Chelsea (H)

Everton vs Chelsea

Premier League

Goodison Park

Saturday August 30th 5.30pm

Another tough game before the international break, one of the favourites for the title and they've justified it so far with 2 wins from 2. After going over a decade without a win against the Blues though, we have a pretty good record against them since breaking that duck. This game could be particularly interesting too with us lining up with two ex-Chelsea strikers up front...

Team News

Samuel Eto'o should be involved, but whether he starts or not will depend on him proving his fitness this week. Lukaku should be fit after a knock last week, but Steven Pienaar is definitely out.
Diego Costa is Chelsea's big doubt with a hamstring injury, Didier Drogba will likely take his place if he doesnt make it, since Fernando Torres has just confirmed a move to Milan. Andre Schurrle is fit again.

Howard

Coleman-Jagielka-Distin-Baines

Barry-McCarthy

Mirallas-Naismith-Osman
Lukaku

Ones to Watch

Thibaut Courtois. Young keeper who has taken over from Petr Cech this season after two very successful years on loan at Atletico Madrid.

Branislav Ivanovic. Anything dislikeable about Chelsea can be summed up by him. One of the dirtiest players around, but also one of the biggest girls if anyone so much as breathes on him. Horrible knack of scoring goals from defence too, and with our defence so far this season...

Cesc Fabregas. Another horrible get, but a damn talented one. Back in England after a few years back at Barcelona, always loved a goal at Goodison, and the current star of my Fantasy Team so you know where to put your money!

Diego Costa. Another in a long line of expensive big name strikers at Chelsea. Whether he'll go the same way as Torres and Shevchenko, it's too early to say. Made an excellent start with 2 goals in 2.

Didier Drogba. Just when you thought we'd seen the back of the bogeyman for good, he bloody comes back! One of the best players ever to play in the Premier League, Chelsea's talisman in his first spell and has won pretty much everything. If Costa is indeed injured, not a abd man to have in reserve!

The Ex Factor

Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea 2011-2014)

Appearances: 4 (11)

Goals: 0

(Everton 2013-Present)

Appearances: 33 (2)

Goals: 16

Christian Atsu (Chelsea 2013-Present)

No appearances

(Everton 2014-Present)

Appearances: 0 (1)

Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea 2013-2014)
Appearances: 26 (9)
Goals: 12

(Everton 2014-Present)
No appearances

Previous Meetings

(Premier League, September 14th 2013)

Everton 1-0 Chelsea

(Naismith 45)

(Premier League, December 30th 2012)

Everton 1-2 Chelsea
(Pienaar 2: Lampard 42, 72)

(Premier League, February 11th 2012)

Everton 2-0 Chelsea

(Pienaar 5, Stracqualursi 71)

(League Cup 4th Round, October 26th 2011)

Everton 1-2 Chelsea AET

(Saha 83: Kalou 38, Sturridge 116)
Drenthe sent off 107: Turnbull sent off 58

(Premier League, May 22nd 2011)

Everton 1-0 Chelsea

(Beckford 74)
Coleman sent off 52

Last Time

Everton 1-0 Chelsea (Naismith 45) Premier League, September 14th 2013

Just under a year ago, Roberto Martinez got his first League win as Everton manager, against this very same opposition! Samuel Eto'o ironically played a big part in the first half, Gareth Barry on his debut making a goal saving clearance while Eto'o had the goal at his mercy. After withstanding a lot of Chelsea pressure, Steven Naismith gave us the lead on the stroke of half time, nodding in after Jelavic flicked a deep cross back across goal. Chelsea pushed and pushed second half, but we held on for a huge win.

Memorable Meeting

Everton 2-1 Chelsea (Saha 33, 75: Malouda 17) Premier League, February 10th 2010

After over 10 years without a win in any competition against Chelsea, this one couldnt have been more surprising. Chelsea started on fire and deservedly took the lead through Malouda after just 17 minutes , and it looked like one of those games where you wondered how many they were going to get. Suddenly Saha headed in a Donovan corner, and the game transformed completely. Now we were on fire, and should have led at half time, but Petr Cech saved Saha's weak penalty. He had his moment though, John Terry misjudging a high ball forward from Distin, allowing Saha to chest the ball down and crack in an unstoppable volley from the edge of the box. Angry manic Goodison under the headlights at its best. And we've done pretty well against them since ironically! 

Prediction

Another tough game, a draw wouldnt be a bad result really. Though if we go in front, it would be nice to hold on to it this time! Everton 1-1 Chelsea