Everton vs Chelsea

, 13 September, 0comments  |  Jump to most recent
Match Preview

With the first international break of the new season out of the way, Everton's quest for a first Premier League win under Roberto Martinez returns to Goodison Park for a date with title-contenders Chelsea.

The Blues' first game in front of the home faithful ended as frustratingly as the following game in Cardiff a fortnight ago with no goals and big question marks over the ability of the team to create and convert chances.

In between, the closure of the transfer window and Martinez's deadline-day activity has seen Marouane Fellaini depart for Manchester United but the midfield bolstered by the arrival of Gareth Barry and James McCarthy and the addition of a genuine goalscoring threat in Romelu Lukaku.

Goodison will have to wait until the last day of the month before it will get it's first look at the Belgian striker in Everton colours as he is ineligible to face his parent club. With Darron Gibson unlikely to be fit enough to start in the next two weeks, both Barry and McCarthy will be in contention for starting berths in the intervening two games, though, as the Spaniard explores his new midfield options.

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One of them, most likely Barry, will automatically take Fellaini's place in the midfield holding role, while one of Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar or Ross Barkley would have to make for McCarthy in the more advanced role if the Irish international is to walk straight into the side.

Osman's lack of impact in the opening three games would make him the obvious candidate but both Martinez and his predecessor have shown plenty of confidence in his experience and ability so it's hard to guess what he will do.

There is a more vexing question up front where Nikica Jelavic has struggled to pose a threat and Arouna Kone has exhibited a distinct lack of sharpness as Martinez has brought him in gradually this season. Certainly, the team looked more potent once the Ivorian had come on to replace the Croatian at Cardiff last time out and that alone may tip the manager in Kone's direction for the visit of Jose Mourinho's men.

Like the Blues, Chelsea are unbeaten so far this season but they have two wins on the board, both earned at home, and are sitting in second place, four points better off coming into the weekend. They're also the last team to have won at Goodison Park — their fortunate victory in December last year was the Blues' only home defeat last season.

In many ways, this game could be instructive in demonstrating where Everton are heading under Martinez. Though Lukaku will not be playing — it would be folly to depend entirely on him in any case — how the team approaches a fixture that has produced some stirring, determined dispays by the Blues in recent years will show whether they've lost any of the fire and drive that a home game against one of the Sky Four used to prompt under the old regime.

A win would certainly provide a catalyst to the slow start under Martinez, though, and set them up for the two upcoming trips to the Capital in the League and Cup.

Kick off: 5.30pm
Referee: Howard Webb

 



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