Chelsea face Everton today in the Premier League’s late kick-off as Ronald Koeman brings his Blues to face Antonio Conte’s Blues at Stamford Bridge. The game sees the 6th place club in Everton facing the 4th place club in Chelsea with only 4 points separating the two sides. The encounter sees a match-up between the two leading scorers in the Premier League. Diego Costa leads the scoring charts with 8 goals and 2 assists this season. Right behind him in 2nd place is Romelu Lukaku (tied with Sergio Aguero) who has scored 7 goals with 3 assists. The two strikers have a similar number of shots with Costa on 24 shots with 17 on target and Lukaku on 23 shots with also 17 on target. So it should be an interesting game as Lukaku of course is returning to the club where he never got the opportunity to shine and it is the first time he faces Chelsea after being linked with a summer return to West London.
Perhaps the most important factor to consider is the impact of Chelsea’s switch to 3 at the back as they are playing with a 3-4-3 formation which has seen them produce 4 clean sheets in their last 4 Premier League games. Perhaps the greater impact of this switch in formation is what it has allowed Eden Hazard to do. The Belgian playmaker has scored 5 goals in the 4 games and it has allowed him to not worry about his defensive responsibilities and to drift into the middle and link up with Costa. He already has surpassed his entire goal haul from last season in the first few months of this campaign.
Antonio Conte had this to say about Hazard as reported by ESPNFC,
“Eden is playing now more close to the goal, he’s participating more in offensive situations. I think it’s better for him, this type of situation, which sees him staying in a position where he can finish easier compared to in the past. For this reason, I think and I want him to continue in this way.
“We know his talent. He’s a fantastic player. Also, I found a player who is working very well without the ball, working very well with the team. This is very appreciated by his teammates.
“It’s important in this type of football, this modern football, you must have talent and technique, but also run with intensity. You must have the strength to cope with contact. Modern football is this. You must have the talent, but support it with strength, speed and technique.
“Football has changed. Above all in England, you play with an intensity that is supersonic.”
So it looks like a cracker of a game which on current form you would expect Chelsea to win. JT likely will not play as Conte will probably stick with his usual 3 at the back as Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are primed to out shine their former colleague Romelu Lukaku and provide the goals in what promises to be a classic Premier League game.