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Everton aims to upset Chelsea
22/01/2008 16:11 - (SA)
London - Everton is counting on home advantage to help overturn a 2-1 deficit against Chelsea and secure a place in the League Cup final.
Everton hosts the Blues in the second leg of the semi-finals on Wednesday, hoping to end a winless streak that dates back to November 2000.
Chelsea won the first leg on an injury-time winner by Shaun Wright-Phillips on January 8, but striker Andy Johnson believes the London side will find it tougher at Goodison Park.
"There will be a fantastic atmosphere at Goodison," Johnson said. "Everyone knows it's a tough place to come, with 40 000 fans screaming away. It's been hard for sides here over the last few years and we can use that to our advantage."
Johnson missed out on a League Cup medal in 2001 when his former club Birmingham lost to Liverpool in the final. Johnson missed a penalty kick in the shootout and said it was his career low point.
"But it's made me more determined and it made me a stronger person," he said.
Both teams are in healthy positions in the Premier League Chelsea is now third, four points behind Manchester United and Arsenal, while Everton is fourth after Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Monday.
Everton's best chance of trophies this season are in the Uefa Cup and League Cup, and manager David Moyes had one eye on Wednesday's match during the 2-1 win over Wigan in the league on Sunday.
"We have not been in loads of semi-finals so maybe we are fixated by it and we know what is waiting if we can get a result," Moyes said. The two teams drew 1-1 in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on November 11.
Both teams are missing players at the African Cup of Nations - Everton is without Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Joseph Yobo, and Chelsea has lost Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel.
While midfielder Frank Lampard could be back for the Blues after being sidelined with a thigh injury since December 26, it's unlikely that captain John Terry or striker Andriy Shevchenko will be fit. Wright-Phillips is also doubtful.
That could give Claudio Pizarro, who scored in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Birmingham in the league on Saturday, the chance to start.
"We have five strikers at the moment but most of them are away or with injury so it is important for me to play and I am getting my chance," Pizzaro said. "I hope I can use it and keep playing."
Pizzaro will face competition for new signing Nicolas Anelka up front.
Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 to win the League Cup last season, and a repeat would be the first title for Blues manager Avram Grant. The other semi-final is between Arsenal and Tottenham, with the first leg ending in a 1-1 draw.
- AP
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