Everton v Chelsea

TEAM NEWS

Everton’s Diniyar Bilyaletdinov lost his appeal against his sending off at West Brom and now begins a three-match ban that will carry over to next season.

Tim Cahill is doubtful, while Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha remain on the sidelines with ankle injuries.

Chelsea are without Yossi Benayoun and Ramires due to hamstring problems.

Jose Bosingwa has not featured since April due to a knee injury and will again be absent.

Everton

Suspended: Bilyaletdinov (three games)

Doubtful: Cahill (foot)

Injured: Barkley (broken leg), Fellaini & Saha (both ankle)

Chelsea

Injured: Benayoun, Bertrand & Ramires (all hamstring), Bosingwa (knee)

PREVIEW BY MOTD COMMENTATOR MARTIN FISHER

The curtain comes down on not just Chelsea’s season but also it seems on Carlo Ancelotti’s managerial reign at Stamford Bridge.

As Claudio Ranieri and Avram Grant have both discovered in the past, trophy-less seasons are not tolerated by Roman Abramovich. The double success of 12 months ago will carry no weight.

This season has been hugely frustrating despite a fantastic start that saw Chelsea five points clear of the rest at the end of October, but six points shy of Manchester United on the final day.

Even if they win at Goodison to reach 74 points, that would be their worst tally since 2003, while 103 goals last season have petered out to a paltry 69 this.

With those unforgiving stats it’s difficult to see Ancelotti surviving some Russian roulette in the Stamford Bridge corridors of power next week.

In contrast to the Italian’s woes, his opposite number in the technical area on Sunday has almost become part of the furniture at Goodison. After Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, David Moyes is the third longest-serving manager in the Premier League.

Once again Everton have finished the season strongly and a point will ensure they finish seventh, leaving the Scot once more to ponder on how different things might have been but for another hapless start to the campaign. Unbeaten at home since November, Moyes will be determined to finish on a high, albeit just behind in the table from their neighbours across Stanley Park.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Everton ended a run of 18 Premier League games and 24 in all competitions without a win against Chelsea when they won 2-1 at Goodison Park last season. They also beat the Blues on penalties in the FA Cup fourth-round replay in February.
• Prior to that league win in February 2010, Chelsea had not lost in eight league visits to Everton stretching back to 2000.
• Everton are unbeaten in their last five league games with Chelsea.
• Six out their last eight league meetings have ended in draws, with one win to either side.

Everton

• Everton have lost only two of their last 11 league outings.
• They are the only side not to record successive defeats in the top flight this season.
• They have conceded the opening goal in their last four games.
• The Toffees have only lost five out of 18 league matches in 2011.
• They are undefeated at Goodison since a 4-1 reverse to West Brom on 27 November last year.

Chelsea

• The Blues go into this match on 71 points and can reach a maximum of 74. This is their lowest total since recording 67 points in the 2002/03 season when they finished fourth.
• They are yet to lose a league game in which they scored the opening goal this season (W16, D3).
• Didier Drogba has scored seven goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Everton.
• Chelsea defenders have scored 11 goals in the league this season, more than any other club’s backline.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Everton

Saha: 10 goals (7 league); Cahill: 9 goals (9 league),

Beckford: 9 goals (7 league)

Chelsea

Anelka: 16 goals (6 league); Malouda: 14 goals (13 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Peter Walton

Assistant referees: Ron Ganfield & Glenn Turner

Fourth official: Scott Mathieson

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Everton (L0-1 v West Brom, a): Howard; Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Heitinga, Arteta, Neville (Bilyaletdinov 72), Osman, Coleman (Beckford 62), Anichebe (Rodwell 80), Subs not used: Mucha, Rodwell, Gueye, Vellios, Baxter

Chelsea (D2-2 v Newcastle, h): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Ramires (Malouda 64), McEachran (Essien 64), Lampard, Anelka, Benayoun (Drogba 64), Torres. Subs not used: Turnbull, Luiz, Mikel, Ferreira.