This weekend, Chelsea will hope to pick up their first home win of the 2017/18 season as they host Everton on Sunday afternoon.
After an opening day horror show to Burnley, Chelsea bounced back in the best way possible as the Blues beat Tottenham 2-1 at Wembley last week. Marcos Alonso scored a double as Antonio Conte’s side picked up their first three points of the new season. A late winner from the Spaniard cancelled out Michy Batshuayi’s own goal.
After the first two games, Everton are currently unbeaten in the league. They opened the season with a 1-0 win over Stoke, and followed up with an impressive 1-1 draw away to Manchester City. Returning Evertonian Wayne Rooney has made an impressive start back to life at Goodison Park, and has scored in both league games.
Ahead of Sunday’s fixture, we take a look at four Everton players that could cause Chelsea problems in various areas of the pitch.
Glyfi Sigurdsson
Everton’s newest, and most expensive signing, could cause the Chelsea defence a number of problems.
At Swansea, the Icelandic playmaker was the side’s biggest attacking and creative outlet. Last season, he contributed with nine league goals and 13 assists. An impressive tally for in a side towards the bottom of the table.
Sigurdsson is also an impressive passer of the ball. Per match last season, he averaged 27.32 passes, and made 33 accurate long balls in the 2016/17 season.
The Chelsea defence will need to be wary of this player, as he is capable of setting up teammates or scoring goals himself.
Jordan Pickford
Another summer signing, the Chelsea attackers will need to be in fine form to get past Jordan Pickford.
Despite playing for relegated Sunderland, Pickford was one of the shining lights in an otherwise poor season for the Black Cats. He kept four clean sheets last season, but has already kept one for Everton this season.
Standing at 6 foot 1, Pickford made 42 high claims last season. The goalkeeper also has a tendency to punch, rather than catch. He made 22 punches last season, compared to only 16 catches.
Pickford will only get better at Everton, and will want to keep another clean sheet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Michael Keane
Yet another summer signing, Michael Keane will be at the heart of Everton’s defence on Sunday.
At Burnley last season, he was the main figurehead in the defence that kept ten clean sheets. The side finished 16th last season, so that is an impressive figure. Something that lead to Everton paying a reported £25million for the player.
He made 26 tackles last season, with a success rate of 86%. He also made 170 headed clearances, and 260 clearances with his feet. He won 193 duels, compared to 109 that he lost.
Wayne Rooney
Also a new summer signing, Wayne Rooney will be an attacking threat for Everton this weekend
Although his final season at Old Trafford saw Rooney play less than he is used to, he still managed to score five goals in 25 league appearances, as well as contributing with five assists.
In Everton’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Monday, Rooney scored his 200th Premier League goal. There is no doubting Rooney’s quality in front of goal, and the 31-year-old will want to continue his scoring run in the league.
