FA Cup: Everton vs Chelsea preview

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March 11th, 2016
Back FA Cup: Everton vs Chelsea preview

Two disillusioned sides clash on Saturday as Everton host Chelsea at Goodison Park with a place in the FA Cup semi-finals up for grabs. The two teams have become anonymous mid-table sides in the Premier League this season, so the FA Cup is their last opportunity to make something out of this season. Everton have won just one of the last five matches against Chelsea, but that win was this season at Goodison Park. In January the two sides met at Stamford Bridge and it was a memorable match which ended 3-3 with late goals on both sides.

Everton have not won the FA Cup in 21 years, but they do have five of these trophies in their cabinet. They have been unable to reach the League Cup final, their Premier League campaign won't lead anywhere nice, so the FA Cup is their last chance for glory this season. Last weekend they were defeated 3-2 at home by West Ham, a result which practically ended all hopes of European qualification through the Premier League for the Toffees. Bryan Oviedo could miss out due to a chest infection, while Gareth Barry and Tom Cleverley are also out. Kevin Mirallas is suspended after last weekend's red card.

Chelsea got knocked out of the Champions League this week, but Guus Hiddink remains unbeaten in 15 matches on the domestic front. Last weekend Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Stoke City though, and the Blues sit 10th in the Premier League table. The FA Cup is their only chance left for some silverware in a season that has gone pretty much wrong. Diego Costa will probably sit this one out after picking up a muscular issue during the Champions League match against PSG. John Terry remains out of contention, along with Radamel Falcao and Kurt Zouma.

Probable line-ups:

Everton: Howard - Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Baines - Barry, Besic, Barkley, Deulofeu - Lukaku

Chelsea: Courtois - Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Baba Rahman - Matic, Fabregas, Pedro, Willian, Oscar - Traore

My prediction: Chelsea to win 2-1.

Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:

Everton win - 2.63 Draw - 3.50 Chelsea win - 2.80

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