News - Chelsea Aims for a Clean Sheet Against Everton with Martinez's Streak

In the unpredictable world of the Premier League, maintaining a clean sheet is often equated to gold. As of January 2026, this has been a rare commodity for Chelsea under the stewardship of Liam Rosenior, Calum McFarlane, and Xabi Alonso. When Rosenior initially took charge, Chelsea bagged a promising 2-0 victory over Brentford at home. Since then, the Blues have stumbled in defending their goal, enduring a drought of clean sheets in 22 subsequent league games. The recent victory over lower-tier sides in other competitions offered little solace. A ray of hope shines through as Chelsea prepares to clash with Everton, riding on the back of a morale-boosting 5-1 triumph against Bournemouth. The spotlight shines brightly on Emi Martinez, whose formidable record against the Toffees positions him as a key figure in Chelsea’s defensive aspirations. Martinez, a formidable presence in the goalpost, has faced Everton 12 times, all under the Aston Villa emblem. His encounters have been predominantly successful, yielding eight wins and conceding a mere eight goals across those matches. This translates to a highly commendable average of 0.66 goals per game, a statistic that Chelsea dearly wishes to replicate in their current campaign. Moreover, Martinez's cold, calculative defense has gifted him five clean sheets across these encounters. For Alonso, these statistics build a narrative of hope and redemption as Chelsea seeks to curb their defensive lapses. Xabi Alonso faces a choice regarding team selection against Everton. The temptation to retain the squad that dismantled Bournemouth might be too compelling to resist. Midfield dynamo Moises Caicedo, seasoned campaigner Jordan Henderson, and the tireless Pep Chavarria spearhead a balanced lineup. Emerging stars like Pedro Neto and Josh Acheampong are marking their territory, leaving little room for rotation. The anticipation builds as Chelsea, buoyed by Martinez's promise and the tactical prowess of Alonso, brace themselves for a crucial test against Everton. This matchup could very well play a pivotal role in resetting Chelsea’s fortunes in their Premier League journey.