Chelsea v Everton @ Stamford Bridge
February 11, 2015 @ 19:45
There was footballing pandemonium when the two blues last met in August and Chelsea will be hoping for more of the same tomorrow night.
Though Jose Mourinho will want better defending, last year’s 6-3 victory set the tone for the expansive football the Blues have played this season.
Chelsea will be hoping to extend their seven-point advantage at the top of the Premier League over Manchester City, who face a tricky trip to Stoke.
They will be boosted by the return of talismanic midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who is available after a two-game layoff due to a hamstring problem.
Fabregas boasts 15 assists to his name this season, more than any player managed last season.
Diego Costa however, will still be unavailable as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension for stamping on Emre Can in the Capital One Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
Everton have endured a difficult season themselves 12th in the table, with less than half of Chelsea’s points.
The Toffees come off the back of a draw against Liverpool and have also won a single one of their last eight matches and that was the visit to Crystal Palace last month.
It will be former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku’s first return to Stamford Bridge as an opponent and he will be eager to impress his former club.
While Lukaku will have a glisten in his eyes, the Bridge is probably the last place Everton will want to come, in this confidence barren patch having not won in the league there since November 1994.
Star Man: Cesc Fabregas
Danger Man: Romelu Lukaku
Last Encounter: Everton 3 (Mirallas, Naismith, Eto’o) – 6 (Costa x2, Ivanovic, Coleman OG, Matic, Ramires) Chelsea
Picture courtesy of Brent Flanders, with thanks
