Chelsea
have been dealt a big injury blow ahead of the trip to Everton after it was
confirmed Thibaut Courtois requires knee surgery.
The goalkeeper picked up the injury in training and is now set for a lengthy
spell on the sidelines, with Asmir Begovic set to come in.
It's not been the smoothest of starts to the season for the Premier League
holders, who lost 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace before the international
break and have just four points from their opening four games.
The Blues kick off their Champions League campaign at home to Maccabi
Tel-Aviv in midweek, but Jose Mourinho will be desperate for a result
against Everton ahead of a big clash with Arsenal next week.
They won 6-3 in an incredible encounter at Goodison Park last season, but
Roberto Martinez's side will also be in determined mood as they eye their
first home win of the campaign, while there's the added dimension of John
Stones featuring against the club which chased him throughout the transfer
window.
Team news
Martinez says he has not problem over picking Stones for the clash, while he
will make a late decision on left-back Bryan Oviedo, after the Costa Rica
international pulled out of international duty with a knee problem, and will
be assessed hours before Saturday's match.
Defender Brendan Galloway (knee) has returned to fitness and winger Aaron
Lennon is set to be named in the squad after completing a deadline day move
from Tottenham but midfielder Tom Cleverley (ankle) is out for six weeks.
For Chelsea, Asmir Begovic will deputise for Courtois, with Jamal Blackman
coming on to the bench, while playmaker Oscar (knee) is still a few days
away from full fitness.
Captain John Terry is available after his one-match suspension and fellow
defender Papy Djilobodji is in the squad after signing from Nantes.
Opta stats
On home soil, Everton have lost just two of their last seven top-flight
encounters with Chelsea (W4 D1), however those defeats have come in their
last three clashes at Goodison Park.
Chelsea have shipped a total of eight goals in their last three away Premier
League games, twice as many as they conceded in the seven games on the road
before that.
Last season's meeting between these two sides at Goodison Park ended in a
6-3 win for Chelsea - only six games in Premier League history have produced
more goals.
Everton have failed to score in two consecutive Premier League games. They
last failed to score in three back in April 2006 when they went four games
without scoring.
Chelsea have picked up just four points from their opening four Premier
League games this season, their worst start to a campaign since 1995/96
(three points).
Eden Hazard has failed to score in any of his last seven Premier Leage
games, the second-longest goal drought of his career (he went nine games
without a goal in September 2013).
Merson's prediction
This is a game Chelsea cannot afford to lose. It will be a very hard game
considering they're eight points behind City already. The early kick-off
after the international break means Jose Mourinho doesn't have long to work
with his players and I feel they have been dealt a dodgy hand here in a game
they have to win.
Romelu Lukaku, Phil Jagielka and John Stones did not feature heavily for
their countries during the break, whereas Chelsea have players who played a
lot more. That could work in Everton's favour. Saying that, Chelsea have got
to win so I have to go with them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)
top