Chelsea vs Liverpool - Match Preview

 

Chelsea vs Liverpool

(English Premier League)

Date: Sunday 20th Nov, 2011; Kick-Off: 16:00 GMT

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Chelsea vs Liverpool - Catch all the latest team news, match preview, pre-match analysis, interviews and a lot more right here at Chelsea FC News. This is the first of two meetings between the rival sides over ten days at Stamford Bridge with the next scheduled match on 29th November is the League Cup quarter final tie.


Chelsea vs Liverpool Preview

International breaks never make you feel good and same was the mood last weekend, a weekend without any EPL action is not a weekend anymore. But we have something very exciting to look forward to, this Sunday. Its a Super Sunday for both Chelsea and Liverpool. 

Chelsea go into this game with a hard fought win against struggling Blackburn Rovers team at Ewood Park. A solitary goal from Frank Lampard ensured Chelsea get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats to QPR and Arsenal.

Liverpool had to settle with a frustrating goalless draw against Swansea, a game which Liverpool should have won but were denied by the heroics of Swansea keeper Worm. Liverpool are on an eight-match unbeaten run but still find themselves in lower half of the table due to some frustrating draws against newly promoted teams.

Both teams (Chelsea & Liverpool) are separated by three points with Chelsea 4th and Liverpool 6th in the League table. A win for Chelsea (if Newcastle lose to Man City on Saturday) will take Chelsea back into the 3rd spot ahead (level on points) of impressive Newcastle United side. But if Chelsea lose to Liverpool and if Arsenal and Tottenham win their respective games then Chelsea could find themselves in 7th place in the League table.

All eyes again would be on one man FERNANDO TORRES. It was Nando who scored twice against Chelsea for Liverpool last season, the season where Liverpool made the double over Chelsea with yet another former Reds Meireles on the score sheet as well.

To be frank Torres hasn't fired so far for Chelsea (just three goals in English Premier League since Jan move) and nobody knows it better than him alone. We want Torres to be back in the fluent form he showed in his days at Liverpool, its not that he hasn't shown those glimpses of form..its just that it hasn't been consistent and full of confidence. This game will surely provide that much needed hunger to prove his worth and to show that he can reach the performance level he reached during his time with the Reds, and previously with Atletico Madrid.

In his recent interview he stated that he is determined to repay supporters by getting back to his best.

"Whenever you go somewhere new, you expect to have difficulties, But whenever I have had difficult times, I look at myself and say, 'Yes, I can get back to my level."

"All that I need to do, above anything else, is to work. If you work and give everything and really want to do something, that is all you can be asked."

"But I am in debt to the Chelsea fans. They have always supported me. And I promise them the one thing I have never done and will never do in my life is give up."

So this is a crunch game for Andre Villas Boas' side. A game where three points will not only take us in top 3 but also give the much needed boost and confidence which we seem to be lacking as of late. It wont be a easy game given the the squad Kenny Dalglish has at his disposal. Surely seems to be a cracking game on paper..hope it transforms into the same on-field.

Andre Villas Boas Press Conference pre Liverpool

Andre Villas Boas on Daniel Sturridge:

"His [Sturridge's] performances for the club have taken him to his England first appearance which is something that is gratifying, When somebody arrives to that level you must continue to be up to that level so that is the challenge that Daniel has to face. He has to face that challenge in the club and then eventually, if [Fabio] Capello decides, in England - but it was a good experience for him."

AVB on the formation changes against Blackburn and change of personnel:

"Blackburn are always a team that could challenge you from any set plays and from almost any goal-kick, so we made the necessary adjustments to have extra height to deal with the set plays. To deal with them it is better to avoid them first but when you cannot avoid them, it is better to deal with them the best way so it was a specific team set out for a specific game."

"In attack we tried to get more runs in behind with pace and that is why we opted for Daniel. The decisions were based on that, not on a drop in form of any players."

