Premier League Preview – Everton v Chelsea
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Gameweek 19 – Premier League Preview – Everton v Chelsea
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Everton v Chelsea – Premier League Preview and Betting Tips
Two resurgent clubs meet at Goodison Park, as in-form Chelsea travel to Everton. Despite the controversy and opprobrium surrounding the appointment of Rafael Benitez, the experienced Spaniard has seemingly galvanised the players at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues picking up some very useful victories in recent weeks, and perhaps even resurrecting their title challenge. Nonetheless, if the Blues are to be realistic title challengers then they must keep winning, and such a result will be far from easy to acquire against an Everton side that have just reclaimed their position in the top four.
David Moyes’ Everton career has been one that has drawn admiration from supporters of the club, neutrals and fellow professionals alike. But it has perhaps been very slightly blighted by two factors; firstly, his inability to win a trophy for the club as of yet, and secondly, the disappointment of qualifying for the Champions League and then being eliminated in the qualifying round by Villareal by what was considered at the time to be a controversial refereeing decision. It was a bitter pill for the Toffees to swallow to firstly be drawn against such a formidable team, and then secondly to go out in such unsatisfactory circumstances. Everton have toiled against the tide of monied clubs ever since, without managing to quite achieve Champions League qualification again.
Jeavic – Not as prolific this season but still a major threat
Thus, to be sitting in fourth place at this stage of the season will have some Toffees’ fans dreaming of meeting the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona next season. Of course, there is a long way to go before such exalted heights are reached, but this will be seen as a serious goal for the club this season. There will be a tacit acceptance that should they fail to do so, they can pretty much wave goodbye to start player Marouane Fellaini next season, who will surely be courted by a combination of Premier League and European elite.
Chelsea meanwhile know what it is to taste European victory, and despite a topsy-turvy season thus far, have begun to display some solidity and perform with a degree of consistency in recent weeks. Rafael Benitez has opted for a more solid formation, and this has paid dividend with two consecutive clean sheets in their previous Premier League fixtures. It need hardly be said that Benitez has a very talented squad of players at his disposal, and given that it is patently superior to the Liverpool squad that he guided to Champions League glory, and probably better than the Liverpool squad that finished second under Benitez in the Premier League, much can be expected of them in the weeks to come.
Benitez – “Everton are a small club”
Neither side will be expected to make many changes for this particular encounter. Everton will be without Fellaini who is serving the third game of a three match ban, but will otherwise be at full strength. Benitez has generally resisted the temptation to play Mata, Oscar and Hazard together, and will probably do so again here, with Oscar likely to be the one to sit on the bench. Captain John Terry is not yet expected to be fit enough to return to the Blues’ line-up.
Everton (possible 4-4-2): Howard; Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Naismith, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar; Jelavic, Anichebe
Chelsea (possible 4-3-2-1): Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole; Luiz, Lampard, Ramires; Mata, Hazard; Torres
Betting Prediction: Everton have coped well without Marouane Fellaini, but I feel that his presence will be missed in this fixture against a formidable Chelsea team, and I’m backing the away side to win a competitive game by the scoreline of two goals to one.
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