Hey, at least this guy isn't going to torment us today.

Team news and the like from 2:30pm EST.

Team sheets
Everton
Howard; Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Donovan, Gibson, Fellaini, Pienaar; Cahill; Stracqualursi.

We've had a week to digest what happened against Manchester United. Plenty has been said and written about last week but now is the time to look forward and focus on Goodison.
Roman Abramovich has been at the training ground this week and it will be interesting to see the level of performance from Chelsea today, to see if his presence has given the players a kick up the arse to refocus their efforts on climbing up the table.

Saturday is going to be a hard game, it always is at Goodison. Everton boosted by the signings of Donovan, Gibson and possibly Jelavic making his debut will be up for this one after we beat them earlier in the season at Stamford Bridge.
The big questions will be over AVB's team selection.

By Chris Wright

"There's contact...juuuuust...hold on...wait a second...there."

Ne'er does a week go by without some dime-a-dozen pundit rolling it out. That sodding word. 'Contact'. A word which is quickly becoming the bane of my very existence.

What do you think of United's result against Chelsea last night, was it a fair one? Andres Villas-Boas does not. In fact, it would have been a famous victory for him had it not been for Howard Webb awarding the Red Devils two penalties that changed the face of the game.

VIllas-Boas who believes United's second penalty should have never been awarded, claimed that Webb seemed to be making up for decisions he made against United in the First half.

The two teams have been confirmed for today.Bosingwa starts at left-back, Cahill makes his debut and Essien returns for first start of the season.
Chelsea:
Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Bosingwa, Essien, Meireles, Malouda, Sturridge, Torres and Mata.
Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Bertrand, Hutchinson, Romeu, Piazon, Lukaku.

De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Rio, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Young Welbeck and Rooney.

Subs: Amos, Berbatov, Park, Chicharito, Fabio, Scholes and Pogba.

Chelsea team: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Bosingwa, Essien, Meireles, Malouda, Sturridge, Torres and Mata.

"CONFIRMED LINE-UP: Chelsea vs UNITED" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

Big game at the Bridge on Super Sunday. Personnel decisions are likely to play a significant role in the outcome. So, let's channel our inner Andre Villas-Boas and sort this one out.

Cool? Cool.

I see you.

Andre Villas-Boas faces all kinds of issues entering our match against Manchester United.

The massive clash at Stamford Bridge this weekend could see Chelsea put out a back-four with two new starters Ryan Bertrand at LB and Gary Cahill at CB. They could be joined by two of Luiz, Ivanovic, and/or Bosingwa ... Continue reading →

Fresh off a transfer from the struggling Bolton Wanderers, defender Gary Cahill is reportedly already unhappy at Stamford Bridge. Cahill found himself on the bench for Chelsea's recent match against Swansea City, as he was hoping to fill in for the injured John Terry.

Goal.com is reporting that an inside source close to the Chelsea training camp noted that Cahill looked as if "his head has gone," but noted that Cahill has not filed any official complaint with manager Andre Villas-Boas.

JOSH. Fortunately, he won't be playing against us. Nevertheless, this is going to be hella difficult.

Team news and the like from 2:30pm EST.

Team sheets
Swansea City
Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Allen, Sigurdsson, Dyer, Sinclair, Graham.

With the news that Gary Cahill has finally signed for Chelsea and after already asking you guys what the signing of Cahill means for the likes of David Luiz, I am wondering what you the Chelsea fans believe is now our best starting back four.
It's important to remember that AVB intended to play a high line in the Premier League with defenders who are also technically gifted.

Just as it was expected, Gary Cahill, finally arrived at Chelsea after the London club cashed out an amount around 7 million pound to Bolton Wanderers, so the England international can team up with John Terry at the back.

Revealing his joy after signing for the Blues, Cahill admitted that accepting Andre Villas-Boas' team's offer is something that he must passed on especially since the player is eying to improve his quality.

After reading (and posting) that Gary Cahill is about to sign for Chelsea and is rumoured to have asked for assurances of first team football at Chelsea ahead of Euro 2012, I just wonder what it means for David Luiz.
The more I think about it, the more I can see Luiz being asked to step sideways and play at RB for the remainder of the season to accommodate Cahill in the middle next to JT.