AVB On Fernando Torres and his form:

"Fernando Torres has picked up from last season not only with his form physically but his availability in terms of movement for the team. He is back to his old sharpness and back to goal scoring so we are pretty happy with him the way he is performing. So we just have to make a decision in terms of what we want in behaviour from our front line. Fernando will always be in contention for that."

"Torres is not just about goals, he's there to create and to help his team and I'm happy with him, It's not a question of numbers, but how you make your team perform around you."

AVB on facing Liverpool:

"This Liverpool game also has different kinds of specifics and you have to adapt to what the game is going to represent."

"I think [Kenny] Dalglish has made the necessary changes to Liverpool for them to continue to be title contenders this year. The seven players that he brought in represent the level of commitment and investment that the ownership and Kenny have towards putting Liverpool back on title-winning ways."

"I will always take them like that because they represent one of the biggest clubs in England."

AVB on his team's performance:

"A striker is not only there to put the ball in the net. He's there for your team to perform and to create the goalscoring opportunities to take your team to win the games."

"At the moment our two main goalscorers are the two midfield players [Lampard and Ramires], but for them to finish, somebody must be creating, We create as many chances when we win as when we lose, but it doesn't mean the same players are always involved. The team is creating goalscoring opportunites so at the moment I'm happy with that performance."

"Confidence is about how you feel and how you relate to the team around you; good things you did can inspire you during good and bad moments."

In the mean time put on your thinking hats and let me know what will be your starting line up for the game against Liverpool this Sunday. Who will start for you? Lampard, Torres, Luiz, Anelka..... Express your views and opinions on our Facebook Fan page as well.

My starting line up would be

KEY STAT
The three Liverpool goals against Chelsea last season were scored by Fernando Torres (two) and Raul Meireles, both now at Stamford Bridge.

Our last meeting at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea v Liverpool in all competitions
Games played 160
Chelsea wins 56
Liverpool wins 71
Draws 33


Head to head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 68
Chelsea wins 37
Liverpool wins 17
Draws 14


Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
Chelsea 6-1 Liverpool -28/08/1937
Chelsea 2-5 Liverpool - 16/12/1989

CHELSEA STATS

Chelsea have now won 10 of their last 12 Barclays Premier League games at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea haven't had a clean sheet at home this season. Our last home Premier League clean sheet was in the rain against West Ham in April eight games ago.

LIVERPOOL STATS

Liverpool are on an eight match unbeaten run since their 0-4 defeat at Tottenham on 18th September. Only Newcastle United have conceded fewer than Liverpool's 10 goals. The Reds boast the third best defence away with only five goals conceded in five games.

Liverpool have won nine points from 15 away from home this term with wins at Arsenal, Everton and West Brom and defeats to Stoke and Tottenham.

So get ready for some pulsating action at Stamford Bridge. Come on CHELSEA!!! KTBFFH.

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Everton 1 Chelsea 2 - Goals - Match Highlights

Chelsea produced a stellar performance this time again with 10 men. A game which was exciting and had everything that could have been offered considering it was a Carling Cup match.

Here are the match highlights for those who couldn't watch the coverage. ENJOY!!

Come on CHELSEA!!! KTBFFH.

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QPR vs Chelsea Live - Match Preview

QPR vs Chelsea

(English Premier League)

Date: Sunday, 23rd Oct 2011; Kick-Off: 16:00 GMT

Venue: Loftus Road

QPR vs Chelsea - Catch all the latest team news, match preview, pre-match analysis, interviews, followed by LIVE match and a lot more right here at Chelsea FC News.

QPR vs Chelsea Preview

Sunday's game marks yet another West London Derby between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers. Previous to this season Chelsea and Fulham played out the West London Derby games but with the promotion of QPR to the premier league this season has introduced yet another enticing derby rivalry of all time. It will be our first league meeting with Queen's Park Rangers for 15 years.

