Image copyright: Getty Images
2022/23 English Premier League
Matchday 1
Everton v Chelsea
Goodison Park
Liverpool, England
Saturday, 6 August 2022
Kick-off is at 17h30
Frank Lampard will be hoping for more success against his former team when Everton welcome Chelsea to Goodison Park on the opening weekend of the 2022/23
Premier League season.
The Blues legend, who spent 13 years as a player at Stamford Bridge before going on to manage them for a season and a half, guided the Toffees to a 1-0 win over the west Londoners in May.
It turned out to be an important victory as Lampard's side staved off relegation by four points in the end, while Chelsea clung onto third position after going unbeaten in their final four games.
The Merseysiders got off to a shaky start in pre-season, losing 2-0 to Arsenal and being thrashed 4-0 by Minnesota United, although they finished strongly with a 3-0 triumph over Ukrainian giants Dinamo Kiev.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Lampard acknowledges that the Blues will be on an entirely different level to the teams they've faced so far, but feels his players will be ready with some tactical tweaking in defence.
"Chelsea will be a completely different animal because they're a top team and you know the things you have to do against them because of their style and quality," he told evertontv.
"With the level of them, defensively we'll be tested more than we were tonight. There are some things that we can tighten up with our press and our defending in the block.
"We made a few mistakes today, which is good to see ahead of Chelsea as we can correct and try to be ready for the challenge.
"It's our first game, a game against top opposition, so there'll be a nice bit of rest for the lads now for a day or so, then we'll really work towards that game."
Ruben Loftus-Cheek played a key role in Chelsea's 3-1 success at Udinese to conclude their preparations for the new campaign, having missed their pre-season tour of the United States.
Image copyright: Getty Images
The midfielder is confident that Thomas Tuchel's troops will hit the ground running on Merseyside, although he admits it will take a few games for them to be in peak condition.
"I think we're where we can be at the moment," Loftus-Cheek said. "Of course you get fitter during the season. Two or three games of proper, intense Premier League football is the only way you're going to get that top level.
"The first couple of games you might feel a bit off it, but that's going to be the same for every team, because it's hard to match the intensity of a Premier League game in pre-season.
"So we have to be ready for it and I feel we're as close as we can be and ready to take on the season."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Everton - 2
Chelsea - 2
Draws - 1
Sign up at Betway and enjoy solid action & heart-racing thrills when you Bet on the English Premier League, sign up now for your 100% match up to NG 100,00 Free Bet.
Click Bet Now below to register a Betway Sports Betting account for free!
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.