Everton v Chelsea

TEAM NEWS

Louis Saha could start for Everton after coming off the bench to score the decisive goal in the win at Fulham.

Tim Cahill and Seamus Coleman both dropped out of the starting line-up on Sunday, but may be recalled.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres returns from a ban, but Didier Drogba begins a three-game suspension.

Jose Bosingwa serves a one-game ban, while fringe players such as Salomon Kalou, Josh McEachran and Romelu Lukaku may feature.

MATCH PREVIEW

Chelsea travel to Goodison Park still smarting from Sunday’s surprise loss to Queens Park Rangers, only the second defeat they have suffered under manager Andre Villas-Boas. While the Portuguese manager could not fault the commitment of his players, or at least those who finished the match, he was outspoken in his criticism of referee Chris Foy. The Stamford Bridge side played over half the match with nine men following the dismissals of Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba, but they produced a spirited second-half display and came close to snatching a point.

The numerical disadvantage means they may have been some tired legs when the final whistle blew, so it would be no surprise if Villas-Boas opts to rotate his squad on Wednesday. The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Oriol Romeu have had few opportunities since signing this summer, while promising youngster Josh McEachran also needs game time if he is to continue his development.

Everton boss David Moyes obviously has to work with a far more modest budget, so the Scot is likely to rely on the majority of the team that ended a three-game losing streak by winning at Fulham.

The Toffees were well beaten by Chelsea earlier this month, but that was their first defeat in seven games against the west London club, who have not won at Goodison since April 2008.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• On the four previous occasions these sides have been paired together in the League Cup, Chelsea progressed. That includes a 3-1 aggregate victory in the semi-finals in 2007-08.
• However, the most recent cup encounter saw Everton knock Chelsea out of the FA Cup last season, the Toffees winning a fourth-round replay on penalties at Stamford Bridge.

Everton

• The Toffees have failed to keep a clean sheet in six league and cup home games during the current campaign.
• Their last shut-out at Goodison Park came in the 1-0 victory against Chelsea on the final day of last season.
• Everton reached the League Cup final in 1977 and 1984, but have never won the competition.
• They have only reached the last eight once in 23 years, going as far the semi-finals in 2007-08.
• Everton have not conceded more than a single goal in 17 League Cup ties at Goodison Park since losing 4-2 to Millwall in the second round in October 1995.

Chelsea

• In the previous round, Chelsea beat Fulham on penalties following a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge. That was the first time in 22 League Cup games that they had failed to score.
• The Londoners have kept only one clean sheet in nine league games under Andre Villas-Boas, but have shut out their opponents in three of the four cup games he has taken charge of. The only cup goal they have conceded this season was a penalty converted by Roberto Soldado in the 1-1 draw at Valencia in the Champions League.
• They have failed to reach the quarter-finals in only three of the last 10 seasons.
• Chelsea have won the League Cup four times (1965, 1998, 2005 and 2007), and been runners-up twice (1972 and 2008).