Allardyce’s biggest test: BBC pundit predicts Everton v Chelsea outcome

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Everton take on Chelsea at Goodison Park this afternoon.

Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Chelsea will beat Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park this afternoon.

Everton have enjoyed an upturn in form under Sam Allardyce, having beaten Swansea City 3-1 at Goodison Park on Monday night, coming from a goal down to claim a convincing win.

Allardyce has claimed three wins and a draw from his four games in charge, steadying the ship following a poor start to the season under his predecessor Ronald Koeman.

Sam Allardyce and Antonio Conte

Allardyce will be hoping to keep that unbeaten run going, but he faces a tough challenge this afternoon as the Toffees welcome Chelsea to Merseyside.

Antonio Conte’s men beat Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, and will be looking for a third Premier League win in a row having beaten Southampton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last week.

The Blues still lie 14 points behind league leaders Manchester City in the title race, meaning they need to keep picking up points in a desperate bid to chip away at that gap.

Now, pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks this is Allardyce’s biggest test as Everton boss so far, even bigger than the recent Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

Allardyce feels that Chelsea will be too dangerous even without suspended striker Alvaro Morata, and is backing Conte’s side to claim a 2-0 victory.

“Everton’s results have picked up under Sam Allardyce but this represents his biggest test since he took charge,” said Lawrenson. “Some people might question that and say well, what about the derby, but Allardyce knew that Liverpool would come at his side and he could plan for that.”

“There will be some expectation that his side get down the other end of the pitch more in this game and have more of a go, and I think they will be slightly more open than they were at Anfield. Chelsea are without suspended striker Alvaro Morata, which will probably mean Blues boss Antonio Conte will play with a false number nine, and I still think they will be dangerous,” he added.