Everton v Chelsea Premier League Preview: Can The Toffees Turn Around Poor Home Form Against The Blues 100% Away Record?

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Everton play Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chelsea in the Premier League at Goodison Park on Monday.

Toffees boss David Moyes will have cause for concern ahead of this clash with Chelsea, having seen his Everton side manage only one win at home in the Premiership this season in eight matches. The only team in the league with a worse home record is Blackburn Rovers and had it not been for the Merseyside clubs away form could easily have found them in a relegation battle instead of 7th in the Premier League. Everton’s only win at home came against Fulham at the beginning of November, which is something Moyes is hoping the Toffees can put right at Goodison on Monday.

Like Everton, Chelsea have also not been their best at Stamford Bridge this season, having lost twice after a four-and-a-half year unbeaten run that went back to 2004 and Claudio Ranieri and drawing four times. However, the Blues have also been superb away from home, winning all eight matches on their travels, scoring 21 goals and conceding just the once. Scolari must surely fancy Chelsea’s chances of extending this winning run. Given Everton’s poor form at Goodison as the Blues continue to push for the Premiership title in 2nd place, just a point behind leaders Liverpool.

As if Everton’s poor home record wasn’t enough to contend with ahead of the visit of Chelsea. Moyes also has no fully fit strikers available, with Victor Anichebe (back), Yakubu (calf) and James Vaughan (knee) all ruled out. In addition to this Louis Saha (hamstring) is also a doubt for the visit of the Blues, which might force Moyes to push Tim Cahill upfront as a makeshift striker or use 16-year-old Jose Baxter. Everton will also be missing defenders Lars Jacobsen (shoulder) and Nuno Valente (knee) for the clash on Monday.

Scolari has less injury worries, with defender Ricardo Carvalho (knee) still a week away from a return to action, while Florent Malouda (hamstring) is struggling to be fit in time to face Everton. Chelsea will also be without long-term injury Michael Essien (knee).

Everton: (from) Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Neville, Baines, Lescott, Van der Meyde, Castillo, Saha, Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Osman, Nash, Fellaini, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Gosling, Irving, Kissock, Baxter

Chelsea: (from) Cech, A Cole, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Bosingwa, J Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Mikel, Drogba, Kalou, Anelka, Cudicini, Bridge, Sinclair, Deco, Malouda, Di Santo, Ferreira, Mineiro, Belletti, Stoch, Woods

Chelsea v West Ham Premier League Preview: Can Zola Cause an Upset on His Return To Stamford Bridge?

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Chelsea play, Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham United in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Despite Chelsea going into this clash just a point off Liverpool at the top of the Premiership. Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Blues side have looked vulnerable at home this season, with losses to Liverpool and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge already this season after a run of four and a half years without tasting defeat at home in the league. However, Chelsea’s away form this season has more than compensated, with the West London side winning all eight on the road in the Premier League this season and go into this clash with West Ham on the back of a 2-0 win against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium last weekend and a 2-1 win in the Champions league against Cluj, which sent them through to the knockout stages.

The Hammers go into this London derby with Chelsea, having only won once in the last ten Premier League games, which was the 1-0 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. West Ham have drawn three and lost six of the other nine games and lost 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur at Upton Park on Monday. This has seen the East London club slip down the table, with the Hammers in 16th place and just three points of the relegation spots.

Scolari will be without long-term injury Michael Essien (knee), while Franco Di Santo (hamstring), Juliano Belletti (ankle) and Ricardo Carvalho (knee) are all struggling to make it for the visit of West Ham. The Blues will have Didier Drogba available again though as the Ivory Coast International has completed his three-match ban for the coin throwing incident against Burnley in the Carling Cup.

West Ham seem to have gotten over the worst of their injury worries, with only striker Dean Ashton (os trigonum syndrome) and Daniel Gabbidon (groin) unavailable for the journey to Stamford Bridge. Former Blue Carlton Cole and Craig Bellamy are likely to start upfront for the Hammers.

