Venue: Goodison Park
Date: Sunday, 30 December
Kick-off: 13.30
Oh god it’s Everton away.
We finally string 3 successive wins together in the league – and then Everton come along, no doubt to p*** on our fireworks.
Everton’s always a tough game anyway but they’re in really good form this season and we haven’t had a win at Goodison in our last 4 trips, with them beating us in the last 3 – not bad for a “small club” eh Rafa?
MANAGERS’ VIEWS
Ahead of today’s early game, David Moyes says “I think it is a great club – they are European champions. If you go there you have always got a chance of winning games with the quality and level of players they have got. I don’t think it is any surprise that Chelsea are winning games. He (Benitez) is doing a very good job. He has inherited a really good team, some very good players. You would expect him to win games.”
Benitez says…… oh come on, you didn’t expect me to quote anything he has to say surely?
SQUAD NEWS
For Everton, Tony Hibbert and Kevin Mirallas are still injured and Marouane Fellaini completes a three-match ban after his Zidane impression. Gibson (thigh) has had his suspension overturned although has struggled with a thigh strain but Seamus Coleman may return.
For Chelsea, John Terry (knee) won’t be ready for a return today, John Obi Mikel (knee) and Ryan Bertrand (groin) face late tests. Ramires (knee) is expected to return
TEAMS
EVERTON (Possible line-up): Tim Howard: Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin, Leighton Baines; Phil Neville, Thomas Hitzelsperger, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar; Victor Anichebe, Nikica Jelavic
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Petr Cech: Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole: David Luiz, Frank Lampard; Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Victor Moses; Fernando Torres
LAST SEASON
Everton 2-0 Chelsea (11th February 2012)
PREDICTION
I suppose the easiest thing to predict for this one is that Rafa can expect an equally hostile reception from both home and away support.
Blue is the colour
