The FA Cup has reached the sixth round, and the highest-profile match of the round sees Everton host Chelsea in what should be a very exciting match. Both teams are eager for a silver lining in their season, and the FA Cup would be an awfully shiny consolation prize for a tough campaign that hasn't exactly gone to plan.
Everton come into this match hopeful of a good result, having beaten Chelsea once at home in the league this season and battling them to a 3-3 draw in London. They're also catching Chelsea reeling off their Champions League knockout in what was a truly uninspiring performance against Paris Saint-Germain -- but that could be a double-edged sword.
That disappointment could prove to be the spark that Chelsea need to get "right" and start a late-season surge. We'll know pretty early in this match if that's the case -- if Chelsea come out swinging fast and hard, Everton will very likely finish this match with their heads hanging low in defeat. If not, they've got a real chance to send Chelsea back to London licking their wounds.
Key player -- Willian (Chelsea)
Everton have struggled all year against guys who run at their back line all day long, and that's exactly what Willian brings to the table. His ability to unsettle a back line and create holes for his teammates to exploit is nearly unparalleled in England, and when you add his immense skill on set-pieces to the equation, he'll be the key man in Chelsea's efforts to knock Everton down.
Key matchup -- Romelu Lukaku (Everton) vs. Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
Lukaku is always eager to try to get one over on his old teammates at Chelsea, and Everton fans have to be drooling at the prospect of him lining up against Cahill right now. The English international has looked stiff and a step off the pace of late, and even at his best he's struggled against Lukaku's size and athleticism. In the state he's in now, Lukaku could have an absolute field day against him.
Everton injuries and suspensions
Out: Tyias Browning, Tony Hibbert In doubt: Bryan Oviedo, Gareth Barry, Aaron Lennon, Tom Cleverly
Chelsea injuries and suspensions
Out: Kurt Zouma, Radamel Falcao In doubt: Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, John Terry
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. local
Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada)
Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada).
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét