Chelsea have scored 13 goals in their previous three games and look to have turned somewhat of a corner in what has been a season of struggles for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka have returned to form and together with Florent Malouda are a formidable force.
Chelsea have not conceded a goal since Jose Bosingwa’s 5th-minute own goal in the 1-0 loss to Wolves in early January and David Moyes’ goal-shy Everton will have their work cut out breaking the robust Londoners down.
Need For A Goalscorer
Everton’s league struggles this season can be sourced from their inability to score enough goals. Their 14 home goals this season is just one more goal than Chelsea have scored in their previous three games.
Tim Cahill is Everton’s top goal scorer this season with nine, however he is away on international duty with Australia. Their next top scorers are Jermaine Beckford and Seamus Coleman with five goals and the need for a goal scorer has never been more prevalent for David Moyes as he let two strikers leave the club in this transfer window.
Premier League rookie Beckford will be the man entrusted with scoring the goals for Everton, who are unbeaten in their previous four games.
TEAM NEWS
Everton
The Toffees are boosted by the return of England international Phil Jagielka who will be primed to stop the threat of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba after he recently returned to goal scoring form.
Louis Saha could return to the squad provided he recovers from a thigh strain in time. Everton have a lack of striking options if Saha is unavailable as Tim Cahill remains on international duty and Yakubu and James Vaughan having been sent out on loan. Jermaine Beckford and Victor Anichebe are the only senior strikers fit.
Boss David Moyes may opt to use just one striker and five across the midfield with Johnny Heitinga moving into defensive midfield.
Possible starting XI: Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Fellaini, Arteta, Heitinga, Osman; Beckford.
Chelsea
Chelsea have no new injury worries ahead of their trip to Merseyside as Frank Lampard, Alex, Yossi Benayoun and Yuri Zhirkov remain sidelined.
Both Lampard and Alex are close to a first team return but Saturday’s game will come too soon.
Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to make major changes with Salomon Kalou the likeliest of the squad members to be given a starting role. Given Chelsea’s struggles in the league this season, Ancelotti is likely to take this competition extremely seriously as he attempts to retain the FA Cup.
Gael Kakuta’s loan deal to Fulham leaves another space in the squad for one of Chelsea’s youngsters.
Possible starting XI: Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Essien; Kalou, Drogba, Malouda.
Prediction
Chelsea’s recent good form looks like continuing against an Everton team that have struggled at home. Everton will look to keep the game very tight and the first goal will be key. Drogba and Co. will march towards the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Everton 0-2 Chelsea 
