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Everton will need all the luck they can get against a resurgent Chelsea side this Sunday, a team who have won all but one of their games since the defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, drawing the other.

Contrastingly, the Toffees have lost four of their last six Premier League games, and are watching their season peter out with very little to play for.

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However, they can lift the spirits around the club significantly with a good result over Maurizio Sarri's side, and Anthony Taylor's appointment could help swing things in their favour.

The 40-year-old official is yet to take charge of a game involving the Blues this season, although he has overseen two of the Merseysiders' games, with the Toffees coming out of those fixtures with two wins under their belt - a 100% winning record.

A home win bias of 65% also suggests that Taylor's appointment is a good omen for Everton.

 

Taylor has, however, given Everton seven yellow cards this season, the third most that he has brandished to any side - only Arsenal and Brighton have received more, but they have done so in three more matches and one more match respectively.

Whilst that could be perceived as a negative, it means that Taylor has gotten to grips with the way in which Silva's side play, and will feel more comfortable officiating players who he has already watched go about their work this season.

In that respect, Chelsea could be deemed as an unknown commodity for Taylor, and one who he will have to get to grips with in-game as he figures out their methods, such as tactical fouling and swarming the referee.

In what is a boost to both teams, however, Taylor has given out just one red card in his 26 league games this season, so both Sarri and Silva can rest assured that the 40-year-old will try his best to keep everyone on the field unless something outrageous happens.