Chelsea were excellent against Arsenal at the end of November, when they got a draw after going down to 10 men, and I was thinking here we go, they could possibly be title contenders.

Since then, however, they were outfought by Leeds, looked flat against Bournemouth and this week got turned over by Atalanta in the Champions League.

So Enzo Maresca really needs a win here to get back on track, but it won't be easy because Everton are such a dangerous team.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye are playing really well and Everton have got a bit of momentum at the moment.

On form you would probably back Everton, while the most sensible prediction would probably be a draw, but I am not going to be sensible.

They have not given me any real reason to back them recently, but I just have a feeling Chelsea will take this one because they are at home and they are due a win.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Ian Kennedy
Reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside Sport

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Stamford Bridge may not be the high on the list on desirable away venues for Everton fans given their record there.

No league victories at Chelsea since Paul Rideout scored the winner in 1994. That's 31 years ago!

But David Moyes takes his team there on Saturday not only on the back of a good home win over Nottingham Forest, but also two successive and significant away wins.

Manchester United, where they had not won since 2013, and Bournemouth, where they had never won in the Premier League. And both with clean sheets too.

It will be a tough ask to make it three in a row, but just at the moment, Everton seem to be history-busters.

Chelsea

On Friday Enzo Maresca told journalists he was not concerned by Chelsea only managing two defeats and a draw over their past three games

"We are not going to change our season because we didn't get the points that we expect," he said.

"But I'm completely relaxed, I'm completely OK, because I'm sure that at the end of the season we're going to be where we ought to be."

Brighton & Hove Albion

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We were given a snippet of transfer gossip from Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler in his news conference this week.

The Brighton boss refused to rule out the prospect of Evan Ferguson's loan at Roma being cut short to return to the Amex, saying "At the moment he is on loan but we follow it, we are pleased how he performed yesterday.

"Of course we all follow it so definitely he might be an option."

When asked if Stefanos Tzimas' season-ending injury means Charalampos Kostoulas can speed up his development, Hurzeler said: "I think he sped it up by himself. Every time he has been on the pitch he has made an impact.

"When we think he is ready to start he will get a chance. Overall we are quite pleased with his development."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to BBC Sport on Mohamed Salah returning to Liverpool's squad: "Like you said, he is back in the squad and on the bench today."

On Alexander Isak carrying a knock: "Minor. Got a knock in both games. Games come quite fast and there is also not so much to choose from. Nice to have someone from the bench who can impact the game."

On Inter Milan: "Quite proud because playing four games in 10 days - that is almost criminal for football players.

"Especially if you have only 13-14 outfield players that are available. We accept playing a lot of games, but four in 10 days. That is a lot to take for players."

Will Faulks
Chelsea fan writer

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Liam Delap's injury last weekend is a blow and fits neatly into a frustrating striker situation in general for Chelsea.

He was not scoring - or even really getting chances to score - but he is a number nine whose presence in the team was allowing Joao Pedro to play deeper, where he is supposed to be more effective.

Delap's return from his hamstring problem was apparently going to 'unlock' the Brazil forward. Instead, after their good starts to life in west London, both have struggled in whatever combination they have been used in, gradually eroding the positivity around Chelsea's striker situation.

The third forward option has been Marc Guiu - now in his second season at the club and yet to score a Premier League goal. Speculation continues that manager Enzo Maresca's preferred systems and formations will never work for out-and-out strikers.

It will be very interesting to see how Maresca adapts to accommodate the return of Palmer and the loss of Delap, including how both Guiu and Pedro fit in.

It would be no great surprise to see either of them up front or even a false nine setup with Pedro Neto leading the line would not be totally shocking.

With two games a week for the foreseeable future, there is certainly time to experiment.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Cole Palmer is starting against Everton today but continues to manage a niggling groin injury that he has carried since the end of last season.

His manager Enzo Maresca admitted the issue remains both painful and a concern but denies he may need surgery to resolve it at some point.

Elsewhere, Reece James starts his third match in a row having played 90 minutes at Bournemouth and away at Atalanta in the Champions League.

The Blues captain is largely over his previous fitness issues but Chelsea are pushing him to new levels at Stamford Bridge during a four-game winless run.

Everton

This week Everton boss David Moyes said Chelsea are a club "heading in the right direction" and added he is expecting to take on a "huge opponent".

