Everton will take on Chelsea in a juicy looking FA Cup tie. The last time the two teams met in this competition Wembley was the arena in which battle was fought with Chelsea eventually coming out on top. Chelsea look to have started to turn their season around with a series of convincing performances that lifts some of the pressure from Ancelotti whilst Everton’s season on the other hand is still stalling and stuttering with no signs of a good run of form on the horizon as the dismal showing against relegation candidates West Ham showed last time out.
Vital Quotes: Heitinga
“It is great for the players, the team, the fans and the club. It is nice to think when you finish your career you can show your family that you have won some prizes.
“In Holland I won the cup three times with Ajax and I would love to win an FA Cup with Everton. I am proud to play here and that would be really nice.
“It is a great competition – the biggest and best cup in the world. I like playing FA Cup games and the cups are the shortest way to a prize.”
HEITINGA ON THE 2009 FINAL
“I saw the game on DVD only the other day,” Heitinga added. “Chelsea beat Everton that day so now it is time to beat Chelsea and go on and reach the final again.
“There has been talk of that game with the players and, if you go around our training ground and also at Goodison, you see pictures all over the place showing the cup games that year – I want to be part of something like that
Everton Team News:
Victor Anichebe looks set to miss out as he struggles with a groin injury meaning that Saha and Beckford as Moyes’ striking partnership of choice.
There may also be space in the side for Billy as he came on and did a good job against the hammers last time out.
Jagielka is fully fit and is set for at least a place on the bench. It would be a shame for Heitinga to be dropped after some good performances at the back.
Everton should name pretty much a full strength squad for this afternoons game
POSSIBLE XI Howard,Neville,Heitinga,Distin,Baines,Coleman,Fellaini,Arteta,Billy,Becks, Saha
Player to watch: Fellaini
In recent weeks has been the best player on the park for us and he will have a major role to play for Everton later today as he mops up in the midfield and helps break up Chelsea attacks. Also the threat he offers going forward especially from set pieces goes without saying.
Chelsea Team News:
Frank Lampard may not be risked in todays game after he missed the Bolton game with a calf injury.
Alex (knee), Yuri Zhirkov (calf) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) remain long-term absentees, while Gael Kakuta is unavailable after joining Fulham on loan this week.
Player to watch: Anelka
Proven goalscorer and is always going be a pain in the backside will be interesting to see who the French international lines up with in the Chelsea attack. Will it be as a pair with Drogba or as part of a three with Malouda being lumped into the mix
Match Facts & Stats
This is the 161st competitive meeting of these clubs, and Everton are looking to register their 50th victory
Chelsea have not beaten the Goodison Park club, since their meeting at Wembley two years ago
This is the ninth time these clubs have been drawn to meet each other. Chelsea lead by six wins to two
Chelsea have won the last three games in all competitions, scoring 13 goals and conceding none
Chelsea are aiming to become the first club to win three successive FA Cups, since Blackburn in 1884, 1885 and 1886
The date for the replay should the game end in a tie is Wednesday, 16 February 2011 (Kick off: 1945 GMT)
Ref Watch:
Howard Webb- Wont expect many calls going our way from that numpty
Match Prediction:
Everton always seem to pull a performance against the bigger teams and I hope we can do the same this afternoon. It will be a tough match and we will do well to advance to the next round. However. I predict a 2-1 win to the mighty Everton out of blind, unfounded optimism. Beckford and Saha to net for Everton.