The weekend results saw Chelsea extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points over Manchester City, and the Blues will not want to let this slip, having already thrown an eight-point lead this season.
According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, Chelsea currently possess the highest ranked defender (John Terry), midfielder (Eden Hazard), striker (Diego Costa) and overall best player (Eden Hazard). In addition, they have the best tackler (Nemanja Matic), most passes and highest assists (Cesc Fabregas), as well as top scorer (Diego Costa).
Branislav Ivanovic increased his goal tally for the season to three on the weekend, making him the highest scoring defender alongside John Terry and Jeffrey Schlupp. This is largely down to the fact he has had the most shots on goal out of any Premier League defender, with 24. Defensively, Ivanovic has also been strong, making 60 successful tackles this season, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, which ranks as the thirteenth highest number of successful tackles in the division. Ivanovic is 39/10 to continue his form and score against Everton with 888sport.com.
His fellow Serbian, Nemanja Matic, is the only man in the Chelsea squad to have made more successful tackles. Matic has made 91 tackles so far this season, 5 more than his next challenger, Nathaniel Clyne. Matic has also covered the second most ground in the division (270.1km) having played one game less than leader Christian Eriksen (271.6km).
Roberto Martinez may be famed for his attacking style of play, but Everton are currently on a run of keeping three consecutive clean sheets, displaying their defensive prowess.
Gareth Barry has been a major contributor to this, shielding his defence in the deep midfield role for Everton. Barry has also had an impact going forward and as such has recorded the eighth most passes in the opposition half out of anyone in the entire division, with 707. In addition, Barry has an impressive pass completion rate of 86.1%, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Everton’s top scorer this season is Romelu Lukaku who has scored seven goals in 24 games. The imposing forward has seen 28 of his 48 shots on target and has scored from 14.6% of his shots, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Lukaku is 11/1 to score first with 888sport.com.
Seamus Coleman could cause Chelsea a threat from right back on Wednesday with his direct running. The full back has completed the seventh highest number of sprints in the Premier League, sprinting a total of 1338 times this season. Coleman has put in ten successful crosses and gained three assists over the course of the campaign.
Chelsea vs Everton Possible Lineups:
Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Drogba
Robles; Oviedo, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman; Besic, Barry, McCarthy, Mirallas; Naismith, Lukaku
Chelsea vs Everton Match Facts:
- Chelsea have won just six of the last 16 Premier League games against Everton (W6 D6 L4).
- Steven Naismith has scored in three of his last four Barclays Premier League appearances against Chelsea.
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 19 Premier League home games against Everton W10 D9 L0).
- The Toffees ended a run of five consecutive away defeats in the league last time out with their victory over Crystal Palace.
- Gary Cahill has scored more Premier League goals against Everton than versus any other opponent (3).
- Cesc Fabregas made his Premier League debut against Everton in August 2004. In his last four appearances against the Toffees he has scored three goals and assisted three more.
- Didier Drogba has scored seven goals in his last nine Premier League starts against Everton.
Facts compiled from eurosport.com
Chelsea vs Everton Prediction:
A 2-1 win for the home side.
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars with at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate team.