Having won four of their past five Premier League matches, Moyes also addressed Everton's goals for the season: "We are playing well and we want to keep going with the things we are doing," he said.

"We want to get in a strong position and keep on challenging near the top if that's possible."

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It's the fifth game that Liverpool start a game without Mohamed Salah, but was it the right decision from Arne Slot?

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall won honours with Chelsea – but it is Everton who have handed the gifted midfielder the platform to shine.

Dewsbury-Hall picked up winners' medals in the Club World Cup when Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey, having previously figured in the Europa Conference League final victory against Real Betis in Wroclaw.

These were only brief cameos, however, reflecting a season on the margins at Stamford Bridge following a £30m move from Leicester City, despite signing a six-year contract.

Dewsbury-Hall played in 31 games in all competitions, having been signed by Enzo Maresca, who he had played under when the Foxes won the Championship. He scored four goals.

Everton saw the chance to pounce on his frustration to complete a £28m deal in the summer, which has been a resounding success.

The Toffees' recent history is littered with big-money buys who have failed to flourish, examples being Amadou Onana, who was sold to Aston Villa for £50m, and former Ajax captain Davy Klassen, who played only 16 times following a £25m move.

In contrast, Dewsbury-Hall has settled superbly, making an outstanding contribution to Everton's good start to the season.

Aadam Patel
BBC Sport at Anfield

For the fifth Liverpool game in a row, Mohamed Salah isn't in the starting eleven. There's no room for Alexander Isak either as Florian Wirtz is back in, with Hugo Ekitike starting up top as Arne Slot makes two changes from the side that won in Milan. The other is Milos Kerkez coming in for Andy Robertson.

Liverpool only name eight of a maximum nine substitutes.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Jones; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Robertson, Lucky, Ramsay, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Salah, Isak.

As for Brighton, there's one change as Danny Welbeck drops out for Jack Hinshelwood.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Baleba, Gomez; Hinshelwood, Gruda, Minteh; Rutter.

Subs: Steele, Kostoulas, Milner, Ayari, Veltman. De Cuyper, Boscagli, Mitoma, Welbeck.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea make four changes from the defeat at Atalanta in midweek bringing in a previously rested Cole Palmer.

Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana and Alejandro Garnacho also come in for the Blues.

Everton bring back just Idrissa Gana Gueye after he served his three-match suspension in David Moyes's only change from last weekend's win at Nottingham Forest for the visit to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, W Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernandez, James, Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro

Subs: Jorgensen, Tosin, Badiashile, Hato, Acheampong, Santos, Gittens, Estevao, Guiu

Everton XI: Pickford, O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry

Subs: Travers, Patterson, Aznou, Iroegbunam, Campbell, Alcaraz, Dibling, McNeil, Beto

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender on Football Focus

One player we're not talking about throughout this situation is Alexander Isak.

They bought him for £150m, and he doesn't look up to scratch one bit.

Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak are both named among the substitutes for Liverpool's match against Brighton.

Full team news to follow.

Watch some of the key goals scored by Mohamed Salah for Liverpool.

Ashley Williams
Former Wales defender on Football Focus

For a player of his ability and what he has achieved for Liverpool in recent years, his whole body language, he doesn't look happy. Say whatever you want, but keep it in the dressing room.

Aadam Patel
BBC Sport at Anfield

Today will be a farewell in one way to Mohamed Salah before he heads off to join the Egypt national team as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Whether or not it’s a farewell full stop remains to be seen but that is unlikely, given there were positive talks between Arne Slot and Salah yesterday. Though the situation is still a long way from a clear solution with further talks planned.

Slot’s programme notes don’t mention Salah but interestingly, the Liverpool boss has called for “togetherness”. Something which his side showed in volumes midweek when they beat Inter Milan at the San Siro without Salah.

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender on Football Focus

I think there is an element that Mohamed Salah shouldn't have come out and said what he said and blindsided the club.

If you get him back to his best then you want him in your team. You have got to treat certain players differently because they do have this big ego.

He lives for those moments in the game, but those moments have not existed this season.

You have more of a chance of winning a title or a Champions League or finishing in the top four with a fit and firing Mohamed Salah.

Speaking in his pre-match news conference, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said there are "no reasons to not want Mohamed Salah to stay" at the club.

Later on Friday it was announced that Salah would be in the squad for today's match against Brighton