John
Terry could return for Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final at Everton on Saturday
evening following a six-match absence with a hamstring injury.
The Blues captain - who scored a contentious 98th-minute equaliser in this
season's Premier League meeting between the two clubs at Stamford Bridge in
January - has not featured since hobbling off in the first half of his
side's 5-1 victory over Newcastle in mid-February.
Chelsea's only hopes of ending their turbulent campaign with silverware rest
in this season's FA Cup following Wednesday's Champions League defeat to
Paris Saint-Germain.
The seven-time cup winners travel to Everton as they bid to reach the
semi-finals. Both sides have a rich vein of history in the competition, with
Chelsea defeating the Toffees in the 2009 final.
Aaron Lennon and Bryan Oviedo are doubts for the visit of the Premier League
champions as Roberto Martinez's side look to bounce back from last weekend's
disappointing 3-2 home defeat by West Ham.
Team news
Everton's Kevin Mirallas will miss out through suspension following his red
card against the Hammers.
Leighton Baines has been receiving treatment on an ongoing ankle problem but
could come in for Oviedo, while Martinez expects Gareth Barry and Tom
Cleverley, also recently suffering with illness, to be available.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa is a doubt with a hip injury, while playmaker
Eden Hazard is carrying a hip and groin problem but should be fit to
feature.
January acquisition Alexandre Pato could make his long-awaited debut, but
defender Kurt Zouma (knee) remains out for the season.
Opta stats
Everton progressed the last time these sides met in the FA Cup, via
penalties in a fourth-round replay in 2011.
However, Chelsea have been successful in six of the nine FA Cup ties between
the sides, including a 2-1 win in the 2009 final at Wembley.
Everton have scored exactly three goals in their last two home meetings with
Chelsea, including a 3-1 win in the Premier League this season.
The Blues have progressed from their last four FA Cup quarter-final ties,
going on to win the trophy on three of those occasions (2009, 2010, 2012).
The Toffees have reached this stage for the fourth time in the past five
seasons. They progressed in 2012, but went out to Wigan in 2013 and Arsenal
in 2014 - both of whom went on to lift the trophy.
Chelsea have netted in seven of their last eight FA Cup away fixtures,
scoring 20 goals in total.
Martinez's side have lost three of their last four home games in all
competitions, including throwing away a two-goal against West Ham last
weekend (2-3).
Guus Hiddink's side have won their last two away games in all competitions,
both by a 2-1 scoreline.
Merson's prediction
This all depends on whether Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are available,
because Chelsea could be in trouble without them. If they're not fit, I
don't see the visitors getting a result.
People will say 'Which Everton will we get - the one that keeps throwing
leads away at home or the one that slaughtered Stoke away?'
But if Costa and Hazard don't play, Chelsea are there to be beaten and I
don't see anything but an Everton win.
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