With the dust settling on Saturday’s goal-fest and with Theo Walcott’s bandwagon purring away, Sunday has a lot to live up to. A pair of Premier League matches are on the agenda, with a cast of Fantasy heavy-hitters on show. Juan Mata and Chelsea arrive at Goodison to face Leighton Baines’ Everton, while later in the day, Luis Suarez will be matched against bottom of the table QPR at Loftus Road. Our Dugout Discussion Chatroom is now open to grab the real-time community reaction as today’s matches unfold.
The team news from Goodison is as follows:
David Moyes makes two changes from the side that beat Wigan on Boxing Day. Phil Neville and Darron Gibson drop out, with Johnny Heitinga and Steven Naismith drafted in for the Toffees. Phil Jagielka looks likely to move to right-back to allow Heitinga to partner Sylvain Distin in central defence, while Leon Osman is expected to move to central midfield, affording Naismith a chance on the right flank in Everton’s final match without the suspended Marouane Fellaini.
Everton Starting XI: Howard, Jagielka, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Naismith, Hitzlsperger, Osman, Pienaar, Jelavic, Anichebe
For the Blues, Rafa Benitez makes three alterations to the side that scraped a narrow win at Norwich last Wednesday. Frank Lampard replaces John Obi Mikel in the double-pivot (with David Luiz starting in midfield once again), Ramires gets the nod ahead of Victor Moses on the right of the attacking midfield three, while Eden Hazard is selected on the opposite flank, as Oscar drops to the bench.
Chelsea Starting XI: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole; Luiz, Lampard; Ramires, Mata, Hazard; Torres
