Match Preview: Everton vs Chelsea

Probable lineups

The international week (the most dreaded by club football fans) came and went like a breeze in the night. The English Premier League (EPL) will be back this weekend with Everton hosting Chelsea.

KICK-OFF: 12:45 pm, Saturday 12th September

Everton will be hoping to capitalize on Chelsea's poor start to the season. The Toffees have made a decent start to their campaign recording 2 clean sheets in their last four games, but they have failed to score in the previous two matches.

Chelsea have had one of the worst start to the EPL season for a defending champion. They have conceded 9 goals in 4 games without any clean sheet. They are 13^th on the EPL table after four games. Although it’s too early for Chelsea fans to panic or ring the alarm bells, the poor start may count against them at the later stages when the challenge is tense.

Key Stats:

•  Roberto Martinez picked up his first victory as Everton Manager against Chelsea.
•  Eden Hazard is on the second longest drought of his career after failing to score in his last seven matches, with his longest drought lasting nine matches.
•  In 12 matches against Everton, Jose Mourinho has won on 8 occasions, drew 3 and lost 1.
• Martinez has only won 2 of his 12 matches against Chelsea. 
• In 46 matches against Chelsea, Everton won 8, drew 16, and lost 22.

Everton injuries and suspension:

•       Leighton Baines - Ankle injury
•       Steven Pienaar  - Arm string injury
•       Tony Hibbert – Knee injury
•       Bryan Oviedo – Knee injury

Chelsea injuries and suspension:

•       Oscar – Muscular Injury

Form Guide:

Everton last 4 matches:

15/08/15 Southampton 0 – 3 Everton
23/08/15 Everton 0 – 2 Manchester City
26/08/15 Barnsley 3 – 5 Everton
29/08/15 Tottenham 0 – 0 Everton

Chelsea last 4 matches:

08/08/15 Chelsea 2 – 2 Swansea City
16/08/15 Manchester City 3 – 0 Chelsea
23/08/15 West Brom 2 – 3 Chelsea
29/08/15 Chelsea 1 – 2 Crystal Palace

Key Player:

Lukaku: The ex-Chelsea man will be looking to unleash his predatory instinct against his former club. If Everton plays to their full strength, Lukaku is likely to score against Chelsea, whose defense had been leaking goals since the start of the season.

Prediction: Everton 2, Chelsea 2.