Betting Update; Chelsea v Everton with the bookmakers making Chelsea their 9/20 favourites

Added: (Tue Apr 21 2009)

Pressbox (Press Release) - The FA Cup finalists meet in the league at Stamford Bridge and it will be interesting to see if Everton�s heroics on Sunday affect their performance against Chelsea here.

The Toffees played 120 minutes of energy-sapping football on a controversial Wembley pitch before winning through on penalties against Manchester United � can David Moyes� fragile squad now compete against one of the country�s form sides just 3 days later? The bookies don�t seem to think so, making the Merseysiders a BP 8/1 to take the points from SW6.

As well as the physical demands the Everton squad are being exposed to, they also have to contend with an appalling away record against the big four � in fact, this is almost the only area of Premier League football that Moyes is yet to master in his time at Goodison Park. In 29 attempts he has never emerged with victory from Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford, Anfield or the Emirates and they have already gone down 3-1 and 1-0 at Arsenal and United respectively this term (though did gain a creditable 1-1 draw at their neighbours across Stanley Park). Their current form on the road isn�t great either, with no win in their last 6 away from Goodison and they will not find it easy against an opposition who must be buzzing at present.

Chelsea (BP 9/20) have seen off Liverpool and Arsenal in the Champions League and FA Cup in their last two games and Guus Hiddink has clearly brought back the awesome team spirit to Stamford Bridge that was not seen under Luis Felipe Scolari. The Dutchman�s overall record since joining the club is a highly impressive P14 W11 D2 L1, with 3 wins from 3 in home Premiership matches. Furthermore, they played a day earlier than Everton at Wembley last weekend, with no extra-time, and only had to travel a few miles up the road to get there. With a big enough squad to rotate if needs be � Ricardo Carvalho, John Obi Mikel, Salomon Kalou and Juliano Belletti can all come in � it�s hard to disagree with the prices quoted about a home win here.

This is not to say that Everton will be a walkover � far from it, as they can defend as stubbornly as any team in the division. Only 4 sides have conceded fewer away goals than the visitors (just 17 in 16 games) and Moyes says he rates centre-back pairing Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott second only to Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand in the league this season. But with no choice but to field almost the same side that performed heroics on Sunday, and with Didier Drogba in such fine fettle (5 goals in his last 4 games), it is hard to see them not conceding here.

The match odds are poor value on a home win but I like the look of Drogba to score anytime (11/10) and a Chelsea Half-Time/Full-Time (6/5). A correct score of 1-0 and 2-0 home wins at 13/2 are also options. If the Ivorian does start the game then my preference would be for the former � when he is on song like he is at present he is a handful for any defence in the world and he looks by far the most likely match-winner, especially with Nicolas Anelka playing on the wing in recent games. Be sure to check that he is starting before you get involved, though.

Recommended Bets - 1 pt - Didier Drogba To Score Anytime, 11/10



� All prices correct at time of writing.

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