And Chelsea go into this second West London derby (first being against Fulham) on a very positive note having struck 13 goals in the last three games in all competitions. Chelsea's 5-0 win over Genk was our biggest win in the UEFA Champions league history at Stamford Bridge. It was a brilliant performance by a side put out by AVB which had some major team changes keeping the game at Loftus Road in mind.

Chelsea 5 Genk 0 Goals

AVB made it clear by his selection policy that how much importance he gave to the Derby game against QPR resting Terry, Sturridge and many other first team squad. The win over Genk showed the class of the squad but in particular it was Raul Meireles and Fernando Torres along with the debutant Oriol Romeu who had a fantastic game.

It was good to see Torres in the same form as he was with Liverpool and both the goals scored by him were world class. I am really happy for this bloke as he has been very professional is his bad days at Chelsea and took a hell lot of criticism which according to me were all unwarranted. Its a pity though that we wont get to see another masterclass from Torres against QPR as he has to sit out for the last game for his red card incident.

QPR have made a decent start on their return to England's top flight having amassed nine points from their opening eight fixtures. QPR side managed by Neil Warnock currently lie on 11th position in the EPL table, a position which Neil Warnock is pleased with. QPR were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackburn in their last Premier League game, it was a game which Neil Warnock's side should have won given the awful form of Rovers but a point is not that bad for the newly promoted side.

Derby games are never easy especially the ones away from home but if Chelsea go in with the form they are in then another goal feast could be in the offering. Even though I am not a fan of past stats but Chelsea have had a good share of success against our Derby rivals. QPR do not have history on their side having won just one of their last 14 matches in all competitions against us.

Chelsea Team News

Ramires will miss out on the west London derby following the knee injury he suffered last weekend against Everton. Fernando Torres will sit out for the last of his three games for the red card suspension.

AVB has been spot on so far with this team rotation giving enough time for all players to have match time under their belt. 5-0 win against Genk saw AVB bring in six changes to the team that defeated Everton 3-1 last weekend and would be looking to do the same for the game against QPR with the likes of Sturridge, Terry, Mikel, Mata and Drogba being brought into the starting line-up.

Hilario and Essien remain our long term absentees.


QPR Team News

Warnock will be without striker DJ Campbell for the visit of the Blues as he is sidelined with a cracked metatarsal. Heidar Helguson who scored in the 1-1 draw against Rovers should retain his place.

Adel Taarabt is pushing for a recall having emerged from the bench against Blackburn Rovers.

Defender Daniel Gabbidon (knee), striker Rob Hulse (knee) and midfielder Kieron Dyer (foot) are all unavailable for QPR.


What could be the starting line-up for the QPR vs Chelsea tie at Loftus Road??

Probable Team Line-ups:

QPR: Kenny, Hall, Ferdinand, Young, Traore, Wright-Phillips, Derry, Barton, Taarabt, Faurlin, Helguson.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, Cole, Meireles, Mikel, Lampard, Mata, Drogba, Sturridge.

Referee: Chris Foy

GET INVOLVED

Do let us know what will be your starting line up for the game against QPR this Sunday. Who will start for you? Lampard, Drogba, Luiz, Anelka..... Express your views and opinions on our Facebook Fan page

Put on your thinking hats and predict the scoreline for this match... Just LIKE our Facebook Fan page and predict your scores...who will score first for Chelsea.. and express your thoughts and opinions on the match...

My starting line up would be

Chelsea FC - Team news pre QPR

AVB on team rotation ahead of the game against Queens Park Rangers -

"We were able to make six changes to the team and were able to perform how we did and not lose our consistency in terms of play and result, and this is what gratifies the technical staff."

"The talent is so immense that we are able to change those players and still perform up to that level. That shows the kind of commitment and the kind of squad at our disposal."

"When changes like that happen and you have that kind of performance, you have to take that into account so everybody is competing for places. At the moment the minutes played by the players this season are spread out more or less in an even way, and this reflects the depth of our squad. We are able to choose from any 11 or 18 and keep the same level of performance and the same result."

