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Chelsea travel to Goodison Park on Sunday where boss Antonio Conte is wary of the ‘physicality’ of Everton.
Conte said: “Everton are a really good team, a strong team with great players in their squad, good quality. A physical team also”.
Goodison Park has been a tough place for Chelsea to go in recent years having lost there for two successive seasons.
Conte continued: “When they play at home they are strong. For us it is very important to look at ourselves, to prepare very well for this type of game”.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman is looking for his team to bounce back
after their midweek goalless draw away to West Ham.
“Maybe we need to change our mentality a bit because I felt a bit less intensity in the game last week, maybe a bit less motivation”.
Everton are currently 7th in the league, seven points from the Champion’s League places having played a game more.
“It is always difficult if you have already the seventh position in the pocket”. The hosts are 14 points ahead of eighth placed West Brom.
Despite the disappointing performance midweek, Koeman is expecting a strong display from his team.
“We like to keep momentum at home, we are strong at home and we know what we need to do to face the best team in the Premier League”.
With five games remaining, Chelsea are four points ahead of their London rivals. Tottenham play later that day when they host Arsenal in a north London derby.
The Blues will however take some confidence into the game as Eden Hazard’s double helped down Everton 5-0 earlier in the season at Stamford Bridge.
The hosts are four games unbeaten, where they have won two and drawn two. Their last loss was at the hands of Liverpool after a 3-1 defeat.
The league leaders have produced two quality performances since their loss at Old Trafford, beating Southampton 4-2 in the league and booking their FA Cup final place after their 4-2 win over Spurs.
Enner Valencia will be welcomed back to the squad for Everton after having missed their trip to West Ham through ineligibility.
Chelsea have a full squad to choose from, as Hazard and Diego Costa are expected to lead the line for the visitors where the latter will be looking to add to his 19-goal tally for the season.
