Enzo Maresca: ‘Goodison Park is tough for any club’ | News | Official site

Everton have won five of our last six meetings at Goodison Park, with the Blues scoring just two goals in their last seven games at the famous old ground.

And it’s not just Chelsea who find it difficult to walk on Merseyside. After losing their first two Premier League home games this season to Brighton and Bournemouth, Everton are unbeaten at Goodison Park in five games, drawing with Newcastle, Fulham and Brentford while beating Crystal Palace and Wolves.

The Toffees, currently 16th in the table, are particularly hard to break down. They have had three goalless draws in their last five Premier League matches and Sean Dyche’s record at Goodison Park (45.7 per cent) is the highest of any permanent Everton manager in the Premier League era apart from Joe Royle (45, 8 percent).

But Chelsea have some impressive stats. Since the start of May, Chelsea have scored more goals (51), won more games (15) and earned more points (49) in the Premier League than any other team, and their record is just as impressive away from home.

We have won more away games (six), picked up more away points (19) and scored more away goals (23) than any other team in the Premier League this season.

If we can achieve nine consecutive wins in all competitions, it will be the first time we have done so since we recorded ten on the bounce between October and December in 2016.

Chelsea won the last match between the sides 6-0 in May, but our disappointing recent record at Goodison Park was highlighted to head coach Enzo Maresca during his pre-match interview.

‘Have Chelsea lost games there? Okay. It’s something I didn’t know to be honest,’ was the reply.

‘It’s the same as I was asked after Brentford beat us (at Stamford Bridge) the last three years. Hopefully we can go there and beat them.

– It will definitely be a tough match, but we will try to prepare for the match in the best way we can, and the goal is always to win the match.

– Everton’s stadium is not only hard for Chelsea, it is hard for every club. So we’ll see.’

This will be our last trip to Goodison Park, unless we draw Everton in an FA Cup tie, with the Toffees set to move into a newly-built home in Bramley-Moore Dock ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Everton v Chelsea will see the Premier League’s oldest average starting XI (29 years, 37 days) take on Chelsea’s youngest (23 years, 248 days).

If the Blues are to win, they will need to be alert to the hosts’ set-piece threat. Eight of Everton’s 14 Premier League goals this season have been scored from set pieces (57 per cent), the highest percentage by a team in a season since West Brom in 2014/15 (61 per cent).

However, the Blues head to Merseyside in good form, having lost just three of our last 31 Premier League games (Arsenal away, Man City at home and Liverpool away), winning 19 and drawing nine in the process.

It’s form that sees us second in the table, just two points behind league leaders Liverpool, who already have a game in hand and who also kick off against Spurs two and a half hours later than us, meaning the Blues. has the chance to reach the top of the table, even if it might only be for a few hours.

Maresca was asked if the pressure would change if Chelsea were to go top. “I don’t think so,” was the reply.

‘We try to focus on the game, not the consequences of the game. Since we started together, I have tried to convince the players to be focused on the game, the game plan and how we can do the right things. No more than that.

‘So I don’t think there is any pressure because of the consequence of the win – and firstly you have to win the game.’