Everton v Chelsea

TEAM NEWS

Everton’s Tim Cahill should shake off a foot injury, while Nikica Jelavic could make his Goodison Park debut.

Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman, Jack Rodwell and Seamus Coleman all remain sidelined.

Chelsea midfielders Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel are in contention to return after calf and hamstring injuries respectively.

Ashley Cole returns after suspension but John Terry and Brazilian midfielder Ramires remain out with knee problems.

MATCH PREVIEW

After throwing away a three-goal lead to Manchester United to draw their third successive game, a follow-up trip to Everton wouldn’t have been top of Chelsea’s wish list.

As Manchester City can testify, Goodison Park has often been a ground where the top clubs have struggled in recent times. Indeed Chelsea have lost on their last two league visits, including the final day of last season, after which Carlo Ancelotti was sacked.

Chelsea had finished second but nine points behind the champions. They travel to Merseyside this weekend in fourth, and trailing the leaders by 14 points.

After the pictures of Roman Abramovich watching training emerged this week, it’s worth remembering that the club have never been out of the top three in the Premier League since he took over the club. Chelsea have actually lost only one of their last 12 matches but it is the dropped points in that time that will be the source of frustration to Andre Villas Boas.

Everton are traditionally strong finishers to the season and you sense that Chelsea will face a rejuvenated side. Having been the only Premier League manager not to spend in the summer transfer window, you have to admire the business that David Moyes was finally able to do in January.

It’s clearly given the Toffees a much-needed lift, particularly the return of Steven Pienaar, whose quality and invention has been sorely missed.

Moyes will hope the new faces will also help the goal count, which has been a concern – 24 scored from 24 played, while Victor Anichebe and Leighton Baines are joint top scorers with four.

But a win is a win – Everton’s last three victories have all been 1-0 results, and they would certainly welcome that scoreline again at the weekend.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Chelsea have lost to Everton on their last two league visits to Goodison Park.

Everton

• Everton have drawn three of their last four league matches and won just one of the last six.
• The Toffees have not scored more than once in a league match since November. Only two Premier League teams have scored fewer than Everton’s 24 goals this season.
• All three of Victor Anichebe’s goals this season have come as a substitute.
• Sylvain Distin is set to make his 100th appearance in an Everton jersey.

Chelsea

• Chelsea are still unbeaten in 2012, but have drawn their last three league matches.
• Since joining from Liverpool, Fernando Torres has more yellow cards for Chelsea in the Premier League (four) than goals (three).
• Having not benefitted from any own goals this season, Chelsea have been given two in their last two league matches.
• Frank Lampard is one shy of 150 career league goals, and a double short of 150 in the Premier League.