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Everton v CHELSEA: Preview

Venue: Goodison Park
Date: Saturday, 30 August
Kick-off: 17:30

Today’s late game sees us travel to Goodison Park for a game against an Everton side without a win so far. Not that The Toffees have been particularly poor at the start of this season although their defence might have been guilty of a little jet-lag from their summer holidays. Up front of course they now have Lukaku on a permanent basis for the princely sum of £….silly money and he’s been joined by another ex-Chelsea temp, with Samuel Eto’o joining them in the transfer window. Odds on at least one of them scoring today really.
For us, Goodison definitely hasn’t been a happy hunting ground of late and with Costa facing a late test with hamstring trouble, we may well be looking to Didier Drogba to pull off something heroic here. Both sets of players will be wearing black armbands today in memory of Lord Attenborough, so either way let’s hope the game is a fitting tribute.

MANAGER’S VIEWS
Ahead of this evening’s game, Everton boss Roberto Martinez says “We know it is going to be a difficult test, but we feel hurt about the points we have dropped so late and everything is down to us to try to be as good as we can. But unless you are at your top level you can’t really compete against teams like Chelsea.
It is clear Chelsea and Manchester City have started really strongly. They have shown they have no stopping period, they have just started where they left off. They are looking in top form straight away and it could be a really difficult sign for everyone else. We know how they played last season and now they have got more flair and more options in attack. That makes them a very complete team.”

Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho meanwhile says of today’s opponents “Everton are a very good team. They kept absolutely every player. They didn’t sell one of the good players they have, and so many teams for sure were interested in buying some of their players. They believe in that and that’s the most important thing.”

SQUAD NEWS
For Everton, Steven Pienaar (groin)is out although Lukaku could still play despite picking up an injury against Arsenal. Samuel Eto’o could make his debut.
For Chelsea, Andre Schurrle is available after overcoming a foot problem and Didier Drogba could start if Costa isn’t risked after tweaking a hamstring.

TEAMS
EVERTON (Possible line-up): Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Naismith, Barry, Osman, McCarthy, Mirallas, Lukaku
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, JT, Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Matic, Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, Drogba

LAST SEASON
Everton 1-0 Chelsea (14th Sept 2013)

OTHER STUFF
● Everton have won 4 of their last 5 home games against us in the Premier League
● Chelsea have failed to score on 4 of their last 6 visits to Goodison in the league.
● Last season the only top-six team to win at Goodison Park was Man City.
● Our first defeat last season came at Everton
●Everton have only won two of their last seven Premier League games
● Chelsea have won their last 4 successive Premier League games away.
● If games had ended at half-time this season, Everton would be top of the league.

PREDICTION
It doesn’t bode well that our form against Everton away hasn’t been favourable for a while, even less so when you remember our first defeat last season came at Goodison Park as well. Add to that little lot Diego Costa struggling to be fit for this after tweaking his hamstring and the odds look to be stacked in favour of the Toffees.

MATCH DAY THOUGHT
“I believe we need heroes. I believe we need certain people who we can measure our own shortcomings by”. Lord Attenborough.

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