Credit: BBC's Match of the Day/Imago

Jacob Raw

Mon 15 December 2025 8:30, UK

Theo Walcott has hinted that Everton could face a difficult winter period following their loss to Chelsea on Saturday.

Everton lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with first-half goals from Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer sinking the Toffees.

There are still concerns over Thierno Barry after the Frenchman failed to convert into an empty Chelsea net when Idrissa Gana Gueye put the ball on a plate for him before the break.

Thankfully for the Toffees, there have been certain individuals who have been able to make up for Everton’s striker struggles this season.

However, Walcott has warned that Everton will now be without two “big ones” who David Moyes will be unable to use in the coming weeks.

Theo Walcott fears AFCON absence of Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye

Iliman Ndiaye is arguably Everton’s best player, and that was on show once again versus the Blues.

The forward hit the base of Chelsea’s post right in front of the travelling Bluenoses in the second half and almost single-handedly dragged Everton back into the game.

Gueye has had his moments of madness, but the veteran midfielder is still crucial to Moyes, and with the pair now set to leave for the African Cup of Nations, Everton are at a disadvantage.

Both Ndiaye and Gueye are key men for Senegal, with their national side set to play three games at AFCON before the end of the year.

While discussing teams that are affected by AFCON on BBC‘s Match of the Day, former Everton winger Walcott fears that the Toffees duo will be a huge miss for Moyes.

Walcott said: “For Everton, they are losing two main players in Gueye and Ndiaye, who have been really big factors right now.

“So they will be the big ones for me.”

Many Everton fans will have to selfishly hope that Senegal don’t progress through to the knockout stages, as Ndiaye and Gueye could miss even more games than the first three listed.

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Everton could be without Ndiaye and Gueye for seven games

Senegal are likely to progress from their group due to their star-studded squad, meaning Ndiaye and Gueye could miss more than the initial proposed games.

They will be hoping to lift silverware for their country, as Senegal are one of the favourites to win the tournament, having last won AFCON in 2022.

AFCON runs until 18 January, when the final will be held, and if Senegal make it that far, that means Everton will be without Ndiaye and Gueye for at least seven games.

Everton play Aston Villa on Saturday, 18 January, and by then, the Toffees may have endured a poor run of results due to the absence of two key stars.

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