Chelsea face Everton at Goodison Park later this afternoon in a fixture we’ve struggled in in recent years.
We’ve only scored once in our last 4 visits – and that was a penalty. You have to go back to 2019 for a consolation goal for Frank Lampard’s Blues for the last time we scored from open play there. And this should be a tougher test than normal, given a huge buzz is expected around the Toffees following their long awaited sale.
Manager Enzo Maresca denied any knowledge of Chelsea’s bad record when asked about it in his press conference:
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Enzo Maresca on the touchline in the win over Shamrock Rovers. (Photo by: Crystal Pix/MB Media)
Enzo Maresca shouts instructions on the touchline. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca on the touchline in the win over Shamrock Rovers. (Photo by: Crystal Pix/MB Media)
“Chelsea have lost games there? Okay. It is something I didn’t know to be honest. It’s the same thing I was asked after Brentford, that the last three years they beat us [at Stamford Bridge]. Hopefully, we can go there and beat them,” the coach replied, pointing to the ease with which his team had blown away the stats about their bad record against the Bees.
“It will be a tough game for sure but we will try to prepare the game in the best way we can and the target is always to win the game. Everton’s stadium is not only tough for Chelsea, it’s tough for any club. So we are going to see.”
He sounds confident – and what else would you expect?
Maresca’s won’t be able to contain title talk if Blues go top
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 25: A general view of the corner flag at Goodison Park before the Premier League match between Everton and Norwich City at Goodison Park on September 25, 2021 in Liverpool, England.. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
For all of his attempts to calm the talk of a title charge over the last few weeks, the simple fact is that if we win today, we go top – at least until Liverpool’s game against Spurs later on.
At that point, it will be pretty impossible to deny we’re at least in the mix.