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What Everton can learn from Tony Bellew — Chelsea (A) preview

Caught flush by the strong left hand of Ilunga Makabu, the WBC World Cruiserweight title seemingly slipped from boxer Tony Bellew's grasp. Time stood still as the Evertonian hit the canvas just three minutes into his dream fight. The Goodison Park faithful were left breathless, gasping in disbelief as their hero was downed in his spiritual home.

Any of the 15,000 people at The Old Lady that night suspecting Bomber's defeat simply did not know the man they came to support. Tony Bellew's unrelinquishing desire to win saw the scouser quickly rise to his feet, ready for the next round.

It didn't take long to turn things around as a barrage of blows from Bomber, including a huge left hook and right uppercut, saw Makabu fall unconscious against the ropes in the third round. Tony had done it, becoming champion of the world in the first ever boxing match at Goodison, in what was a proud moment for all connected to the club — the elation was there for all to see.  Bellew dropped to his knees as the crowd roared in celebration in a fashion much akin to the raucous cry of a late Duncan Ferguson winner at the Street End.

There's a lot to be said about the sporting mentality that Bellew continues to bring to the ring. This is a man who stepped up weight divisions to fight a man in David Haye, whom a lot of the boxing world thought may seriously hurt Bellew, and knocked him out. Twice.

Tony Bellew is a man who doesn't know when he's beat, and that's exactly what Marco Silva must instil into this Everton team.

For too many years the blues have suffered from ‘Everton, that' syndrome; a phrase uttered after a sigh of acceptance that defeat was inevitable in any big game for this once great football club. The syndrome has been a slow-worming parasite infecting the club since the 1990's and it's time for the much needed mentality shift to take Everton back among the elite.

Under David Moyes, a sense of identity returned as the Scot built a team willing to fight - and the fans recognised that. But there was still a lack of belief against the top sides (especially away from home) and a problem in delivering when it really mattered. The FA cup final of 2009 encapsulated Everton's lack of belief, where a depleted Moyes outfit faced this Sunday's opponents, Chelsea. Louis Saha's record breaking opener was met with fears that we'd scored too early and, as we all know, that proved to be the case.

The mentality of the club must start from the top and the fans, by and large, met the arrival of Farhad Moshiri in February of 2016 with huge excitement that glory could soon be on the horizon. A couple of questionable managerial appointments and an ill judged ‘expected losses' quote since, and the Iranian now seems be getting things right.

There is now a clear direction that Everton want to go, and it's something everyone involved with the club can get behind. An owner prepared to back the manager financially, a director of football with a clear vision with regards to recruitment, a squad full of quality and depth and, for the first time in years, a manager that does not stand on ceremony with team selection. Not to forget the prospect of a new home beaming blue across the banks of the River Mersey.

Last week's 3-1 win at home to Brighton was one of the most dominant home displays from an Everton side in recent times and offered a teaser of what this current squad could achieve. Silva's side showcased fast, attacking football with real quality on and off the ball and a front-line to be feared by any Premier League defence.

The next step is to put an end to Everton's horrendous record away at the ‘top six' clubs, starting with Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. Since the turn of the 21st century, the Toffees have won only nine times out of 110 games away at the current top six. This staggering statistic must end before the blues can see themselves as serious contenders to regularly break into the European spots.

In fairness to Marco Silva, this season's two defeats away at Arsenal and Manchester United provided much more reason for encouragement performance-wise. Everton started each game on the front foot, creating many clear chances in both matches, perhaps showing that the self belief Tony Bellew clearly possesses is already there for this team. Alas, a magnificent Petr Cech performance and an imposing display by Manchester United's Jon Moss scuppered Everton's chance of a statement victory.

Sunday's game will be a test even tougher than Arsenal and United as Everton travel south to Stamford Bridge to face an unbeaten Chelsea side brimming with confidence. Maurizio Sarri's team, featuring former blue Ross Barkley (boooo), are playing a scintillating brand of football, with each attacking wave conducted by the technically assured Jorginho in the middle of the park. Next to him is the ever-energetic N'Golo Kante and beyond them both, amongst an array of potent attacking talent, is the fit again Eden Hazard. The Belgian, as ever, will prove very difficult to stop.

Everton will be armed with a real threat on the counter through the pace of Richarlison and Theo Walcott, although starlet Ademola Lookman may feel he's done enough recently to earn himself a start. Centre back Kurt Zouma is ineligible to face his parent club, so Colombian Yerry Mina will be thrown into the deep end to make his competitive full debut for Everton, after a comfortable 90 minutes against Gor Mahia in the Sportpesa Cup victory on Tuesday night.

If Everton can stay off the ropes and weather the inevitable Chelsea storm, then perhaps Marco Silva's side, marshalled in midfield by the tireless Idrissa Gueye and the composed Andre Gomes, can find a way to get a foothold in the game and take the fight to Chelsea. One of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Theo Walcott or the new Brazilian heroes will be hoping to land the Londoners with a knockout blow and secure a win at Stamford Bridge for the first time in the league since 1995.

Here's hoping for an Everton double at the weekend as Tony Bellew will try to find a way to win against the Ukrainian monster Oleksandr Usyk to become the undisputed world cruiserweight champion on Saturday night. It should be a cracker.

Up the Toffees!

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