Premier League leaders Chelsea face a tricky trip to Everton on Sunday (2.05pm kick-off) hoping to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.

Antonio Conte’s men beat Southampton 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night to go seven points clear of second place Tottenham, yet Spurs bridged the gap to four once again with a late 1-0 success at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Nonetheless, the Blues are still very much in command and victory at Goodison Park would surely set them on their way to a fifth title in 12 years, and indeed one part of a potential double, what with Conte’s men also into the FA Cup final.

However, it won’t be easy against an Everton side that have lost just once at Goodison Park this season, and have picked up 12 wins from their other 16 matches.

Ronald Koeman’s men are seventh in the table and have lost just one of their last seven league games, and with wins over Arsenal and Manchester City at home this term, they’ll be confident of getting the three points on Sunday.

So, with the build-up well underway ahead of Sunday’s clash, we at Shoot! have selected our ultimate Everton-Chelsea five-a-side team from the players available for selection at Goodison Park…

Thibaut Courtois

Neither of Everton’s goalkeepers, Joel Robles and Maarten Stekelenburg, have been hugely convincing this season, yet even at their best they wouldn’t come close to Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois.

The Belgium international has been in excellent form for the Blues this term despite an indifferent campaign last time out, with him having kept 13 clean sheets in 32 Premier League starts, and having conceded just 27 goals altogether in the division.

Although Chelsea have, on the whole, defended very well this season, the 24-year-old has made some crucial saves at crucial times, most notably in the victories over Sunderland and Arsenal, with that one-handed save from Patrick van Aanholt’s free-kick of particular note (above).

Courtois has been brilliant for the Blues this term, and comfortably makes this team.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Ashley Williams has had a decent debut season at Goodison Park and deserves a mention, yet he doesn’t beat Cesar Azpilicueta into our team.

The Spain international has once again been excellent in the Blues backline this term, and seamlessly slotted into Conte’s back three system when implemented against Hull back in October.

In fact, Azpilicueta was probably the only Chelsea defender who performed well in the first six games of the campaign, yet has only got better for the Blues as the season has progressed, underpinning his position as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

N’Golo Kante

There aren’t many players absolutely perfect for a five-a-side team, yet Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante is certainly one of them.

The France international was deservedly named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year last weekend after starting at Chelsea where he left off at Leicester, and as a result is on course for back-to-back Premier League titles at two different clubs.

The Foxes’ struggles this term has somewhat demonstrated Kante’s overwhelming significance to that side, yet he has continued his domination of midfield again this term in Conte’s midfield, helping the Blues to a four-point lead at the top, and an FA Cup final.

The 27-year-old has once again been outstanding this term, and although Everton’s Idrissa Gueye is a similar sort of player to Kante, and has actually usurped him in terms of tackles made this season, it’s difficult to look past the Chelsea man for the spot in this team.

Eden Hazard

Many people felt that if Kante didn’t win the PFA award, then teammate Eden Hazard would.

And that’s because the 26-year-old has been back to his scintillating best for the Blues this season, scoring 15 goals and laying on five assists in 31 Premier League appearances, and helping Chelsea open up a four-point gap at the top.

The Belgium international was integral as Jose Mourinho’s Blues won the title back in 2014/15, and although he struggled to replicate that form last term, he has neared that 2014/15 level this season, and at times exceeded it.

Everton have several quality attacking options, with Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas particularly good, yet none of them trump Hazard, who thus easily gets into this team.

Romelu Lukaku

Deciding between Chelsea’s Diego Costa, who netted twice in midweek against Southampton, and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is far from easy.

Yet it’s difficult to go against the Premier League’s top-scorer, and a 23-year-old who looks set to go on and become one of the best strikers in Europe… Lukaku.

The Belgium international has scored 24 goals in just 33 Premier League games this term to help Koeman’s men bridge the gap to the top six, and with six assists as well, he is not just a goal-scorer, he also creates them as well.

The same can be said of Costa, whose tally of 19 goals and six assists is mightily impressive, yet because he has netted more and arguably been more important to his side than the Spaniard, it’s Lukaku who gets the nod in our team.