After reading (and posting) that Gary Cahill is about to sign for Chelsea and is rumoured to have asked for assurances of first team football at Chelsea ahead of Euro 2012, I just wonder what it means for David Luiz.
The more I think about it, the more I can see Luiz being asked to step sideways and play at RB for the remainder of the season to accommodate Cahill in the middle next to JT.

It's been a problem of Chelsea's ever since Jose Mourinho decided to drop Paulo Ferreira from that position back in the day. Think of the names we have had playing there: Geremi, Diarra, Del Horno, Bosingwa and Ivanovic and still no one has put down a marker and made the position their own.
Branislav Ivanovic did to a certain extent but was never truly happy playing there.

So here we go with the madness that happens every year around the Christmas and New Year period with games coming thick and fast. After a good point at White Hart Lane, Chelsea have a chance to grab six points in the next few days against Villa on Saturday and Fulham today.
This afternoon is our second London derby in the space of four days and will be just as difficult as Spurs was.

Is there a rule in sport which stipulates the appropriate duration for touching a teammate's ass? Whatever it may be, Frank Lampard crossed the line. There's no such thing as an appropriate pat-and-slide. That ventures into a 'caress'.

Really it's not that bad, though, and it's purely a ruse: Where's the footage of Branislav Ivanovic having his ass continually kissed by the trainer who was rubbing down his thigh with some sort of lotion?

I asked you people earlier today who you think should play tomorrow. In the side I selected (Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Romeu, Meireles, Ramires, Mata, Torres and Sturridge) you will see I indicated that Luiz would play and Ivanovic would move to right back.
Well, this afternoon AVB has confirmed that David Luiz will miss the game through injury which leaves us with a problem!

By Alan Duffy

Wigan Athletic 1-1 Chelsea Premier League 17th December 2011

After excellent wins against Valencia in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League, Chelsea were brought back down to earth with a bump at the DW Stadium against a Wigan side who fully deserved a share of the points.

Tomorrow in the later kick off Chelsea take on Wigan in our next Premier League fixture buzzing off the back of another win on the spin against Manchester City last Monday night. Chelsea have David Luiz back after suspension and no new injury concerns so it makes for an interesting team selection by AVB.

My prediction was right! No Lampard or Torres again as Bosingwa comes in for Luiz:
TEAM:
Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Romeu, Ramires, Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata.
Your thoughts?
KTBFFH
Check out my blog posts on the Official Chelsea Website - http://bit.

Berbatron's Note: Long-time Blues fan Ratna Prashanth tells us what to expect from the big money battle between the two Blues of the premier league.

Stamford bridge is going to be the venue for a great showdown tomorrow. Its Chelsea vs Man City, otherwise titled the battle of the 2 BLUE spenders.

The bums they are a squeaking.

Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres are on the bench for the defining match of Andre Villas-Boas' tenure at Chelsea thus far. Bold and correct decisions, will they pay off?

Architects

Team sheets
Chelsea
Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, EBJT (c), Romeu, Ramires, Meireles, Mata, Drogba, Sturridge.

Chelsea's confirmed line up to take on Valencia tonight is as follows:
Chelsea Team: Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, David Luiz, Romeu, Ramires, Mata, Drogba, Meireles, Sturridge, Terry.
Chelsea subs: Turnbull, Lampard, Torres, Mikel, Malouda, Ferreira, Kalou
Your thoughts?
KTBFFH
Check out my blog posts on the Official Chelsea Website - http://bit.

OK let's get this going early this morning. Chelsea are in a slump, badly need a win, getting criticised all over the place, reports that the players are turning against AVB, we are asking to play a deeper defensive line and for now, AVB seems to be sticking to his guns.
So with the news that it appears Didier Drogba is ahead of Fernando Torres to be selected for this game tomorrow lunchtime, I am asking who YOU THINK, as the Chelsea fan reading this, needs to start the game to give us the best chance of getting a massive three points.

The confirmed Chelsea line up to face Liverpool tonight is:
Turnbull, Bosingwa, Alex, D Luiz, Bertrand; McEachran, Romeu, Lampard (c); Lukaku, Torres, Malouda. - subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Ramires, Kalou, Mata, Anelka.
Liverpool XI vs Chelsea: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Enrique, Henderson, Spearing, Lucas, Maxi, Bellamy, Carroll.

