Chelsea v Everton: six key battles
Chelsea face Everton at Stamford Bridge this weekend. Here are six potential battles we think could be crucial in Saturday’s game.
John Terry v Romelu Lukaku
All eyes will be on the physical tussle between Chelsea skipper Terry and his former team-mate Lukaku. The big Belgian is in form, having scored 12 goals in his last 13 games. In fact, he has 55 goals in 107 appearances for Everton – but he has never netted against the Blues.
Diego Costa v Phil Jagielka
At the other end, another intriguing battle. Costa continues to remonstrate with whoever or whatever is nearest to him – he punched a wall in the tunnel after the midweek draw with West Brom – and the Everton defence will be keen to distract him from his primary task, with the striker having scored four in four.
John Mikel Obi v Ross Barkley
The arrival of Guus Hiddink has been good news for Mikel, who has supplanted Nemanja Matic as Chelsea’s midfield enforcer. Although the hat-trick hero of Everton’s 3-1 win over the Blues in September may not feature – Steven Naismith is a target for Norwich – Barkley was instrumental in that game and will again provide a threat from deep that Mikel will need to stop.
Pedro or Kenedy v John Stones
That 19-year-old Brazilian Kenedy may be given the nod ahead of £21m summer signing Pedro down Chelsea’s left, in the absence of Eden Hazard, shows how far the former Barcelona man’s stock has fallen. Kenedy impressed against West Brom, after replacing Pedro at half-time, and Chelsea will be keen to test out long-term target Stones, who will play at full-back due to injuries to Seamus Coleman, Tyias Browning and Tony Hibbert.
Willian v Leighton Baines
Chelsea’s player of the season by a distance, the Brazilian will be the attacker the Everton defence fear most. Baines missed most of the first half of the campaign but returned in December and has started five of their last six games.
Cesar Azpilicueta v Gerard Deulofeu
Whoever comes out on top in the battle between the two Spaniards may go a long way to deciding who wins the game. Azpilicueta will need to watch the pace and trickery of Deulofeu.