AVB on certain players not getting match time under their belt -

"A couple of players still fall short and compared with last year, playing time has fallen short for Josh McEachran, but it is due to more midfield competitiveness and numbers than last year. His talent is enough to play for the team but it is down to a question of choice when everybody is up to the top of their form. I have just been choosing the other way but it doesn't mean that Josh's future won't be at Chelsea because I believe it will be."

"It is 26 players and just 11 playing and everybody with less playing time wants to play more and Salomon Kalou is no exception, He is training well and is competitive and he showed against Genk that he can play a part for his team and he just has to continue to compete."

AVB on Queens Park Rangers and their manager Neil Warnock -

"Neil Warnock is a person with great charisma, great personality and when he got Queen's Park Rangers promoted in that difficult situation it was fantastic."

"QPR have been able to stamp their way in the Premier League quite comfortably for a club coming up and they are able to compete to a good standard, so it is going to be a difficult game. It is a tight ground with a lot of emotions and I respect the job he is doing because he brings that charisma to the team."

Chelsea head into this weekend hoping we will make it even tighter at the top of the table with Manchester United playing Manchester City ahead of our kick off. Until now its been all about the Manchester clubs with experts and the media focusing on them being the only title contenders.

Chelsea head into this game three points behind leaders Man City and one point behind Man U so a win for Chelsea will put them at par along with the Manchester clubs.

AVB shared his thoughts on the same pointing out that this wont be three-horse race let alone a two-horse one -

"I have not in my short experience of managing or assisting Jose [Mourinho] seen a Premier League so tight as this one, or one with so many good teams."

"I think it is more competitive than the other years Chelsea won, and that is not taking merit from what the club has already done because in the 2005/06 Premiership win it was nine wins in the first nine games, and the record of points was beaten in the 2004/05 season, but I am saying more teams look like being in contention."

"Tottenham keep surprising everybody, But with the amount of talent that they have and the humble nature of what they are saying and the values of what they are doing, they are a competitive team. They will never put themselves across as title contenders because nobody likes that kind of pressure."

AVB also shared his thoughts on the impact and importance of this weekends fixtures and how too early it is to decide the title credentials at this stage in the league -

"If these games should happen with these distances between teams in March or April I would say it would be a big opportunity, but not at the moment."

"Anything that happens between us and the Manchester clubs won't dictate what is going to happen in March and April. From being five points from Man United we are just one point away so things have changed dramatically in a couple of weeks and there is still no pattern to how the table is going to behave regarding the future."

"Let the Manchester clubs play each other and see what happens. What is more important for us is to get the three points from our game. Without us doing that nothing that happens in Manchester will be important for us."

KEY STAT

Last weekend's strike by Heidar Helguson is the only home goal scored by one of QPR's own players over 376 minutes this season.

Our last meeting at Loftus Road

QPR v Chelsea in all competitions
Games played 48
Chelsea wins 18
Rangers wins 13
Draws 17

Head to head in the league at Loftus Road
Games played 20
Chelsea wins 4
Rangers wins 7
Draws 9

Biggest league win at Loftus Road for each team
QPR 6-0 Chelsea -31/03/1986
QPR 0-4 Chelsea -14/09/1968

CHELSEA STATS

Chelsea are unbeaten in our last 63 games against newly promoted teams in a run stretching back to April 2001 when Charlton defeated us at Stamford Bridge. The 63 games include 54 wins and nine draws.

Chelsea have kept only one clean sheet in our last 12 EPL games which came in the opening game against Stoke.

QPR STATS

QPR have not won at Loftus Road for seven games. QPR have not lost when they have opened the scoring and haven't won when their opposition scored first. Rangers have claimed just three of their nine points at Loftus Road this term.

No team have scored fewer than Rangers six goals

So get ready for some pulsating action at Loftus Road. Come on CHELSEA!!! KTBFFH.

