Charlie Nicholas has tipped Everton to beat Chelsea in Saturday’s game at Goodison Park.
The Merseyside club sacked manager Marco Silva on Thursday and placed their popular former striker Duncan Ferguson in temporary charge.
Everton have been poor this season and are in the bottom three with just 14 points so far, whereas Chelsea’s young side have grown in stature under boss Frank Lampard and returned to winning ways by beating Aston Villa this week.
That victory left Chelsea fourth in the Premier League table – six points clear of fifth-placed Wolves – and the goal scored by the fit-again Tammy Abraham was the striker’s 12th of the season.
Nevertheless, pundit Nicholas believes Chelsea are vulnerable at the back and has predicted a 2-1 win for Everton.
In his predictions for Sky Sports, the former Arsenal and Scotland forward said: “Marco Silva’s immediate replacement may be a temporary one, but it will be one that should give Everton a much-needed lift.
“I am not convinced by Chelsea’s defence, they looked uncomfortable at times against Aston Villa.
“Things haven’t gone Everton’s way under Silva, but they are a team of scrappers, and I see them battling their way to three points.”