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Premier League Preview: Chelsea - Everton
League leaders start favorites to win all-Blues clash.
Dec 11, 2009 2:07:41 PM
Saturday, December 12, Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Stamford Bridge, West London
Chelsea and Everton both enter their weekend fixture in the midst of poor runs.
David Moyes' men have endured a below-par start to their Premier League campaign, no thanks to a glut of long-term injuries.
Carlo Ancelotti's powerful side, meanwhile, threatened to break away from the rest of the league but have faltered in recent weeks with a loss at Manchester City, elimination from the League Cup at Blackburn Rovers, and an underwhelming draw against Cypriot minnows APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League earlier this week.
Both sides will therefore be hoping to get back to winning ways.
FORM GUIDE
Chelsea
Chelsea 2-2 APOEL
Man City 2-1 Chelsea
Blackburn 3-3 Chelsea (Blackburn won 4-3 on penalties)
Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea
Porto 0-1 Chelsea
Everton
Everton 2-2 Tottenham
AEK Athens 0-1 Everton
Everton 0-2 Liverpool
Hull City 3-2 Everton
Man United 3-0 Everton
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea
A trio of first-teamers could return to Carlo Ancelotti's set-up, with Ashley Cole (ankle), Michael Ballack (knee) and Alex (thigh) all nearing full fitness.
Michael Essien and Jose Bosingwa are sidelined until the New Year due to respective hamstring and knee injuries.
Last starting XI in Premier League (v Manchester City): Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Drogba.
Everton
David Moyes almost has a whole XI occupying the physio room. Joseph Yobo, Dan Gosling, Sylvain Distin are all out out with a hamstring problem.
James Vaughan, Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta have knee complaints. So too does Victor Anichebe.
Phil Neville, meanwhile, is edging closer to a full recovery from his long-term absence.
Last starting XI in Premier League (v Tottenham): Howard, Neill, Hibbert, Yobo, Baines, Rodwell, Pienaar, Fellaini, Cahill, Bilyaletdinov, Jo.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea
Chelsea's powerful forwards should flourish against a defence that has struggled to keep clean sheets this season. Didier Drogba continues to threaten Premier League defences and could have a field-day against a make-shift Evertonian rearguard.
Everton
Jack Rodwell's stock continues to rise, so much so that he is a reported transfer target for Chelsea and Manchester United. David Moyes will be keen to hang onto the young midfielder in the January transfer window.
PREDICTION
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
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