Premier League returns to life following a two-week international schedule that included qualifiers for Euro 2016, as Roberto Martinez’s Everton welcome defending champions Chelsea at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.
Having grabbed only four points in as many games into the new season thus far, Jose Mourinho’s men have hugely disappointed the fans and soccer enthusiasts with their shaky and below-par start to the title defence.
Fast Facts
| What: | Barclays English Premier League, Week 5 |
| Who: | Everton vs. Chelsea |
| When: | Saturday, Sept. 12 |
| Where: | Goodison Park, Liverpool |
| Time: | 7:45 a.m. EST/12:45 p.m. GMT |
| TV Channels: | NBCSN/NBC Universo (USA)/BT Sport 1 (UK); |
So far, Blues’ have never appeared to be the team that gloated to the title last season in grand style. With many of their star players like Eden Hazard and John Terry are misfiring up front, the Stamford Bridge club are desperately searching for a morale-boosting victory to get their campaign back on track.
The Portuguese tactician now boasts a chance to get his team back to basics and play with the same functional approach that helped them clinch a series of important fixtures towards the end of last season.
For Chelsea to launch a serious offensive on the second successive title, their top four guns in Hazard, Willian, Pedro and Diego Costa should start firing sooner than later in complete synchronisation with the defence.
Blues have already conceded nine goals in their first four games.
The Toffees, on the hand, made a solid start to the campaign, picking up a point on their last outing, away to Spurs. The highlight of their campaign so far remains their ruthless demolition of Southampton at St Mary’s, when an almost unplayable Romelu Lukaku scored a brace, as he claimed two of Everton’s three goals.
The Belgian professional will surely be pumped up for a big game against his former and a match-winning performance against the Champions will be an excellent addition to his career profile.
Everton vs Chelsea: Predicted Starting Lineups
Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois, César Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic, Willian, Diego Costa, Pedro
Everton
Tim Howard, Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka, John Stones, Ross Barkley, Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic, Aaron Lennon, James McCarthy, Arouna Koné, Romelu Lukaku
