moyes took over, they’ve lost just three of 14 league games, with a 2-0 defeat to City last week a rare stumble. Their last win at Stamford Bridge? A distant memory from 1994, and Chelsea’s unbeaten in 29 home league games against the Toffees. Still, Everton’s recent knack for frustrating big sides—think draws with Liverpool and Arsenal—means they’re not rolling over.
The match kicks off at 12:30 p.m. local time, with Chelsea favored but wary of an Everton side that’s learned to punch above its weight. Moyes, assessing his squad for the long haul, will use this game to test who’s got the stomach for next season’s new stadium era. For now, it’s about digging in and stealing points where they can.
Everton’s starting lineup: Pickford; Patterson, O’Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner, Doucoure; Harrison, Ndiaye, Beto. Substitutes: Virginia, Begovic, Keane, McNeil, Chermiti, Young, Coleman, Alcaraz, Iroegbunam. Injured players: Tarkowski, Mangala, Lindstrom, Calvert-Lewin. Match date: April 26, 2025. Venue: Stamford Bridge, London.