By Guy Mowbray
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Goodison Park Date: Sunday, 30 December KO 13:30
TEAM NEWS
Everton midfielder Darron Gibson could be fit to face Chelsea despite being substituted with a thigh strain against Wigan on Boxing Day.
Seamus Coleman may return but Marouane Fellaini completes a three-match ban and Tony Hibbert and Kevin Mirallas are still injured.
Ramires is expected to return to the Chelsea squad, having missed the Boxing Day win at Norwich with a knee injury.
Sunday’s game is set to come too soon for defender John Terry (knee).
MATCH PREVIEW
Order has seemingly, and suddenly, been restored at Chelsea. Three successive league wins, back-to-back clean sheets and the Premier League’s joint-best goal difference after Boxing Day have elevated the Blues to the fringes of the title race.
Evidently, Rafa Benitez – despite his critics – is proving to be the steadying influence he was brought in to be. His and Chelsea’s mettle will be well and truly tested at Goodison Park, mind you.
A trip to Everton is always a tough assignment, and former Liverpool manager Benitez can expect a hostile reception on his first return to Merseyside since he became Chelsea boss. Labelling Everton a “small club”, as Benitez famously did in 2007, is not going to engender good tidings towards him from the home supporters.
These days, that “small club” are only two points behind Benitez’s big-spending Chelsea, and eight clear of Liverpool as they push hard for Champions League qualification.
A fourth successive home league win for Everton over Chelsea would ensure David Moyes’s side end a progressive 2012 above their west London rivals.
The Toffees have lost only six league matches this calendar year – their fewest ever during the Premier League era is seven, set in 2010 – so regardless of Sunday’s result it has been a special 12 months for them.
As for the visitors, despite all the dressing-room unrest during the reign of Andre Villas-Boas, fans’ fury over Roberto Di Matteo’s dismissal, and John Terry’s infamous court appearance, it’s the date of 19 May 2012 that will live longest in the memory.
Chelsea’s Champions League triumph was the greatest achievement in the club’s history and for that reason alone it’s been a memorable year for them as well.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Everton are unbeaten in their last four home matches against Chelsea, winning the last three.
Chelsea have recorded just one win in their last eight meetings with the Toffees – a 3-1 triumph at Stamford Bridge last season.
Everton have never defeated Chelsea in seven previous December Premier League meetings (D5, L2).
Everton
Everton are enjoying a seven-match unbeaten run in the Premier League and have lost only once in their last 16 fixtures.
The Toffees are unbeaten in their last 13 home matches since a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal in March.
They can set a new club record for fewest Premier League defeats in a calendar year. They have lost only six league matches in 2012, one fewer than in 2010.
Everton have scored in each of their last 16 league games and conceded in each of their last 14 – both are the longest current streaks in the Premier League.
They are unbeaten in five games against London opposition so far this season (W2, D3).
Nikica Jelavic has scored eight league goals at Goodison Park in 2012 – the most by an Everton player at home in a single year since 1999. when Kevin Campbell grabbed 13 goals.
Chelsea
Victory would see Chelsea record a fourth successive league win for only the second time this season.
Rafa Benitez is unbeaten in his last seven league matches against Everton, all as Liverpool manager in Merseyside derbies.
Chelsea have had 44 shots in their last two Premier League games (18 against Norwich and 26 versus Villa).
Juan Mata has scored in six of his last eight appearances in all competitions for Chelsea. He has also scored or assisted 14 goals in 16 Premier League appearances this season.
