Chelsea FC vs. Everton FC, 3:3

Luke Williams - 12 Dec 2009
Premier League leaders Chelsea take on Everton at the Stamford Bridge on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways. The previously all-conquering Blues have suffered a slight hiccup of late, losing first in the Carling Cup on penalties to Blackburn and then suffering a 2-1 reverse at Manchester City in the league. But the Blues still top the Premier League by two points and they will expect to score against a Toffees defence which is struggling this term, having already conceded 27 goals in 15 top-flight matches. Chelsea will be without influential midfielder Michael Essien after the Ghana international limped out of the Apoel draw. Midfielder Deco will also be missing because his father is ill and defender Alex and Salomon Kalou are also sidelined. For Everton, midfielder Tim Cahill is suspended after the Australia international accumulated his fifth booking of the season in the draw against Spurs and so must serve a one-match ban. Manager Moyes still has defensive problems with centre-half Joseph Yobo ruled out for four weeks with a hamstring problem. That means full-back Tony Hibbert is likely to continue to deputise alongside John Heitinga, who returns after suspension. REVIEW: Chelsea failed to win for the fourth game in a row in all competitions after drawing 3-3 with Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.. Everton became the first team this season to leave Stamford Bridge with any reward but Chelsea should have put this game beyond the Toffees long before half-time. Everton took a shock 12th minute lead when a Louis Saha header off a Leighton Baines free-kick hit the post and rebounded into the net off the back of Petr Cech. But Chelsea hit back and goals from Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka put the Blues in front only for substitute Ayegbeni Yakubu to pounce from a throw-in to level the scores in first-half injury time. Drogba restored Chelsea's lead but another blunder from a free-kick allowed Drogba's attempted clearance to bounce off the back of Saha to make it 3-3. The Blues have now conceded 10 goals in their last four games and all three Everton strikes arrived courtesy of a Chelsea defence that looked clueless at free-kicks and throw-ins.

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