Everton’s revamped front line is made up of two Chelsea cast offs who could both face their old club come Saturday 5:30 pm. Lukaku and Eto’o didn’t play together for Chelsea due to the loan deal Everton managed to iron out for the big Belgian and it remains to be seen how the potentially potent duo can gel.
Could it be possible that even a man as proud as Jose Mourinho could be ruing losing these two at the weekend after learning that new striker Diego Costa has picked up a hamstring injury and could face time away. Further to this, the £50 m man Fernando Torres could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge and to Milan for either a year long loan reportedly worth £7 m or a permanent deal. Either way it appears that Chelsea do not want to pay his surely mammoth wages.
Everton’s New Boys Look to Sink an Old Friend
It is most likely at this point that Chelsea will be forced to turn to the 36 year old veteran striker Didier Drogba to supply the goals. Although he is a great player and a Chelsea legend it remains to be seen if the Ivorian can still cut it at the Premiership level. Regardless of London outfit’s striking issues, they have plenty to fear in the middle of the park with the likes of Hazard, Schurrle, Oscar and the newly acquired Fabregas (I still find it weird seeing him in Premiership shirt other than Arsenal’s).
From Everton’s point of view it is all about lasting the full 90 minutes, in the opening games of the season they have conceded three goals after the 80 minute mark causing the Blues to drop a valuable four points that could make all the difference in May 2015. I have no doubt that this will be Everton’s toughest task yet this season but at the same time they should be up for the fight following two disappointing results.
Everton will more than likely adopt the 4-2-3-1 formation offering pace out wide, a target man and two defensive midfielders that will aim to stifle Chelsea’s plentiful attacking options. James McCarthy and Gareth Barry will undoubtedly be the most important players on the pitch for the Merseyside outfit on Saturday evening, they will be tasked with keeping the likes of Oscar and Fabregas in check as these are the players who can hurt you in a second as Burnley quickly found out this year.
This promises to be an epic battle between two sides that are competing hard and looking to be playing some good football. I predict a midfield battle with plenty of action but with two of the better defences in the league there unfortunately won’t be many goals. This is one to highlight on the calendar this weekend, I’m saying Everton 1-1 Chelsea.
Possible Lineups
Chelsea (4-1-2-2-1) = Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Oscar, Fabregas, Schurrle, Hazard, Drogba.
Everton (4-2-3-1) = Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Barry, McCarthy, Mirallas, Naismith, Lukaku, Eto’o.
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