Alonso swaps Chavarria for Hato as Chelsea face Everton in Merseyside clash
Chelsea and Everton kick off the Premier League weekend at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in a top-six encounter between fifth and sixth place. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso made a single substitution, replacing Pep Chavarria with Jorrel Hato at left wing-back after Chavarria suffered a minor knock in training. The Blues retain the core lineup that defeated Bournemouth 5-1 last week, with Moises Caicedo wearing the captain's armband and Jordan Henderson continuing in central midfield. Everton, managed by David Moyes, field a side featuring James Tarkowski, James Garner, and Jack Grealish, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall starting in midfield. The match is scheduled for 12:30 BST, with sunny weather expected in Liverpool. Chelsea will wear their third kit for the first time, while 16-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli is included on the bench. The fixture is broadcast on TNT Sports in the UK and HBO Max for streaming.