Predicted Chelsea XI to play Everton

Jose Mourinho takes his Chelsea side into a potential difficult match at Goodison Park this weekend.

Chelsea look like a well drilled, efficient and impressive unit so far this season and the sole focus for the Blues this weekend is taking three points away from Roberto Martinez’s Everton.

Chelsea didn’t get through the international break seeing all of their players unscathed with Eden Hazard, Oscar and Samuel Eto’o all picking up knocks which make them doubts ahead of this game.

Here is the side Mourinho may go with.

GK – Petr Cech
There has been some talk of Cech being a current target for Barcelona. However, he’s the best goalkeeper at Chelsea, hasn’t expressed any desire to leave Chelsea and this is just another match where he can prove why he’s a million miles ahead of Thibaut Courtois at the moment.

RB – Branislav Ivanovic
Mourinho has used the 29-year-old Serbian predominantly at right back so far this season and he’s done a superb job in that role. His strength, his presence and his understanding of where he needs to be in relation to the rest of the back four all mans he has to start.

CB – Gary Cahill
Cahill was one of the few players to emerge from England’s 0-0 draw against Ukraine with any credit. He simply gets into the right place at the right time and that’s all that any manager can ask for from his centre back. He’s superb in the air and continues to improve on the deck.

CB – John Terry
Terry will be refreshed because of the international break and he should start. He doesn’t have anything like the pace he once possessed but his leadership and experience in terms of keeping the entire Chelsea side organised are the two major reasons he should be in the team.

LB – Ashley Cole
Cole’s ability to get forward and create width when Chelsea attack is as good as it’s ever been. He had a tough time against Ukraine but he remains a defensively competent left back and someone Chelsea know they can rely on.

RM – Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne has had a fantastic start to the Premier League under Mourinho and he will be full of confidence following his spell with the Belgian Under-21 side. His natural urge will be to move inside but he does have enough discipline to stick to the right wing and work with Ivanovic.

CM – Ramires
Ramires continues to be effective in that holding role, just behind the other central midfielders who bomb on to support the attack. There are few better in the current side when it comes to linking the defence with the midfield, working the ball up to the attack.

CM – Frank Lampard
Mourinho may have wanted to give Lampard a rest for this game but any doubt over Oscar means he has to play. Lampard may be older and lacking a little bit of pace but his awareness of where to run and how to make the most of, plus create, space is as good as it’s ever been

CM – Juan Mata
Mourinho has been slightly reluctant to use Mata so far this season but that’s only due to the quality of the players who have started, which has made it pointless for the boss to drop them. Chelsea know exactly what they’re getting with Mata; a player who can control possession and the pace of the game.

LM – Andre Schurrle
If there is even the smallest doubt over Hazard’s fitness then Schurrle will be the main filling in down the left hand side. He’s shown glimpses of his best form so far in Chelsea colours but this would b a chance for him to really express how effective he can be as an attacking wide man.

ST – Fernando Torres
With Eto’o injured and Lukaku on loan with Chelsea’s opponents in this game, the most likely centre forward choice is Fernando Torres. Torres’ Liverpool past is something that will draw him some abuse in this game and Mourinho knows that should fire up his Spanish striker

What do you think? Will Hazard and Oscar be available?