Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Wednesday, 22 April
Kick-off: 2000 BST
Tonight sees the rehearsal for this year’s FA Cup final – albeit at Stamford Bridge – as we play host to Everton.
We go into this game four points behind Manchester United in the league, having played a game more but whilst the title might have realistically gone a while ago, it won’t do us any harm to keep in touch with them.
Everton, on the other hand, are looking at a European place next season and a win for them would push them above Villa into fifth place.
On the squad front, for us, Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira remain out for the rest of the season, whilst Deco and Jose Bosingwa both miss out with hamstring trouble.
KEY PLAYERS
CHELSEA
Nicolas Anelka – the Chelsea striker has previously managed seven goals in 16 Premier League starts against Everton and is one of three Premier League players with 21 club goals so far this season.
EVERTON
Tim Cahill – Everton’s top scorer this season doesn’t shy away from physical battle. So, combine that with his dangerous movement at set-pieces, and our defenders are probably in for a bit of a game.
CLUB FORM
CHELSEA
We’ve won six from seven Premier League games – our defeat away to Spurs being the only points dropped under Guus Hiddink. We still have the tightest defence in the league and we’ve managed 20 points from 24 at home since November. With 67 points, we’re 4 points down on this time last season and it’s our lowest tally at this point in the season for six years. We go into this game 3rd in the table.
EVERTON
The Toffees haven’t beaten any of the five clubs above them in the league so far this season although they’ve kept clean sheets in five of their last eight top-flight games. Their current total of 51 points puts them 5 points down on last season and a win would bring their total Premier League points under David Moyes to 400. Everton go into this game 6th in the table.
HEAD TO HEAD
Everton haven’t managed a win against us in 21 games in either the league or cup and we haven’t lost any of our last 13 against them in the league at Stamford Bridge, with seven wins and six draws. The Toffees have also failed to score against us in our last three meetings.
Home and Away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 50 wins, Everton 45 wins, Draws 44
Prem: Chelsea 16 wins, Everton 4 wins, Draws 13
At Chelsea Only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 35 wins, Everton 12 wins, Draws 22
Prem: Chelsea 9 wins, Everton 1 win, Draws 6
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 1-1 Everton
Chelsea scorer: Drogba 70
Everton scorer: Cahill 90
11 November 2007 – Ref: Alan Wiley
THIS SEASON’S REVERSE
Sent off: John Terry 35
22 December 2008 – Ref: Phil Dowd
PREDICTION
Both teams go into this game off the back of making it to the final of the FA Cup but whilst confidence in both camps will be pretty high, I can’t see either side wanting to take the risk of conceding too much before the final. And whilst Hiddink only plays to win, a draw in this one wouldn’t exactly be a surprise.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Belletti, Alex, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Mancienne, A Cole, Terry, Lampard, Ballack, Obi, Kalou, Essien, Malouda, Di Santo, Anelka, Quaresma, Stoch, Drogba.
EVERTON (from): Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Neville, Fellaini, Vaughan, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha, Rodwell, Nash, Yobo, Castillo, Jacobsen, Gosling, Jo.
REFEREE
Mark Halsey (Lancs)
Blue is the colour
