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Chelsea v Everton: tough test for Blues in London

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Sandro Ramirez of Everton is challenged by Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park on December 23, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Sandro Ramirez of Everton is challenged by Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park on December 23, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /
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This Sunday Everton travel down to London again and take on a Chelsea side still unbeaten in the Premier League.

The capital has not been a happy hunting ground for Everton over recent years and a trip to Stamford Bridge certainly doesn’t make for an easy game to try to overcome that poor record.

Chelsea are enjoying another good start to a season despite yet again changing their manager in the summer.

Whatever it is they seem to have found the formula for sustained success regardless of who is your coach or manager.

And so far new boss Mauricio Sarri can do no wrong as the Londoners remain one of three clubs still to taste defeat in the league this season.

Of course Sarri inherited a strong squad, one that won the title only two years ago. But he does seem to have revitalised several of Chelsea’s key players such as Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata, whose form had dipped last season.

And he’s promoted to the first team several fringe members of the Chelsea squad who have become important contributors to their season.

One of the those players is of course a former Everton starlet, Ross Barkley.

The young midfielder had made the decision to leave Everton but having moved to Chelsea it seemed like he was destined to get lost in the depths of Stamford Bridge.

However Sarri has brought him into the starting eleven in recent games and he has been thriving. What price he will find the back of the net against his former club on Sunday?

Under Sarri Chelsea have become a more possession-based team than when either Jose Mourinho or Antonio Conte were manager.

They keep the ball very well making it difficult for opponents to put their defence under sustained pressure. That defence is probably the weakest part of the team with David Luiz in particular always likely to make an error.

Chelsea are though a superb attacking team and they will represent by far the toughest test yet of Everton’s own newly resilient defence.

The Toffees have been miserly at the back in recent weeks, only conceding four goals in their last five Premier League matches and one of those was the result of a dubious penalty at Old Trafford. And it looks as though Yerry Mina will finally make his debut.

But with players of the quality of Hazard, Willian, Pedro and Morata, Chelsea have been scoring a boatload of goals. And they look capable of mounting a sustained challenge for the title again.

As for Everton there is the possibility that they will be without Richarlison for the game. If he isn’t fit enough to start that will be a major blow.

The Brazilian forward has been a revelation since he joined in the summer. And despite his transfer fee he has more than proved his value since then.

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Deciding who will take his place as lead striker in the side is not easy. Although he has been very inconsistent at times I still think that in a game like this Dominic Calvert-Lewin would be the best bet.

It’s more than likely Everton will have only sporadic spells of possession and will be looking to try to counter-attack when they do get the ball. Calvert-Lewin offers the pace, running and physical strength to stretch Chelsea and provide a focal point in attack.

This is going to be a difficult match for the Toffees and while I would love to see Everton win I think the best that is likely is a draw. Can the Blues upset the odds on Sunday?