Everton manager David Moyes is pleased with how his players have shifted expectations since his return to the club in January.

The Toffees travel to Chelsea this weekend on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City last time out, which was only their third league loss since Moyes' reappointment.

In comparison, Everton had lost eight league games prior to Moyes' arrival, while they have earned 21 of their 33 points in the 14 league games under him.

"We've done an awful lot of good things and we're getting better. It says a lot that we're disappointed to lose 2-0 against Manchester City," he told BBC Sport after the City defeat. 

"I'm sort of smiling that people think we should be disappointed. I am, but we've got to remember how good a side they are.

"It is always going to be difficult against Manchester City. We did a lot of good things. We're just lacking that little bit to be really competitive. We just couldn't find a way.

"It is probably quality. Their subs came on and helped them. I'm not sure we had the same.

"We needed to find a way to get a goal but I genuinely think the injury to James Tarkowski was a big blow to us. It looks like a hamstring injury but what it is we don't know at the moment."

Chelsea, meanwhile, come into the game after scoring twice in the last seven minutes to win 2-1 away to Fulham on Easter Sunday to keep their Champions League dream alive.

Enzo Maresca refuted any suggestions of rifts with the players after he went straight down the tunnel following the final whistle rather than celebrate with the squad and fans.

The Italian had been booked on the sideline following Pedro Neto's stoppage-time winner, while Maresca pressed the need for a united bond between the players and fans.

"I was happy because it is a nice feeling to win the game at the end, but I think it was a moment for the players because they deserve to celebrate with the fans," Maresca said.

"That's the reason I left the pitch immediately. And then when we scored the second one, I celebrated and this was the reason they give me the yellow card, but it was a nice moment between the players and the fans to share that moment.

"I said many times, the players need to feel that support."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea – Cole Palmer

Only against Brighton (five) has Palmer scored more Premier League goals than he has against Everton (four), with all four against the Toffees coming in this exact fixture last season.

Despite 11 games without a goal, Palmer has had 22 shots in his last six Premier League appearances and has contributed two assists in his last three starts.

Everton – Iliman Ndiaye

Ndiaye is Everton's top scorer this season with seven goals in the Premier League and nine in all competitions.

The Senegalese has registered eight shots in his last three starts in the league, with his most recent goal coming at Arsenal earlier this month.

MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA WIN

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 29 Premier League home games against Everton since a 1-0 loss in November 1994 (W16 D13). It's the Blues' longest unbeaten home run against an opponent in their league history.

The Blues are also unbeaten in their last four Premier League games (W2 D2), coming from behind at half-time to draw (2-2 v Ipswich) and win (2-1 v Fulham), their last two.

Chelsea are averaging more shots per game at home than any other side in the Premier League this season (18.8). It's their highest at Stamford Bridge in a single campaign since 2013-14 (19.6).

Only against Leeds United (36 between 1953 and 2001) have Everton had a longer winless away run in their league history than their current run of 29 against Chelsea (D13 L16).

Moyes, meanwhile, has won none of his 19 Premier League away games against Chelsea (D7 L12) – only the Scot himself (20 vs Liverpool) has faced a side more often on the road without ever winning.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chelsea – 57.9%

Draw – 22.5%

Everton – 19.5%