Everton will travel to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers on Saturday in what will be both club’s second friendly of preseason. Both sides have already had a trip to Accrington Stanley in the past week, and will now go head-to-head for the first time in seven years.
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Blackburn vs Everton prediction: Tough to call in early stages of preseason
Key stats
- Blackburn scored eight goals in their final three Championship home games of last season – almost a quarter of the total they managed across all 23 matches at Ewood Park.
- Everton have won just one of their last five friendlies away from home.
Correct score prediction: Blackburn 1-1 Everton
The result very rarely matters in pre-season friendlies, with both managers set to rotate heavily during the 90 minutes, giving players much-needed minutes, as well as handing an opportunity to some young talents.
Pre-game odds and win probability:
At the time of publication, odds are not yet available for Blackburn vs Everton.
In the meantime, feel free to check out our dedicated Football Betting Tips Today page.
Most recent H2Hs: First meeting in seven years
This will be the first meeting between the clubs since 2018, when Blackburn were surprise 3-0 winners in a pre-season friendly, five years after Everton came to Ewood Park and won 3-1.
The two clubs have not met in a competitive setting since the 2011-12 Premier League season, when Rovers were relegated, and lost at home to the Toffees that year.
Blackburn preview: Defender returns from lengthy layoff
Scott Wharton returned from a long-term setback to play 30 minutes for Blackburn at Accrington last weekend, but Andreas Weimann and Harry Leonard remain out, while new signing Sidnei Tavares is yet to make his debut.
Predicted lineup: Toth (GK); Brittain, Hyam, Wharton, Yuri Ribeiro, Tronstad, De Neve, Travis, Dolan, Ohashi & Hedges
England Championship 03/05/25
D
Sheff Utd
1
Blackburn
1
England Championship 26/04/25
W
Watford
1
Blackburn
2
England Championship 21/04/25
W
Sunderland
0
Blackburn
1
England Championship 18/04/25
W
Millwall
1
Blackburn
4
England Championship 12/04/25
W
Luton
0
Blackburn
1
Everton preview: Still missing a number of first-team players
Everton fans were not able to see new signing Thierno Barry in the draw with Accrington during the week, and it is unlikely he will be present until they fly out to the USA for the Premier League Summer Series.
Jordan Pickford, Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are slightly behind the rest of the squad after being on international duty in June, while James Tarkowski remains out with a hamstring injury, but Jarrad Branthwaite did return from a setback of his own at the Wham Stadium.
Predicted lineup: Travers (GK); O’Brien, Keane, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Alcaraz, Garner, Iroegbunam, Armstrong, McNeil & Beto
England Premier League 10/05/25
W
Fulham
1
Everton
3
England Premier League 03/05/25
D
Ipswich
2
Everton
2
England Premier League 26/04/25
L
Chelsea
1
Everton
0
England Premier League 19/04/25
L
Man City
2
Everton
0
England Premier League 12/04/25
W
Nottm Forest
0
Everton
1
Player to watch: Beto
Beto always has a huge impact when on the pitch, and Accrington’s defenders realised that in the second half on Tuesday, as the Guinea-Bissau international proved to be a real handful with his strength and pace.
The Everton man also pulled the Toffees level from the penalty spot late on, superbly dispatching the spot kick into the top corner, becoming the club’s first goalscorer of the new season.