Chelsea take on Everton on Sunday with everything seeming to play into our favour.
While Sean Dyche’s side languish towards the bottom of the table, struggling to score and struggling to keep clean sheets, the Blues are flying high. Enzo Maresca’s team have won 8 games in a row in all competitions, and haven’t lost a league game since playing Liverpool in October.
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Chelsea in a team huddle ahead of EFL Cup game. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca in a Conference League press conference.
A group photo of Chelsea celebrating a goal at Leicester. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
But there are a few factors which should be flashing up warning signs for the Blues nonetheless. Firstly our record at Goodison Park – we’ve scored just once in our last four there, and that was a penalty.
There’s also the potentially huge “feel good factor” of the news from yesterday that the historic Merseyside outfit are set to have new owners, potentially meaning a massive morale boost around the whole club.
Even with the grim atmosphere at Goodison as things have gone poorly under the current ownership we’ve struggled. An injection of enthusiasm could make things even harder.
Maresca responds to poor Chelsea record at Everton
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: Marcos Alonso of Chelsea and Richarlison of Everton clash during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Chelsea FC at Goodison Park on March 17, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Maresca was asked about the record in his press conference today and answered thus:
“No, it’s something that I didn’t know, to be honest. Hopefully we can go there and beat them. For sure, it will be a tough game, but we’re going to try to prepare for the game in the best way we can.
“The target is always the same: prepare the game to win the game and then we see. Everton’s stadium is not tough only for Chelsea. It’s tough for any club.”
If there ever was a chance to change our fortunes at Everton this is it. But as the factors above show, it’s not going to be easy. We’re a few defenders down, playing in a place where we have a poor record, which will be rocking under the lights.