Unbeaten Everton host Alonso's Chelsea in meeting of sides level on points
Both teams have 10 points from six games, with Everton ahead only on goal difference. David Moyes hopes to have Vitalii Mykolenko back, while Chelsea are without Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha.
Archive image · Photo: Rob Farrow / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Everton host Chelsea in Saturday's early Premier League kickoff at 12:30 p.m. local time. David Moyes's side are unbeaten after two wins and four draws and have 10 points, with Chelsea level on points but behind on goal difference. Another game without defeat would match Everton's longest unbeaten start to a Premier League season since 2006-07, according to Sports Illustrated.
Moyes rued missed chances in last week's 2-2 draw at Hull City. "We need to get some more wins. We should have won the game at Hull," he said. Left back Vitalii Mykolenko, injured on international duty with Ukraine, has "a chance" of playing, while centre back Jarrad Branthwaite faces a late fitness test, Sports Mole reported.
Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso arrives after a 5-1 win over Bournemouth that he called a "complete performance." He is without captain Reece James following knee surgery, as well as Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha. Midfielder Moisés Caicedo has returned from a calf injury.