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Chelsea vs Genk LIVE - UEFA Champions League

Chelsea vs Genk

(UEFA Champions League)

Date: Wednesday, 19th October 2011; Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Chelsea vs Genk - Catch all the latest team news, match preview, pre-match analysis, interviews, followed by LIVE match and a lot more right here at Chelsea FC News.

Chelsea vs Genk Preview

Its back to the Champions league action for Chelsea as they prepare to host Belgian club KRC Genk at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea who played out a 1-1 draw at Estada Mestalla against Valencia  in their last Group E match sit at the top of the table with four points from two games.

On the other hand, Genk suffered a 2-0 loss to German side Bayer Leverkusen away from home. Genk currently have just one point from two games and are placed at the bottom of Group E, earning their solitary point from the 0-0 draw against Valencia at home. This is the first time Genk will be playing against a English side in England.

This is the first time both clubs will be facing each other, having no past encounters in any form of league football. Although Andre Villas Boas does know about our opponents having faced them in the Europa league last year when he was the manager at the Portuguese league champions FC Porto. The encounter ending with a 7-2 aggregate win for Porto.

Another connection which Chelsea or AVB shares with Genk is the signing of Thibaut Courtois who was signed by AVB from Genk and later loaned out to Atlético de Madrid.

Chelsea hold the upper hand going into this game but KRC Genk will also be eager to prove their point as to why they deserve a place in the Champions league.


What does their domestic league form say ahead of this Champions League fixture??

Both teams are are having contrasting domestic league form, with Chelsea picking up form and points in their recent run of games whereas Genk have slowly lost the form and have been dropping points as games go by.

Chelsea came off with a impressive win over stubborn Everton at home. 3-1 win over Everton brought us close to the Manchester leaders with a point behind 2nd place Man U and three points behind leaders Man City.

Genk on the other hand have faltered in their recent games losing to Anderlecht and Lokeren, and now have just two wins from their last five games. This poor run of form sees them 7 points behind league leaders Anderlecht.

Given that the game is at Stamford Bridge Chelsea are expected to win this game. But no game is easy in UEFA Champions league as even Genk will be hungry to get some points on-board.


Chelsea Team News

AVB has confirmed that Ramires who was substituted in the last game against Everton after suffering knee injury will miss out on this game. Hilario and Michael Essien remain out injured.

Chelsea will welcome back Fernando Torres to the starting line-up after having to sit out of the domestic fixtures following his red card incident. And AVB will surely have some selection dilemma as far as the strike force is concerned. Daniel Sturridge has been in rich vein of form and Didier Drogba is making his comeback.

With games coming thick and fast AVB will surely make some changes to the line-up ahead of this game at Stamford Bridge. Likes of David Luiz, Raul Meireles, Malouda, Anelka & co. could feature for Chelsea.



Genk Team News

Genk will be without Nadson, Jelle Vossen and Jeroen Simaeys all due to injuries.

Genk are likely to retain their 4-4-2 formation with the Anele Ngcongca starting at the centre of defence alongside Abel Masuero. Anthony Vanden Borre will occupy the right back position with Daniel Pudil on the other side. The midfield is likely to have Khaleem Hyland and Daniel Tozser at the centre, with Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Buffel on the left and right wings respectively.

Striker Elyaniv Barda could also play some part in the match alongside Marvin Ogunjimi.



What could be the starting line-up for the Chelsea vs Genk at Stamford Bridge??

Probable Team Line-ups:

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Malouda, Mata, Meireles, Torres, Anelka

Genk: Köteles, Ngcongca, Masuero, Pudil, Vanden Borre, Hyland , Tőzsér, De Bruyne, Buffel, Ogunjimi, Barda

GET INVOLVED

Do let us know what will be your starting line up for the game against Genk this Wednesday. Who will start for you? Lampard, Drogba, Luiz, Anelka..... Express your views and opinions on our Facebook Fan page

Put on your thinking hats and predict the scoreline for this match... Just LIKE our Facebook Fan page and predict your scores...who will score first for Chelsea.. and express your thoughts and opinions on the match...

