Premier League legend, Alan Shearer, has predicted that Chelsea will be unable to beat Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Englishman is of the belief that the Toffees will extend their unbeaten run in the league and obtain a valuable point at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Chelsea ended their three-match winless run in the Premier League on Saturday, delivering a decisive 5-1 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues had Moises Caicedo return after a lengthy injury layoff and demonstrated composure in the midfield, where Jordan Henderson distinguished himself by scoring two goals.
Despite manager Xabi Alonso’s efforts to strengthen Chelsea during the three-week international break, Shearer remains skeptical regarding their defensive capabilities.
The former Newcastle player acknowledged the difficulty in dismissing the Blues given their formidable attacking trio comprising Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Rogers.
Shearer contended that Alonso’s squad will score, yet he equally expects Everton to breach the opposition’s defense.
He wrote on his Metro column, “I anticipate Everton maintaining their unbeaten status, and I am predicting a draw. The outcome is genuinely challenging to determine.
“I see Everton still being unbeaten and I’m going to go for a draw. I think it is really tough to call though. With that forward line for Chelsea of Palmer, Rogers and Joao Pedro, you’d do well to stop them, but I think Everton will also score as well because I’m not convinced by Chelsea defensively and I think it will be a score draw.
“That attacking trio for Chelsea demonstrates exceptional quality. They provide sophistication through various approaches. Their positioning is outstanding, as is their technical proficiency. Should they maintain the fitness of these three players, they represent an exceptional spectacle.
“They provide considerable entertainment value due to their tendency to concede goals, yet they made an explosive start last week, did they not? That demonstrates their capacity to inflict damage. They possess the ability to harm you. Nevertheless, I am forecasting a score draw against Everton.”
Significantly, Everton were restricted to a 2-2 stalemate against Hull City during the preceding weekend in the Premier League. David Moyes’ squad conceded an equalizing goal in the 74th minute as Mohamed Belloumi secured a point for Hull.
EPL: ‘I’m not convinced’ – Alan Shearer predicts Everton vs Chelsea