'Big Match' .. Chelsea v Everton

Best in Footy

follow this blog

38 followers

108 daily readers

rank of 426

E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Best in Footy Forums

English Premier League (96)

Spotlight Posts

£300 million for boring football!

Should footballer's private lives, remain private?

The Invention of a new Sport!

England Ashes Squad

Fifa 2011

Next England manager to be English, not the one after though!

[ more ]

'Big Match' .. Chelsea v Everton

December 3rd 2010 15:21

Link: twitter.com/mattsaltmer

This weekend will hopefully see all twenty Premier League sides in action, but I have picked out one fixture to preview in detail, as this weekend's 'Big Match'. That game is at 3pm on Saturday, between Chelsea and Everton.

Champions Chelsea have stuttered in recent weeks, and the five point lead they had at the top, has disappeared. They sit second, two points behind Manchester United, and only ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. But as they take on Everton at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, they welcome back Essien and John Terry to the side, which will surely add some steel.

There have been all sorts of problems at the club in the last month, since Ray Wilkins' controversial sacking. Ancelotti's future has been clouded in doubt, and just one win from their last five Premier League games hasn't helped. This sort of report would have been unbelievable a month ago, as the best side in the league were seemingly cruising to the title. They seemed unstoppable. Now they just seem unstable.

Everton haven't been enjoying themselves this season so far, and will be just as desperate to get something from this fixture. It still remains unthinkable that the Toffees could be relegated this season, but they lie 16th, just two points outside the drop zone.

Behind Wenger at Arsenal and Ferguson at Man Utd, Everton boss David Moyes is the longest serving manager in the Premier League. Everton fans will have faith that he can turn things around. But after last season began so poorly, and they fought back to finish 8th, there was huge optimism going into this campaign. Even I was tipping them to challenge for a place in the top four. But if they can turn around their form quickly, they remain just four points off the top 7, and could easily qualify for Europe.

This is how I expect the side to line-up;
Chelsea

Cech
Ferreira
Terry
Ivanovic
Cole
Essien
Mikel
Malouda
Kalou
Anelka
Drogba

Everton
Howard
Neville
Jagielka
Distin
Baines
Heitenga
Fellaini
Cahill
Pienaar
Anichebe
Yakubu

I feel these are both great football teams, and are both sure to turn around their recent poor form soon. I expect with the return of two of their key players, Chelsea will win this game tomorrow. But a run of victories can't be too far away for Everton, but not this weekend.

My Prediction .... 3-1

There will be a detailed review of this weekend's 'Big Match' on my site by tomorrow evening.

Vote