Chelsea-Everton Preview

Feb 8, 2010 - 3:15 PM MICK ROBERTS STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Didier Drogba has vowed to steer Chelsea to the Premier League title as Everton attempt to block his path at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Ivory Coast superstar Drogba is in a superb form with 12 goals in his last 12 appearances including two to demolish title contenders Arsenal on Sunday.

Drogba has now scored 22 goals this season for Chelsea despite missing the whole of January while he was playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Chelsea prepared for their trip to Merseyside two points ahead of champions Manchester United with Arsenal seemingly no longer in the chase.

Drogba said: "Now it looks like two teams for the championship, Chelsea and Manchester United but there are many matches still to be paid.

"Every game is now so important and Everton will want to beat us. We cannot afford to drop many more points.

"But I am confident in myself and the rest of our squad. They have made so many goals for me."

Everton are still smarting from their 1-0 defeat by bitter rivals Liverpool after having the advantage of playing with an extra man for almost an hour.

Manager David Moyes will be without suspended Steven Pienaar who was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence.

Moyes admitted losing to Liverpool was an opportunity lost and badly hurt the blue half of the city.

Moyes said: "We have another big game coming up and it gives us the chance to get over losing to Liverpool.

"Chelsea have been in superb form lately and they have so many top-class players.

"But we are getting back so many of our long-term injured players and are beginning to look like a decent side again.

"That is why it was so disappointing to lose to Liverpool because we have been playing so well as the injured return.

"We have had players like (Mikel) Arteta and Yakubu available again and it makes a huge difference to our expectations.

"Chelsea gives us another quick opportunity to show far we have come in the last few weeks but if we want to be considered a top team we must show we can beat the best.

"After the Liverpool game there was a general feeling among the players that we had not done ourselves justice.

"I don't want us to play Chelsea and come off the field feeling the same way. We have to show we can compete."

John Terry, captain of Chelsea but not England, can expect another hostile reception when he leads the team out at Goodison.

But Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Terry can handle the pressure and recover from the exposed traumas of his private life.

Ancelotti said: "John Terry is an important player for us and is our captain. I have no doubts about him.

"The crowds around England will criticise him when he is playing for Chelsea but I believe he can cope."