Chelsea continue their busy December schedule as they travel to Merseyside to face Everton at Goodison Park.
Marco Silva was the latest manager to lose his job in the Premier League as Everton cut ties with Silva after his side slumped into the relegation zone following their 5-2 defeat to fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
Former striker Duncan Ferguson takes temporary charge of the Toffees and will take charge for the fixture against Chelsea.
Ferguson was notoriously known for his aggressive style of play when he was a player and will look to instil this in the Everton players as they desperately need a positive result.
Chelsea got back to winning ways after beating Aston Villa 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. This was critical for the Blues, as they look to remain amongst the Premier League elite at the top of the table.
Despite facing an out of form Everton side that are in turmoil, Frank Lampard should be aware of how difficult Goodison Park can be to visit.
A win for Chelsea will bring them level on points with Manchester City and would be a massive boost in a hectic December.
Duncan Ferguson vs Frank Lampard
A physical and aggressive player, Ferguson will look to inject more intensity in this Everton side and help to organise ranks in the squad. December is a busy time for any Premier League team, so Everton players will have to respond to Ferguson’s leadership and be willing to adapt to new tactics.
Lampard will know that Everton may come into this fixture rejuvenated under a new manager, so should be prepared for an Everton side that will be intense and physical. Also, Lampard’s men have conceded 14 goals away from home in the league this season, so he will look to shore up any defence frailties going into this match.
Djibril Sidibe vs Christian Pulisic
The French defender has looked very impressive in his appearances for Everton and offers the Toffees an exciting dynamic on the right wing. Sidibe is quick and very adept at driving forward and delivering crosses into the box. This support on the wing will be vital for Everton as it provides an opportunity for Everton to effectively stretch the defence, creating a new attacking dynamic for Everton.
Sidibe will face Pulisic on the wing. The American took some time to adjust to life in the Premier League, but now looks comfortable and confident on the ball. The winger is quick and agile, offering Chelsea an incisive and direct option on the left wing. Pulisic is goalless in three games and will be looking to get back on the scoresheet against an out of form Everton side.
Gylfi Sigurdsson vs Mason Mount
Everton desperately need their experienced players to show leadership in these trying times. Sigurdsson is the perfect man to do this and can help to reassure his teammates. The midfielder is the focal point for Everton attacks, looking to provide support for attacks by carving open defences and helping to dictate the tempo of the game with his passes. His performance will be pivotal to Everton’s game plan in this fixture.
Mount has looked bright in the attacking midfield position for Chelsea. The young midfielder provides attacking support and his consistent performances has made him one of Chelsea’s most important players this season. He needs to recreate his fine performance against Aston Villa (which featured a sublime goal from him) in order to help his side get three points.
Moise Kean vs Andreas Christensen
Kean arrived from Italian giants Juventus for £24.8 million, but has failed to really impress in the Premier League. Very few starts may have hurt his confidence, but the striker desperately needs to get on the scoresheet to help build his confidence back up. A goal in this fixture will not only boost his own confidence, but will help his whole squad’s morale as they adjust under a new manager.
Danish centre-back Christensen has been muscled out of the starting eleven due to impressive performances from Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma, but he himself has looked solid in defence. He took part in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory against Aston Villa and offers the Chelsea back line stability. Another strong performance from him will give Lampard a headache over which centre-halves are considered his best option.