Date: Saturday, Feb 22nd Venue: Stamford Bridge Kick-Off: 12.45 League leaders Chelsea must negotiate a potential banana skin against an Everton side which inflicted José Mourinho's first league defeat since his return to the Stamford Bridge dugout. Roberto Martinez's side have proven resilient outsiders in a tight race for the top five positions and Chelsea will be anxious not to drop points with Man City breathing down their necks.
Team News
John Terry is likely to return to the heart of Chelsea's defence, having missed the three previous games with a gluteal strain. Gary Cahill faces a race against time to join him, having played through a thigh injury in last week's 1-0 FA Cup loss to Man City. David Luiz is definitely ruled out with a strained muscle near his hip. Dutch midfielder Marco Van Ginkel has returned to training following surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament damage suffered last September, but still has some way to go before his rehabilitation is complete. Everton have no fresh injury worries, with Steven Naismith cleared after suffering mild concussion in the FA Cup tie with Swansea last weekend but showing no lasting effects. Antonin Alcaraz is expected to be available for selection, but Arouna Kone, Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo are long-term absentees for the Merseysiders. Romelu Lukaku, scorer of nine goals and five assists for Everton this season, has recovered from an ankle injury but is ineligible to face the side from whom he is on loan.
Key Stats
Roberto Martinez will be hoping to improve on his terrible recent record at Stamford Bridge, where he has lost in all four of his most recent visits as manager. On the face of it, the stats do not favour Everton: Chelsea are on the longest undefeated streak of any team in the Premier League to date, having gone eleven games since their previous loss. They have also not lost at home to Everton in the league in almost twenty years, a run stretching back to November 1994. Despite a solid season, Roberto Martinez's side have struggled away from home recently and are on a four match winless run. They have failed to score in their last two losses. However, in head-to-head statistical comparisons, Everton come out on top of the London club in several important categories: they have averaged 56% possession over the season to the London side's 54%, with a marginally better passing accuracy (83.4% to the Londoners' 82.9%) and significantly higher number of successful dribbles (12.5 to 7.2) and shots on target (5.4 to 3.6). Chelsea, however, come out on top in the average number of shots (17.1 against 15.4) and enjoy a higher conversion rate of 10.4% to 9.6%. (Sources: Independent, BBC, Sky Sports)
Likely Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta; Nemanja Matic, Ramires; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto'o. Everton (4-2-3-1): Tim Howard; Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin, Leighton Baines; James McCarthy, Gareth Barry; Kevin Mirallas, Ross Barkley, Steven Pienaar; Lacina Traore.
Match Preview
With Arsenal and Man City facing Premier League strugglers Sunderland and Stoke City respectively, Chelsea will feel under pressure to come out of a potentially challenging encounter with all three points. Fortunately, they have enjoyed a rare full week's rest compared to their title rivals, who both faced taxing Champions League matches in mid-week. Mourinho will have one eye on his side's upcoming trip to Galatasaray on Wednesday, but is unlikely to rotate for what could be a crucial fixture in the race for the top spot. If Chelsea can keep Leighton Baines quiet, their chances of success will greatly increase. Everton rely on their England full-back's outstanding crosses, and having 6'8 Lacina Traore (on loan from Monaco) patrolling the Chelsea box will only increase the danger. Coleman and particularly Mirallas must not be ignored on the opposite flank, but Baines is undeniably the away side's primary troublemaker and blocking him must be a priority. Mourinho will therefore be relieved to be able to call upon Willian, far and away the league's most accomplished defensive winger. With birthday boy Branislav Ivanovic offering further protection, Baines may be facing a difficult afternoon. Chelsea won't have it all their own way, though. Gareth Barry and James McCarthy have proven one of this season's great unsung midfield partnerships, offering enough protection to allow Steven Pienaar, Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas to charge forward with impunity. Nemanja Matic and Ramires will need to be on top form to keep the match under Chelsea's control, but the return of club captain and all-round defensive colossus John Terry will be a huge boost for the side with the best defensive record in the league. Everton are the better balanced of the two teams, with arguably a more diverse set of creative ability, but Chelsea have some of the strongest reserves of individual talent in the league. Eden Hazard can tear apart any side which gives him so much as a yard too much room, as Newcastle discovered to their cost when he scored a hattrick against them earlier in the month. That said, Chelsea have often been found lacking ideas against disciplined sides willing to park the proverbial bus, with their range of passing noticeably diminished whenever Lampard is left on the bench. Everton got the formula spot-on in their 1-0 victory at Goodison Park back in September, but Mourinho's side are a more settled outfit these days and will be favourites to emerge triumphant. Prediction: 2-0 to Chelsea source - bbc football
28-year old English writer with a borderline obsessive passion for films, videogames, Chelsea FC, incomprehensible words and indefensible puns. Follow me on Twitter if you like infrequent outbursts of absolute drivel.
