Follow every kick as Chelsea take on Everton at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League
on 12-Dec-2009, kick off time 15:00
Chelsea v Everton Live
Match Preview
Chelsea will be looking to get back to winning ways against Everton at Stamford Bridge following their Premier League setback at Manchester City last weekend. Carlo Ancelotti's all-conquering outfit lost for the first time since their 2-1 reversal at Aston Villa on October 17. After winning five successive games in November without conceding, they have let in seven in their last three games in all competitions and their Italian manager will want to turn this around against the struggling Toffees.
In midweek the Blues could only manage a 2-2 draw against Champions League minnows APOEL Nicosia from Cyprus at Stamford Bridge. To be fair to the Premier League table-toppers, they rested a few key first-team stars and their passage through to the knockout stage was already confirmed. Everton are in the mire at the wrong end of the table but they will be spurred by their excellent comeback last time out. David Moyes' men, with their continuing injury list, found themselves 2-0 down at home to Tottenham Hotspur before hauling themselves back into the game thanks to goals from Louis Saha and Tim Cahill.
Sharp-shooting England ace Jermain Defoe also had a penalty saved deep into stoppage-time at Goodison Park, with USA international keeper Tim Howard making the save to provide Toffees boss David Moyes with some much-needed cheer. They sit in fifth place and, with just one win in their last nine league games, the Merseysiders are finding life tough at the moment. The last thing any manager needs ahead of a trip to the capital is to be without several instrumental players - and Moyes has this problem in abundance.
Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Victor Anichebe, Leon Osman, James Vaughan and Phil Neville all remain on the sidelines with knee injuries, while Sylvain Distin, Joseph Yobo and Dan Gosling are all out of the squad due to hamstring complaints. John Terry, who has struggled through the week with a knee problem, featured in midweek against the Cypriots and should be raring to go. Midfield dynamo Michael Essien suffered a hamstring tear in midweek and joins full-back Jose Bosingwa (knee) on the list of absentees for the next four weeks.
Source: DSG
