Xabi Alonso wants Chelsea to show competitiveness in head-to-head matches.

The 7th round of the 2026/27 Premier League season will feature a key match as Chelsea travel to Hill Dickinson Stadium to challenge Everton. Xabi Alonso stated in a press conference that he hopes the "Blues" can show competitiveness in matches and will not forget the lessons learned from their previous away defeat.

Chelsea secured a resounding 5-1 victory over Bournemouth in their last league match, thanks to goals from Henderson, Morgan Rodgers, and João Pedro. With these crucial three points, Chelsea currently sit sixth in the table with 10 points.

In their head-to-head record, Chelsea have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 5 matches against Everton.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said, "It will certainly not be easy to play against Everton away from home, but we are looking forward to the intensity of the game, which will be a demanding and fast-paced match. I haven't been to that stadium yet, but I've heard it's a great place with a great atmosphere, so we are really looking forward to the game."

“I hope the team can show competitiveness and prove that we are capable of winning in the exciting atmosphere of an away game in the Premier League, and in stadiums where the fans create a powerful atmosphere. In this environment, we need to cope by playing good football, and we must also show enough competitiveness in physical duels. We will never forget the lessons learned from our previous away game against Brentford.”

Xabi Alonso pointed out, "We want to maintain flexibility, but whether we go for a high press or a slightly deeper defensive formation, we must ensure the formation is solid. We need to ensure reasonable spacing between players and maintain a balance between attack and defense. That's why we chose that arrangement against Bournemouth."

"It will be different against Everton. They have a lot of things they do very well, and they have some experienced and outstanding players. Therefore, these basic defensive principles are very important."

Furthermore, Xabi Alonso added, "We can use a 4-4-2 or a 5-2-3 formation, but the key to good defense lies in the spacing between players, how they defend against each other, and how they maintain good overall balance. As for how to organize an attack after gaining possession, that's another matter."

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