Chelsea vs Everton: 3 Key Battles That Will Decide The Winner

Chelsea vs Everton: 3 Key Battles 

Chelsea face Everton in midweek with the league leaders looking to extend their seven point lead at the top of the table.

A tough away win at Villa Park coupled with Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at home to Hull City put Mourinho’s men back in the driving seat with a seven point gap, and although Everton can be tough opponents, the returning Cesc Fabregas will add strength to Chelsea’s midfield which will be up against a resilient Everton side that drew 0-0 in a scrappy Merseyside derby.

We take a look at 3 key battles that will decide the game.

1. Romelu Lukaku vs John Terry

This will be Lukaku’s second game agaisnt his former employers as a Costa-led Chelsea ran out 6-3 winners last time around. He will be looking to make a mark at the Stamford Bridge where he started just one league game in three years, spending time out on loan at West Brom and then Everton themselves.

Lukaku spent time drifting inside from the flanks against Liverpool and that is what he’s expected to do as Everton will once again pack up the midfield and look to hit their opponents on the break.

Chelsea have been troubled in recent weeks by direct runners taking on their relatively slow defenders which prompted Mourinho to replace Gary Cahill with Kurt Zouma in recent weeks and Lukaku will do just that. Zouma will need to help out Terry who will be up for the physical battle against the 21-year-old but might require help in dealing with his pace.

2. Eden Hazarad vs Seamus Coleman

Hazard is enjoying his best Chelsea season to date, and is close to touching world class standards.

9 goals and 5 assists don’t even begin to tell the story that has seen the winger lead the whoscored charts with a rating over 8, more than any other player. The arrival of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have no doubt aided the Belgian’s play, with both the Spaniards in the top four of the ratings.

Against a packed defence, Hazard can unlock the doors with his trickery and he will be pitched against Seamus Coleman who must curb his attacking instincts in order to help out his side defensively.

However, Hazard tends to not be so sound tracking back and Coleman can hurt Chelsea on the break. However, he will have to pick his opportunities very carefully and his prime objective should be to stop Hazard.

3. Midfield Battle

As is the case in any game between two good sides, whoever controls the midfield usually comes out on top. Everton put in a spirited display against Liverpool, negating their playmakers with three central midfielders of theirs. The likes of Gareth Barry, James McCarthy and Mohamed Besic will face a tougher challenge to stop the returning Cesc Fabregas who will be marshalled by the dominant Nemanja Matic.

Fabregas has 15 assists to his name so far, seven more than any other player and he is on course to beat Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a season.

On Wednesday, Everton will have to snuff out Chelsea’s creativity if they hope to come away with a point at best.