Eden
Hazard remains sidelined for Chelsea's clash with Everton at Stamford Bridge
on Saturday.
The Belgian midfielder is still suffering from the groin injury that forced
him off against Crystal Palace earlier this month.
Chelsea will be looking for all three points after being pegged back twice
by West Brom to draw 2-2 at home in midweek, while Everton face their second
tough trip in a few days after their goalless draw at Manchester City on
Wednesday night.
Team news
Striker Radamel Falcao has been out since October with a thigh problem and
is continuing his rehabilitation, while Hazard also remains out. The Belgian
could return for the January 24 clash at Arsenal.
Boss Guus Hiddink has a full Chelsea squad to choose from otherwise.
Midfielder Tom Cleverley is rated as 50-50 to be fit for Everton. The
England international has missed the last two matches with a calf problem
and will be assessed late on.
James McCarthy, who has featured just once in the last seven weeks, is
edging closer to full fitness after a groin problem but will not be
considered and neither will right-back Seamus Coleman.
Opta stats
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League matches against Everton
at Stamford Bridge (W11 D9).
Chelsea have won the last two home games 1-0 against Everton with goals
scored in the 89th and 90th minute.
Roberto Martinez has lost on all six Premier League trips to Stamford Bridge
as an opposition coach.
Chelsea are unbeaten in the Premier League since Jose Mourinho's departure,
but have only won twice (W2 D3 L0).
Everton have lost just one of their 10 Premier League away games this season
(W3 D6 L1).
Chelsea have lost more points from leading positions this season than any
other team (13) - they only dropped 15 throughout 2014/15.
Romelu Lukaku needs two goals to match his best Premier League goal tally
for a season (17 in 2012/13 while on loan at West Brom).
Chelsea have conceded 31 times in their opening 21 matches this season,
their highest total in a Premier League season at this stage.
Merson's prediction
For me, that's it for Chelsea in terms of the top four. I thought they'd
definitely beat West Brom and with results going the other way, they'd have
had the chance to really close the gap on Saturday. Then before you know it
you are four or five points behind fourth place, but after the draw in
midweek I just can't see it.
They have to look at the FA Cup and the Champions League and just get
through these games in the league. I know that sounds silly, but Chelsea now
have to pick up enough points to stay out of a relegation battle. We're in
mid-January and they are still down in the bottom seven.
This is a hard game for Chelsea but I'm but backing them to win with Diego
Costa grabbing the first goal. Everton have got bigger fish to fry with a
League Cup semi-final on the horizon.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
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