Projected Chelsea XI To Face Everton (Fun Facts Included)

A tight FA Cup quarter-final tie is something that doesn’t happen on a regular basis. English football’s top flight’s two biggest underachievers this season head into this QF draw knowing it’s basically season over for the loser that normally implies a tough battle. Although, Chelsea have drawn a difficult away tie at Everton, the Blues travelling to Goodison Park promises to be the stand-out draw of all the 4 FA Cup final fixtures. While these two clubs placed at 12th and 10th respectively in the Premier League in mid-March is something a rare few would have predicted, it wouldn’t be harsh not ignoring how these sides have played so far in the season. With the art of defending seemingly forgotten from their performances – between them, the sides have conceded 78 league goals.

Last week’s loss from 2-0 up against West Ham, summed Everton up perfectly. They went into familiar collapse mode with two aerial balls into the box resulting in two goals. It’s been a chaotic back all season but to be fair the set-up of the team hasn’t helped on that front either. The story hasn’t been quite different at Chelsea with continuous dips in their pressing form, loss of shape in the attack and a severely suffering defense line that has become unrecognizable for the Blues supporters with constant lapses in rhythm.

Everton in particular, seem to have little idea how to close a game down, their date with Chelsea can only see goals in a match which should be end to end. Chelsea’s Premier League rivals get another turf to whistle any kind of long lost beef away at Goodison Park as Chelsea beat Everton in the FA Cup final in 2009 when interim boss Guus Hiddink was in his first spell in charge of the Blues. Home territory must give them the confidence and belief going into the most evenly-poised QF or at least made out to be.

Chelsea’s Potential XI at Goodison Park Away is likely to be:

Starting XI – Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic (c), Baba Rahman; Matic, Fabregas; Pedro, Willian, Oscar; Traore
Subs – Begovic, Kenedy, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Hazard, Pato, Remy/Diego Costa

Diego Costa is a doubt for this trip. Hazard’s seems to sit out as he was last seen limping out against PSG due to a hip injury. That’s a slight worry for punters but there are other players in the Chelsea ranks more than capable of damaging the shaky home backline. Pato might get a game since coming on a loan to Stamford Bridge.

For Everton, Aaron Lennon being among the scorers given his fine form in front of goal has to be a major talking point before the game as the former England international has shown both good finishing prowess when slipped through and also the ability to strike the ball from range during his run and warrants some support at the price.

Fun Fact: Everton have scored exactly three goals in their last two home meetings with Chelsea, including a 3-1 win in the Premier League this season.

Last season, Chelsea triumphed 6-3 on Merseyside in a game which arguably began the Toffees’ slump.

What’s it going to be?
Chelsea fixing themselves a place in the FA Cup semis or is Aaron Lennon going to provide value from his amazing form. The answer lies in scouser-land of Goodison Park. Tune in at 17:30 GMT, 11pm IST.