My starting line up would be

Chelsea FC - Cech on Genk

 Chelsea FC - AVB on Team news pre Genk 

Andre Villas Boas on Genk, injures plaguing the squad and possibility of Chelsea finishing the group on top:

"One win puts Genk back in the battle for qualification and that is what we want to avoid, Tomorrow will be very important because we are at home. The opportunity is there but it is never easy."

"We had a draw in Valencia but we were so close to winning and now the group has become tight and anything can still happen. It is this unpredictable situation that we want to cut off by winning this first game. Also the Leverkusen-Valencia games will have something to say."

"I was made aware by my scouts involved in studying Genk that they are going through a period of a tremendous amount of injuries, which is unfortunate for them."

"They even had injury problems out of the return from the national teams, and they are going through a period of a lot of change in all kinds of aspects. First getting into the Champions League group stage for the first time in a while which is something very massive for the club, then the departure of [coach] Frank Vercauteren and a couple of big talents at the beginning of the season, and then the time they are adapting to Mario Been and his methods."

"It has made things difficult for Genk in the beginning of the season but this game is the ideal situation to find a different motivational stimulation for your team. When this is the case people can transcend themselves and create you problems so we have maximum respect for Genk."

"We know people will play out of position against us [due to injuries] but they will always be able to put a strong team out that can create us difficulties. We have to be aware and very concentrated in the 90 minutes."

AVB on the talented Genk midfielder Kevin de Bruyne:

"He is an interesting player, He can play in various positions, from wide left in a 4-4-2 or through the middle as a central midfielder."

"He is exceptionally gifted technically and reminds me of past technical Belgian players like Enzo Scifo, but he still has progression to be made and his next step, if he is thinking about moving, will be the most difficult one."

"We have not scouted just him, we have scouted many different players before so it doesn't mean that all the players we scout will eventually join us. We have to make the right decisions because it is always difficult to get into the Chelsea team."

"But he [De Bruyne] is an exceptional talent and hopefully he can continue to triumph in Genk and the Belgian national team."

Key Stat

Chelsea are unbeaten in 24 group stage fixtures at Stamford Bridge, winning 18 and drawing six since a 2-0 defeat to Beşiktaş on 1 October 2003.

Stats and Records

Chelsea's biggest home win in the Champions League 
19/10/2005 - Chelsea 4-0 Real Betis - group stage
16/09/2008 - Chelsea 4-0 Bordeaux - group stage
21/10/2009 - Chelsea 4-0 Atlético Madrid - group stage


Genk's only away win in the Champions League 
08/08/2007 - FK Sarajevo 0-1 KRC Genk - second qualifying round


Chelsea have topped our group six times in the last eight UCL campaigns. We have never failed to progress to the Champions League knockout stages in nine attempts.

Chelsea have lost just two and won 19 of our last 28 home Champions League matches since 2006.

Chelsea's last ten years in Europe

2001/02 Uefa Cup - second round
2002/03 Uefa Cup - first round
2003/04 Champions League - semi-final
2004/05 Champions League - semi-final
2005/06 Champions League - round of 16
2006/07 Champions League - semi-final
2007/08 Champions League - runners-up
2008/09 Champions League - semi-final
2009/10 Champions League - round of 16
2010/11 Champions League - quarter-final


Chelsea's overall record in European competition is played 175, won 92, drawn 48, lost 35. This is our 15th season in succession in Europe and 10th in the Champions League.

Tonight is our 108th match in the Champions League including qualifying games. We have won 54 of our 107 games, drawn 32 and lost 21.

Official Team News and LIVE Match to FOLLOW SOON...

So get ready for some pulsating action at the Stamford Bridge. Come on CHELSEA!!! KTBFFH.

