Pre Match
September 14 2013 5.30 PM BST
Goodison Park – Liverpool
Referee: H. Webb
Everton head into this fixture without Marouane Fellaini, after he completed his last-minute transfer deadline day move to link up with former Toffee’s boss David Moyes at United. It would appear that Roberto Martinez was always prepared for life without the Belgian, as he quickly made moves for Fellaini’s replacements. But keeping hold of Leighton Baines is as good as a new signing, who showed his loyalty to the Merseyside club. It is a time for change at Everton, with Martinez stamping his style of football onto the club, which so far has seen Everton draw all 3 of their opening games. What they lack in goals they make up for in possession, but that isn’t enough to win you games. Everton need to find an end product for all their possession.
Although Everton were extremely unlucky not to win their last two games against Cardiff and West Brom, with them hitting the woodwork on various occassions, along with what seemed to be a certain penalty at Cardiff for a foul on Baines which wasn’t given. It is surely just a matter of time until everything slots into place for Martinez, but his Everton side haven’t been short on effort or performance. The capture of Gareth Barry, James McCarthy and Romelu Lukaku are great pieces of business.
Chelsea have enjoyed a bright start to the season under Jose Mourinho and find themselves in second place on 7 points. However Goodison Park is a ground where Chelsea have struggled in recent years, but will be confident they can grab all 3 points after doing the double over Everton last season. A 0-0 draw against United last time out was a good point away from home for Chelsea, and a win would see them end the day top of the table, albeit until Liverpool play Swansea and if they avoid a defeat on Monday.
Everton’s on loan striker Lukaku is eligble to play against his parent club so will not feature, but both Gareth Barry and James McCarthy are set to make their Everton debuts. However McCarthy, alongside Seamus Coleman both suffered slight knocks playing for the Republic of Ireland, but both are likely to be fit enough to play. Darren Gibson is still out with a knee injury.
Jose Mourinho has no new injury concerns to deal with. Samuel Eto is likely to make his debut for the blues at some point, but it unlikely to start.
Match Facts
- Chelsea were the only team to beat Everton at Goodison Park last season
- However Chelsea have won only one of their last 5 games at Everton
- Torres’ only Premier League of 2013 so far came against Everton in May
- Everton drew 15 games last season, the highest of any team. They have already drawn their first 3 games this season
Probable lineups
Everton: (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Howard; Coleman, Distin, Jagielka, Baines; Osman, McCarthy, Barry, Pienaar; Barkley, Jelavic
Chelsea: (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole; Ramires, Lampard; Hazard, Willian, Oscar; Torres