OK, so we won an important three points on Saturday against Wolves with a much better performance after the defeats at Leverkusen and against Liverpool a week ago.
Against Wolves we saw the introduction of Oriol Romeu who for me, has to start every game now ahead of the likes of Mikel and Meireles in the holding role, whether or not he will start tomorrow is another thing but alongside Ramires and Lampard, Chelsea had energy in midfield.

It's been a long week hasn't it. Two defeats, negative press and immense pressure now being put on our manager and our players.
I have discussed everything with you the Chelsea fans that come and visit my blog each day from whether or not we will finish in the top four this season, AVB adopting a back to basics and defend first approach to games, the addition of TWO defenders in January, giving AVB time to take this club forward, Anelka being World Class but understated, David Luiz being backed by AVB, AVB must now pick his best eleven players and stick with them and the idea of playing Juan Mata through the middle!

The more I think about our "slump" and dip in form at the moment, the more I keep thinking about our rotation policy. Let me explain.
At the moment, things are against us and we need to stop the rot sooner rather than later. I wrote a earlier in the week about getting back to basics as far as our defending is concerned and I really think the constant rotating players in our defensive line isn't helping our situation either.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Bosingwa, Ramires, Meireles, Lampard, Mata, Sturridge, Drogba.
Only six subs named: Turnbull, Alex, Mikel, Malouda, McEachran, Torres. Presumably Ashley Cole was taken injured/ill late on.
Your thought's?
KTBFFH
I'm taking part in Movember this month, please donate!

Join in for a rant or two on all things Chelsea. Or just some witty banter. We're good at that.

Relive this moment, six times please

Team news forthcoming. And, if the Liverpool match wasn't a 'must win', then this surely has to be? For a ton of reasons.

Sidenote: Anelka has been told by the club that he can leave in January.

I think we are all agreed on that fact that this is a must win game for Chelsea. Not only so that we can take a step into the next round but for the confidence of the team. AVB has stated that the players need to keep believing and working hard to get back to winning ways and if we can get the right result tonight, it will give us confidence heading into the three big games in the Premier League.

In the wake of their widespread criticism in the press following their 2-1 defeat at home to Liverpool, Chelsea's visit to Germany to take on Bayer Leverkusen tonight has much more attention than their manager would like, and a result will prove crucial for a boost in morale.

The Blues have not won since their 5-0 smashing of Genk over a month ago, and though they currently lead second-placed Leverkusen by 2 points, another defeat would give the Bundesliga side and Valencia (in third spot with 5) hopes of topping the group themselves, and make the rumors about Guus Hiddink's potential arrival a bit louder.

OK, we have had a couple of days now to get over Liverpool, and get refocused on the next task at hand at that is Leverkusen tomorrow night in the Champions League.
This is our penultimate game of the group stages with Valencia at home to follow and we have qualification by winning the group in our own hands as long we we put in two good performances and getting the right results.

Maxi, Bellamy and Suarez start for LFC v Chelsea

Kenny Dalglish has named his side to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Maxi Rodriguez makes a surprise but welcome return and Craig Bellamy starts the game with Andy Carroll on the bench. No room in the starting line-up for Jamie Carragher or Stewart Downing who are also both on the bench.

Chelsea's team this afternoon against Liverpool has been confirmed and it is as follows:
Cech; Ivanovic, D Luiz, JT (c), Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Lampard; Mata, Drogba, Malouda - subs: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Romeu, Meireles, Sturridge, Anelka, Torres.
Your thoughts?
KTBFFH
I'm taking part in Movember this month, please donate!

Mighty big match at the Bridge on Sunday. Could be described by some as a must-win. Others, like me, reckon it's only half a must-win. Yeah, I don't know what that means, either.

What I do know is that our tactical approach of late has been heavily flawed, and thus criticized by any and all comers some with a genuine argument, others not so much.

By Chris Wright

One to melt even the frostiest of cockles now, with a little clip of Robson Junior (it's hard to tell height-wise, but he's the diddy fella on the right the one with the Fellaini 'fro) showing up Dad at Milan training with a couple of nimble step-overs before laying a smacker on his old man.

Now the reason I am asking this question is to do with balance in our side. As we all know until the Blackburn game the other week, we hadn't keep a clean sheet in the league since the opening day of the season against Stoke.
It looks like AVB has addressed the situation by taking Jose Bosingwa out of the side and replacing him with Alex and moving Ivanovic to right back.