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Chelsea vs Everton LIVE - Match Preview

  

Chelsea vs Everton

(English Premier League)
Date: Saturday, 15th October 2011; Kick-Off: 17:30 GMT
Venue: Stamford Bridge

Chelsea vs Everton - Catch all the latest team news, match preview, pre-match analysis, interviews, followed by LIVE match and a lot more right here at Chelsea FC News.

Chelsea vs Everton - Finally the 2 week international break has come to an end and the Premier league action is back! These two weeks have felt like a month, it seriously sucks with no EPL action and I am eagerly waiting for this tie to start.

Chelsea arrive into this game with a comprehensive 5-1 win against Bolton at the Reebok where Chelsea probably played the best first half of this season so far. Game also marked the return-to-form of Super Frankie who scored a wonderful hat-trick and Danny Sturridge as well who continued his good performance in the blue jersey with yet another brace against his former loan team.

Everton on the other hand went down in their fierce derby against Liverpool losing 2-0 at home. Everton (along with Spurs) currently lie 13th in the table having played a game less than any other teams. David Moyes can be proud of his team who hung on to the game till the 70th minute after losing Rodwell to a dubious red card in 23rd minute, a red card which was later overturned by FA. But goals from Carroll and Suarez lend Moyes yet another defeat in their Merseyside derby.

Chelsea will also be wearing special shirts for the game against Everton, to mark "Help a Capital Child's" first national appeal special home shirts emblazoned with the charity's logo have been designed for the players.

For the first time the Help a Capital Child logo will be included alongside Samsung and adidas on the matchday shirts for the game against Everton, then signed by the players and auctioned off to raise vital funds to help young people and their families fight cancer.


Chelsea Team News

Chelsea will be without Fernando Torres who is suspended, serving his second match under suspension after sitting out in the 5-1 win over Bolton. Hilario and Michael Essien remain out injured. there are no other injury concerns following the international ties.

Didier Drogba should start in place of suspended Fernando Torres upfront.

Few players played two games like David Luiz while rest had just one game, so it all depends on how AVB looks at these situations and as it has been his policy in the recent matches. He will definitely start with a sqaud which is fresh and not tired because of too much football.


Everton Team News

Everton welcome back Jack Rodwell who's red card suspension was overturned by FA. David Moyes has no major injury concerns but always had to work with a depleted squad. And this game could see the same starting X1 against Chelsea.


Probable Team Line-ups:

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Meireles, Lampard, Mata, Drogba, Sturridge 

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Rodwell, Osman, Coleman, Fellani, Cahill, Saha

Referee: Mike Jones.

>

Do let us know what will be your starting line up for the game against Everton this Saturday. Who will start for you? Lampard, Drogba, Luiz, Anelka..... Express your views and opinions on our Facebook Fan page

Put on your thinking hats and predict the scoreline for this match... Just LIKE our Facebook Fan page and predict your scores...who will score first for Chelsea.. and express your thoughts and opinions on the match...

My starting line up would be

Andre Villas Boas shared his views and thoughts ahead of the game against Everton.

Chelsea FC - AVB on Everton 

AVB on the game against Everton and David Moyes' side:

"To emphasize the importance of our game, Everton is looking for the sixth game unbeaten coming to the Bridge. We have to be alert and it is going to be a hard battle."

"The most important thing when an international break happens is for you to get into winning mode straight away. We managed to do that against Sunderland with a good display. I don't think it really breaks a winning streak because it's the nature of the calendar and you cannot avoid it, but you have to get into winning mode straight away."

"Everton were on a very good run in my opinion, they lost against Liverpool but had they won they would be up challenging for the top with one game in hand. So they are in a good situation and once again proving that David Moyes's work is something fantastic. Even with the financial problems they have it is a club which is well organized and managed and something that should make the English public proud."

"In football and paper things look different but surprises happen, it's why I don't believe in having a favorites role in every game we play because the unpredictable can happen."

"With two difficult games against Everton and Queens Park Rangers we will try to get six points and see how we benefit from that situation, if it doesn't happen we just have to focus on the rest of the Premier League season to shorten the gap."

