Six games into the Premier League season and Everton are above Liverpool. Few at Goodison Park’s successor home would have expected that after a summer of anger over the club’s transfer business, yet here they are, unbeaten and sitting on 10 points. It is early, obviously, but the table does not care about pre-season mood. Everton have won only twice, but they have not gone away in any game and that matters.

Now Chelsea arrive for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and this is where the table starts to get more interesting. Xabi Alonso’s side have goals, plenty of them. They have scored 15 already, the third-best total in the division. They have also conceded 13, which is joint worst in the league. That is not sustainable if the ambition is to finish at the top end.

David Moyes has Everton organised, competitive and harder to play against than many expected. The 2-2 draw at Hull before the break summed up a lot of what they are right now. They are not flawless, but they stay in games and they make opponents work. Against a Chelsea side that can look loose without the ball, that is an obvious route into the match.

There are a few fitness concerns. Vitalii Mykolenko missed the draw at Hull after a problem picked up on Ukraine duty and is considered a 50-50 call. That matters because Everton have no other recognised left-back available. Christian Norgaard is pushing to make the squad after getting his first minutes in a behind-closed-doors game with Blackburn, though Moyes may prefer caution. Merlin Rohl could also return to contention after his own injury issue.

Chelsea’s strength is clear. Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Morgan Rogers give them quality, movement and goals. On their day, they can tear through teams quickly. Palmer remains the headline figure and his numbers back it up. He scored four against Everton in a 6-0 home win previously and has four goals in eight appearances in all competitions this season.

There is, however, a detail worth noting. Palmer, Joao Pedro and Rogers have never scored an away goal at Everton. Records like that can disappear in one moment, and chemistry between good attackers usually wins out eventually, but the point stands. This is not a routine away trip.

Reece James is a doubt after missing training on Tuesday and sitting out the 5-1 win over Bournemouth. Moises Caicedo is fit again, which gives Chelsea more balance in midfield and means James would not be required there if he does make it back. Jamie Gittens is out for a few weeks with an ankle injury, while Emmanuel Emegha is also expected to miss out.

Chelsea’s recent record away to Everton is poor. They have won only one of their last nine Premier League visits, losing six. They were beaten 3-0 on their first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium last season, and that result still frames this fixture. Everton know they can make this uncomfortable. Chelsea know it too.