Chelsea vs. Everton prediction, odds, line: Soccer expert reveals English Premier League picks for Dec. 16

Chelsea will try to keep pace at the top of the English Premier League table on Thursday when it hosts Everton in an EPL match at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea (11-3-2) trails league leader and defending champion Manchester City by five points and is just one behind second-place Liverpool. Chelsea’s defensive prowess has been tested in recent weeks, but it faces an Everton (5-3-8) team that is struggling mightily, losing seven of its past nine. Manager Rafa Benitez is on the hottest seat in the Premier League, while the European-champion Blues continue to impress under Thomas Tuchel.

Kickoff is set for 2:45 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Chelsea as the -490 favorite (risk $490 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Chelsea vs. Everton odds, with Everton the +1500 underdog. A draw is priced at +525 and the over-under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Before you lock in your Everton vs. Chelsea picks or make any English Premier League predictions, you have to see what proven soccer insider Martin Green has to say. 

After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been stunningly accurate. Green has generated more than $36,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season, and he has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.

Now, Green has broken down the Chelsea vs. Everton matchup from every angle. You can head to SportsLine now to see Green’s EPL picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Everton vs. Chelsea:

• Chelsea vs. Everton: Chelsea -1.5 (-140)
• Chelsea vs. Everton over-under: 2.5 goals 
• Chelsea vs. Everton money line: Chelsea -490, Everton +1500, Draw +525 
• CHE: Mason Mount has 36 goals and 26 assists in 150 career games 
• EVE: Salomon Rondon has 36 EPL goals in 151 games (131 starts)

Why you should back Chelsea

The Blues have not recorded a clean sheet since defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante was injured on Nov. 23, but they have the second-best defensive record in the league. They have conceded 11 goals while scoring the second-most in the EPL (38). Chelsea has gotten goals from 16 different players, led by Mason Mount (six goals, four assists). Romelu Lukaku (three goals) and Timo Werner (three) also can cause problems for opposing defenders. Jorginho scored twice in a 3-2 victory against Leeds on Saturday and has four goals this season, all on penalty kicks. 

Chelsea leads the league in home goals with 20, scoring 15 in their last five at Stamford Bridge. Everton, meanwhile, has lost four straight on the road and has a minus-8 goal differential in its eight away games. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has seven clean sheets and leads the league in save percentage at 85.1 percent. 

Why you should back Everton

The Toffees have lost just twice in their past seven meetings with Chelsea (3-2-2), and they still have scoring ability despite missing top threat Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Demarai Gray (five goals) and Andros Townsend (three) both are strong finishers. The Blues have conceded nine goals in their last five games in all competitions. 

Benitez is a veteran of the Premier League and an astute tactician, so he knows how to break down a defense if he has the players to do it. Injuries have hit the Toffees hard this season, and Richarlison (three goals) is expected to be out of the lineup for multiple weeks after suffering a calf injury. Salomon Rondon would be the likely replacement, and he has 30 goals in his last five club seasons. The back line also has seen key losses, but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is a competitor and will do anything to keep Everton in it. 

How to make Chelsea vs. Everton picks

Green has analyzed the Everton vs. Chelsea match from all sides, and he is leaning over on the goal total. He also provides his two confident best bets, including a strong play on one side of the money line, and has a full breakdown of the match. He’s only sharing his expert EPL picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Chelsea vs. Everton? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Everton vs. Chelsea, all from the European soccer expert who has generated well over $36,000 for $100 bettors over the past four seasons, and find out.