Chelsea: (from) Cech, Terry, A Cole, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Ballack, Lampard, Mikel, Kalou, J Cole, Anelka, Drogba, Cudicini, Alex, Carvalho, Di Santo, Sinclair, Deco, Belletti, Malouda, Bridge, Ferreira, Mineiro, Stoch, Woods

West Ham United: (from) Green, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Dyer, Parker, Bellamy, Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte, Noble, Mullins, Spector, Collins, Faubert, Stokes, Lastuvka, Tristan, Davenport, Bowyer, Collison, Di Michele, Sears, Widdowson, Hines, Jefferey

Chelsea v Newcastle Premiership Preview: Drogba Starts Ban For Blues – Taylor & Xisco In Contention For Magpies

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Chelsea play, Joe Kinnear’s Newcastle United in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Blues go into the clash with Necastle on the back of four straight wins in the Premiership, which sees Chelsea at the top of the Premier League on goal difference over nearest rivals Liverpool. Scolari will be looking for his Chelsea side to take all three points against the Magpies as the West London club chase their first title under Scolari.

Newcastle will hope to take something from their trip to Stamford Bridge, but are yet to win on their travels away from St James’ Park this season. The Magpies are just above the relegation zone on goal difference and need to start picking up results quickly on the road if they are to climb to safety in the league.

Scolari is unable to call on long-term injury Michael Essien (knee) along with Franco Di Santo (hamstring) and Alex (thigh) for the visit of Newcastle. Frank Lampard is also a doubt after missing the England clash with Germany with a rib injury, while Ashley Cole, Petr Cech, Joe Cole and defender’s Ricardo Carvalho and Juliano Belletti could be in contention for Chelsea if they can shake off their respective injuries in time. Striker Didier Drogba starts his three-match ban for the coin-throwing incident against Burnley in the Carling Cup.

The Magpies are still without Mark Viduka ,Alan Smith and Ignacio Gonzalez, who all have achilles problems, while Kinnear will also not have Joey Barton (knee) available for the trip to Chelsea. Late fitness tests will be given to defender Steven Taylor and Xisco, who are both expected to recover from groin strins in time for Saturday’s game.

Chelsea: (from) Cech, Ivanovic, A Cole, Cavarlho, Lampard, J Cole, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Sinclair, Bosingwa, Bridge, Ferreira, Deco, Kalou, Cudicini, Terry, Mineiro, Belletti, Anelka, Stoch, Woods

Newcastle United: (from) Given, Coloccini, Enrique, Cacapa, Guthrie, Martins, Owen, Duff, Bassong, Harper, N’Zogbia, Gutierrez, Xisco, Geremi, Beye, Taylor, Kadar, Edgar, Forster, Tozer, Carroll, LuaLua

West Brom v Chelsea Premiership Preview: Can The Baggies End Blues 100% Away Record?

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West Bromwich Albion play, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chelsea at the Hawthorns on Saturday in the Premier League.

Baggies manager Tony Mowbray will be hoping his Midlands side can halt the run of five Premiership games without a win, which has seen West Brom only collect a single point from 15 available in a 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers at the beginning of the month. This has seen the Baggies slip to the bottom of the Premier League, with Mowbray likely to be happy to get anything out of the visit of Premiership pacesetters Chelsea.

Scolari might be on the top of the Premier League with Chelsea at the moment, but caught a rude awakening in English football when Championship side Burnley knocked the Blues out of the Carling Cup on penalties at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. However, Chelsea have a 100% record away from home this season, scoring 16 and only conceding once in reply and will see a struggling West Brom as the ideal opposition to get back to winning ways.

Mowbray is unable to call on defender Leon Barnett (knee), Kim Do-Heon (knee) or long-term absentee Neil Clement, but should have Abdoulaye Meite available again after a calf muscle strain for the visit of Chelsea.

The Blues are still without long-term absentee Michael Essien (knee), while Ricardo Carvalho (thigh), Juliano Belletti (ankle) and Joe Cole (foot) are also ruled out of the trip to the Hawthorns. Ashley Cole could be in contention if the England International can shake off a calf muscle strain in time to face the Baggies. Scolari has striker Didier Drogba available, but might decide to keep faith with Nicolas Anelka upfront in light of the coin-throwing incident involving Drogba against Burnley on Wednesday.