AVB on Team News ahead of the game against Everton:

"Of course a couple of the players were involved in two games, the English just one, so we had people arriving at different times, David Luiz will arrive today, but everybody is injury free so in that sense we only have Hilario and Essien still out. It is a big trip coming back and he was involved in both games, so it's a decision we have to take."

"We have a decision to make in every game, we are just confident in the work we do and eventually hopefully we can choose the best 18 and starting 11 possible to take us through to another important win."

"Everybody is competing to the highest level and we have to make our choices. I haven't made a decision yet. Tomorrow is the day we prepare strategically for the game, the players don't know about the decision and it would be unfair to say it before they know it."

AVB on transfer and contract speculation (Drogba, Kalou and Bosingwa):

"There is nothing new, this is a situation where we cannot discuss every week. It is better for us that when there is something to tell you we can announce it. We are dealing with the offer. End of story."

"Regarding market speculation it is going to be difficult to comment on all situations, Kalou was offered a contract and hopefully we will continue talks."

"In January these players are available to discuss their future but I think the fact they are emotionally attached to this club means we can count on them as a player independent of what happens in negotiations."

"The talks are ongoing. The option that we have protects us regarding Bosingwa until April 5 but the talks have now started and it won't be difficult. We are initiating talks with him."

Juan Mata on Everton:

"I think Everton is a difficult team to play against with strong players, conducting his first interview in English without the help of Spanish interpretation. The strikers are tall, they have good players and we have to be prepared with the crosses, which will make things difficult for us." 

Juan Mata on Everton's Left-winger Royston Drenthe: 

"Drenthe is a good player, I know him. He is fast, has a good left foot, can score goals and supply crosses. He is a very good player."

"Put to him that he could have been describing himself, I think he is faster than me! There is that and my play is more inside, he is a winger, winger, winger."

"I don't know if what happened to him in Madrid would have happened to me. Every player has a different career. In 2007 I went to Valencia and I am happy that I did, because I had four years there that were very good to me."

Official Team News, Pre-match interviews, detailed match preview and much more to FOLLOW SOON

KEY STAT

Everton have not won a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in 17 years. 

Our last meeting at Stamford Bridge 

Our 10 previous meetings at Stamford Bridge
2001/02 - Chelsea won 3-0
2002/03 - Chelsea won 4-1
2003/04 -Drew 0-0
2004/05 - Chelsea won 1-0
2005/06 - Chelsea won 3-0
2006/07 - Drew 1-1
2007/08 - Drew 1-1
2008/09 - Drew 0-0
2009/10 - Drew 3-3
2010/11 - Drew 1-1

Chelsea v Everton in all competitions
Games played 163
Chelsea wins 61
Everton wins 50
Draws 52

Head-to-head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 72
Chelsea wins 35
Everton wins 12
Draws 25

Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
11/09/1948 - Chelsea 6-0 Everton
15/03/1913 - Chelsea 1-3 Everton

CHELSEA STATS

Chelsea have won 9 of our last 10 EPL games at Stamford Bridge. Our last home defeat was against Liverpool on Feb 6.

We have only kept one clean sheet in our last 11 Premier League games - at Stoke on the opening day of the season. Chelsea have won all four Premier League games when we have opened the scoring.

John Terry will make his 350th Premier League appearance for the Blues and Ramires will make his 50th Chelsea appearance.

Chelsea need four more league goals to reach 6,000 in our 106 year history.

EVERTON STATS

Everton have only one away win out of their last five meetings with three defeats. Suffering defeat against Liverpool two weeks ago was the first occasion for 68 games that Everton lost consecutive league matches.

Everton have kept two clean sheets in their last 13 games in all competitions. David Moyes is the fourth longest serving manager in the Premier and Football League behind Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and John Coleman of Accrington Stanley.

So get ready for some pulsating action at the Stamford Bridge. Come on CHELSEA!!! KTBFFH.

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