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Premier League Matchday 3 sees Chelsea travel to Goodison Park to face off against traditional bogey side Everton. It's likely to be the Blues' first real challenge of the season, having faced 2 newly-promoted sides in their opening 2 fixtures, while Everton will be facing their second Big 4 side on the spin following their clash against Arsenal the week before. Games between the sides in recent seasons have proved well-fought and highly competitive, and fans and neutrals alike will be hoping for much the same for this one of 2 standout games of the matchweek, with Liverpool facing off against Spurs at White Hart Lane the following day.










The corresponding fixture between the sides last season, incidentally just one matchday removed from this year's, ended in a 1-0 victory for the home side. Steven Naismith took advantage of a defensive shambles at the back on Chelsea's part to put the Toffees ahead in the dying seconds of first half stoppage time. The Blues came of out the gates after the interval flying, and dominated from then on out, creating, and subsequently missing, a multitude of gilt-edged chances, but their efforts proved insufficient, and José Mourinho was condemned to his first defeat in his return as Chelsea manager.





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The 2 sides obtained 2 contrasting results with 2 entirely contrasting performances in their Matchday 2 fixtures the weekend previous. Everton, facing off, as mentioned, against Arsenal, went 2 goals up through Seamus Coleman and Steven Naismith in the 19th and 45th minutes respectively, and lead 2-0 at the break. An underwhelming second half, however, allowed their visitors back into the game, and by full-time, the Gunners had dug themselves out of their hole and equalised through Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud in the final 7 minutes of regular time.

Chelsea, on the completely other hand, taking on newly-promoted Championship-winners Leicester at the Bridge, made very hard work of the affair. Not playing well at all and being impressively outclassed by the top flight newboys for long stretches, they went into the break honours even at nil apiece. However, as probably could have been expected, the Londoners came out of the gates flying in the second half, and finally found the breakthrough they were edging ever closer to since the interval through Diego Costa. 15 minutes later, Eden Hazard doubled the Blues' advantage and sealed the 3 points for José Mourinho's men.
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As mentioned, the day's hosts have tended, at least in recent history, to be one of the Blues' most notorious bogey teams. Indeed, in the Londoners' 5 visits to Goodison Park since and including their Double-winning season of 2010, they've lost 4 of them, the only exception being an unlikely victory under embattled manager Rafa Benitez in December 2012. There can be little doubt, in light of this history, which the players and their boss will doubtless be only too aware of heading into this face-off, that the Blues will travel to Merseyside knowing full well that nothing but the very utmost of effort is likely to succeed in bucking this disadvantageous and worrying trend.
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Apart from long-term injuries Ross Barkley, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone, Steven Pienaar will be a doubt for Everton following the player's injury in the Toffees' game against Arsenal the Saturday before, which effected his early removal from the game having lasted just 10 minutes. Chelsea, conversely, remain completely injury-free.

Let's make it 9 points from 9, shall we?

It won't be easy but if we can get a win, we'll really strike fear into the other teams.

Same lineup for me, I think.

We need to start strong. It's been only 2 games, but I think we've been slacking a bit at the start.

I also want to see Filipe Luis to start or come off the bench. I know that Mou has plans, but I want to see him in action against these types of teams.

I imagine he will, Drogba's subs were much more sentimental than anything, Luis could certainly get some gametime against Everton.

Let's face it, Mourinho will play for a draw. May try to nick a win on the break, but as with any big away game, it'll be safety-first from him.

I feel we'll sit and play on the counter, may not be for the draw but certainly won't be as dominant as we were over the last few weeks.

So LOLkaku is injured, but is expected to be fit by Saturday

Let's hope he doesn't score.

That would be a media nightmare.


Fingers crossed we're spared it.

1 0 victory incoming

Spoiler:

Here's hoping

Is F Luis going to start this time ffs

Doubt it.


As mentioned, it's likely to be safety-first from Mourinho and Luis' qualities going forward will likely be an afterthought to him.

  and those who thought he was a shoe in for FF? So selfish Mou.

Tbf, I hardly think he'd have paid £16m for a fullback he was planning to use as a back-up. I think he's just sticking with last season's best defence in the league for these early days till the season's more settled and bedded in.

Well you have a 50m bench warmer so I'm not going to hold my breath based on that logic.

On another note.. you know what I just noticed about your fixtures..

From R2, your fixtures alternate between scrub fixture and one of the 10-12 toughest fixtures of the season.

Leicester home (Scrub)
Everton away (Top 10)
Swansea home (Scrub)
City away (Top 10)
Villa home (Scrub)
Arsenal home (Top 10)
Palace away (Scrub)
United away (Top 10)
QPR home (Scrub)
Pool away (Top 10)
Baggies home (Scrub)
Sunderland (End pattern)

That may hurt you, you will struggle for consistency. I'll bump this thread in a few months.

Peccadillo wrote:Well you have a 50m bench warmer so I'm not going to hold my breath based on that logic.

Hardly comparable...

Peccadillo wrote:Leicester home (Scrub)
Everton away (Top 10)
Swansea home (Scrub)
City away (Top 10)
Villa home (Scrub)
Arsenal home (Top 10)
Palace away (Scrub)
United away (Scrub)
QPR home (Scrub)
Pool away (Top 10)
Baggies home (Scrub)
Sunderland (End pattern)

ftfy

Eto'o on the possibility of playing against us on Saturday:
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"I’m not particularly concerned that it’s against my old team. The important thing is to integrate into my new teammates' way of playing and get ready for that match. If I don’t feature it’s just important to get ready."

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— via London24

I don't think he will, tbh.

The players are to wear black armbands for this match in memory of Lord Attenborough.

Chelsea boost as Diego Costa passed fit for Everton clash:
Diego Costa has been a doubt after pulling up with hamstring injury this week, but came through Friday's session unscathed and will travel to Goodison Park
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2736189/Diego-Costa-boost-Chelsea-32m-striker-passed-fit-Everton-clash.html

Wow, Lukaku's stats are not bad.

Drogba is 100x the player though.

EVERTON XI: Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka (c), Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, McGeady, Naismith, Mirallas, Lukaku

CHELSEA XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Terry (c), Cahill, Ivanovic, Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Willian, Hazard, Costa