The revolution under Sean Dyche continues for Everton with a visit to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Both sides have endured disappointing campaigns thus far with the hosts currently slumped in 10th place despite spending a jaw-dropping £555m on players.
However, Graham Potter’s side have managed a run of three wins in a row in all competitions, including a dramatic 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund which secured their progress to the Champions League quarter-finals.
While Dyche has managed to dramatically turn around the Toffees’ fortunes at Goodison Park, he is still yet to taste victory whilst on the road which will be a cause of concern for Everton supporters going into this trip down to West London.
The away day blues
The Blues have only won three times away from home in the league in their last 31 attempts and Stamford Bridge is a ground they’ve not won at in normal time since 1994.
Nevertheless, fans saw a different Everton than they’re used to in their last away match: a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest which represents the first and only time the team have scored multiple goals in one match under Dyche.
In spite of their indifferent season thus far, Chelsea obviously represent a completely different challenge to that of Forest but the way the Toffees have been set up in recent weeks does give some cause for optimism.
It will undoubtedly be a case of hitting their opponents on the break if Everton are to come away with anything on Saturday night.
One to watch – Abdoulaye Doucoure
One man who will be pivotal to any successful counter-attacks the Blues launch at Stamford Bridge is Abdoulaye Doucoure.
The 30-year-old has been a man transformed under Dyche, starting every game so far under the former Burnley manager and covering more ground than any of his teammates in that time.
The Frenchman has been granted much more freedom than he’s been used to in his time on Merseyside and aids Demarai Gray in leading the press and bursting forward with the ball.
He is clearly a man playing with renewed confidence and his endless energy could prove the difference in a game where his side will be aiming to nick a goal.
One to watch – Mykhailo Mudryk
Mykhailo Mudryk has been one of the most talked about names in world football over the last nine months.
There were persistent rumours over a departure from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer and at one stage it was even suggested the Ukrainian would be signing for Everton.
Eventually, he ended up at Chelsea in January for a potential £89m fee and has so far looked lively but failed to find the net in the colours of his new club.
Records like these are made to be broken against the Toffees.
Final thoughts
A few weeks ago, this match would have seemed an impossible task for Everton but since coming in, Dyche has managed to pull off unlikely result after unlikely result.
Questions over whether or not his players yet have the mental strength to pull off a win away from home still remain, but the signs of change are slowly becoming apparent.
If Dyche can end a 29-year wait for three points away at Chelsea, it would unquestionably be his most impressive achievement as Everton boss to date.
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