Chelsea Vs Everton Preview - Premier League

Chelsea Vs Everton, Saturday, 15 October, 16:30 GMT

Chelsea will host their 'bogey team' Everton at Stamford Bridge in Saturday's late kick-off in the Premiership.

The Londoners have, so far, made full use of the reduced spell under the spotlight, quietly stringing together a run of victories while the Andre Villas-Boas model takes shape. Juan Mata, with his creativity in the middle, is becoming the engine of the side while passing and movement as a whole has improved. It is a far cry from the days when Chelsea had to endure taunts of being boring under Jose Mourinho's pragmatism and functionality.

Following the previous international break, Chelsea improved greatly as Villas-Boas used the break to think up of ways to gel his new side. It worked, as they won six of seven games, the loss coming against Manchester United at Old Trafford where the Blues had more than enough chances of coming away with all three points. Importantly, he has got Fernando Torres back firing again. The Spaniard has regained some of the sharpness in pace and movement which made him such a force to reckon with during his first season at Liverpool. He scored twice in two games for Chelsea this season, before being red carded. He will miss the Everton match - his second of a three match suspension.

However, Chelsea have had a tough history with Everton under David Moyes. The Scot has restricted Chelsea to just one win in nine previous meetings with his side, while managing six draws in the remaining eight.

Although Everton come to the game on the back of two successive losses - against Manchester City and neighbors Liverpool - they a provided stern resistance to City and can fairly claim to be hard done by against Liverpool, as Jack Rodwell was wrongly red-carded. A huge boost for Moyes is that Rodwell's red-card has been rescinded and he is available for Saturday's clash.

Everton will also be aware of Chelsea's defensive frailties - they have only managed one clean sheet in the Premier League this season - and will look to make use of any uncertainty. However they will have to be wary of Chelsea's attack too, especially as their own defence is shaky - as admitted by defender Phil Jagielka.

Both teams have a reason to be confident and it should be an interesting game at the Bridge.

Team News

Andre Villas-Boas might opt to rest defender David Luiz, who played two full games for Brazil last week. Chelsea will also be without Fernando Torres who serves the second of his three-match ban while Michael Essien is a long-term absentee.

David Moyes will hope Tim Cahill recovers from an ankle injury, which saw his withdraw from the Australian squad last week. John Heitinga is also a doubt after a knee injury ruled him out for the Netherland's during midweek.

Match Fact

Everton have an impressive record against Chelsea and are unbeaten in their last six league matches between the two. Their last loss came in 2008, when Michael Essien scored in Chelsea's 1-0 win at Goodison Park.

Prediction

It will be a hard fought game but expect Chelsea, who are strong at Stamford Bridge, to come away with all three points.

Chelsea 2-1 Everton