English Premier League - Match Preview: Chelsea versus Everton
Chelsea will host Everton on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, in a match that may be described as the meeting of two sides who have both suffered a slump in their form of late. Last weekend’s fixtures were another nail in the coffin concerning Chelsea’s title
hopes, as the Blues were overtaken in the table by title rivals Manchester United. The Blues were forced to drop down to the second position with twenty nine points after their draw against Newcastle. Carlo Ancelotti’s men managed to equalise 1-1, after conceding
a goal scored by England international Andy Carroll. In the same weekend, Manchester United did well to scramble up to the top spot, after thrashing Blackburn 7-1. Chelsea have failed to win their last three games in the league. Their longest ‘winless streak’
was in September 2007, where they were denied three points for four games. This season, the Blues were torn apart by Roy Pullis’ Sunderland, before losing to Birmingham and drawing with Newcastle.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men may seek refuge in the fact that their opponents for tonight, Everton are in a dismal form themselves. David Moyes’ men’s winless streak extends to five matches and they were thumped 4-1 in their last match against West Bromwich Albion.
The newly promoted team (West Brom) defeated Everton at their own home ground, Goodison Park, and the Toffees are now sitting in the sixteenth spot in the Barclay Premier League table. Moyes will want his team to not fall down into the relegation spots, which
are only two points away, but the statistics seem to favour the Blues above the Toffees.
The last time Everton won against Chelsea was in November 1994. Everton have lost nine times and drawn eight times against the Blues, but Moyes’ men have managed to hold Ancelotti’s men to a draw for the four last times they have visited Stamford Bridge.
Everton have won three games this whole season, as compared to Chelsea’s nine victories. The Blues have drawn two games, as opposed to Everton’s seven. Chelsea have succumbed to defeat four times this season and Everton doing one worse with five. Chelsea have
scored twenty nine goals and conceded ten so far this season, with Everton conceding nine more than the Blues and scoring seventeen.
Everton’s Marouane Fellaini has stated that his side are determined to obtain at least a point from the Blues. He admitted to Chelsea being a “big team and a dangerous team”, but countered his praise of Ancelotti’s side by saying "But we have a good record
against them and tend to play better against good teams.” Fellaini was banned for three games, but will face the Blues after serving the sentence he had sustained in a match against Bolton. He explained that Everton will seek inspiration from their ‘anger’,
after losing to West Brom in last weekend’s match. The Belgium international’s exact words to the press were: “All the players are still angry after losing that game at home. We are hoping for a good performance now to bounce back.”
This will be manager David Moyes’ 400th game in charge of the club and he has urged his players to show passion and drive in their game. He challenged his team to show that they have “fire in their bellies” and explained his own ambition to bring
some form of silverware after eight years to the club. He spoke of his desire to be successful at Goodison Park and to be remembered for ending the club’s trophy drought. Moyes elaborated by saying, "That has been my goal and I am driven. So many people said
when I took the job 'You'll never turn Everton around' and it drove me on. It has been my inspiration to say 'I will prove you wrong and I will show you'."
Chelsea may be boosted by much needed and anticipated return of captain John Terry, who suffered a nerve injury in his leg. Alex will not be playing due to undergoing a knee surgery and Benayoun and Lampard remain long term injuries, with an Achilles problem
for Benayoun and a troublesome groin injury for Lampard.
Everton’s Arteta is suspended and will miss the clash. Jagielka and Neville may feature for their side but Barkley, who is suffering from a leg injury and Hibbert and Osman (both sustaining ankle problems) will not face Chelsea.
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