Premier League preview: Everton v Chelsea

Everton midfielder Landon Donovan says his team do not fear anyone in the Premier League ahead of the visit of Chelsea on Saturday.

Everton are unbeaten in five matches in a run of form that includes a 1-0 victory against table-toppers Manchester City at Goodison Park.

And that result has given Donovan and the rest of the Everton camp confidence they can match it with the big boys in the league.

“Since the day I got here there has always been the belief this team can compete with any team in the Premier League,” Donovan told BBC Radio.

“There is no fear in this club. We have a lot of respect for Chelsea, they are one of the best teams in the world, but we feel at Goodison (Park) we have a chance and we are going to go for it.”

“They’ve come off an interesting result against Manchester United so it will be an interesting game to see how they respond to that.”

“We feel good in how we’re playing, we like how we’re playing right now and our form has been pretty good so it makes for a really good match-up.”

Chelsea have not been beaten in seven matches, but their last three Premier League encounters have ended in draws against newly promoted Norwich City and Swansea City, and last season’s champions Manchester United.

Andre Villas-Boas’ side were unlucky against Manchester United with two dubious penalties awarded against them but ultimately they could not hold a 3-0 lead at home, something that will worry the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Fernando Torres has not scored in the Premier League since September while injuries have hit hard, with Frank Lampard (calf), John Terry (knee) and Ramires (knee) all sidelined in recent times.

Lampard – who is Chelsea’s top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions this season – is expected to be fit for the trip to the Merseyside but the match will come too soon for the other two.

Ashley Cole will also return to Chelsea’s starting 11 after he was recently suspended.

Everton also have their share of injury problems with Tim Cahill (ankle and calf) being substituted at half-time in their 1-1 draw at Wigan on Saturday.

Phil Jagielka and Leon Osman (both knee) and Seamus Coleman (thigh) are sidelined while Jack Rodwell (hamstring) is in doubt.

In the past seven Premier League meetings between the two sides, four have ended in draws, while Chelsea are winless in their last three trips to Goodison Park.

Chelsea – who sit fourth at the moment – have Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool snapping at their heels on the table with a win essential to keep ahead of their rivals.

But Everton will not make it easy for Villas-Boas’ side to win their first league match in four.