Chelsea’s Andre Schurrle (top) fouled by Dean Hammond, of Leicester, during a league match at Stamford Bridge last week.Chelsea’s Andre Schurrle (top) fouled by Dean Hammond, of Leicester, during a league match at Stamford Bridge last week.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea have opened the season on a high after gathering all points from their two matches against Burnley (away) and Leicester (home).

This evening, the Londoners will have to deal with a tougher challenge though as they play Everton at Goodison Park.

So far, there are four teams with maximum points – Chelsea, Tottenham, Swansea City and champions Manchester City.

This will be a real test for Chelsea following their victories over two promoted sides. Yet, serious contenders have to claim maximum points from such encounters against said lower clubs as direct encounters with other top sides are normally shared.

Everton will be all out for their first win of the season following two similar 2-2 draws.

In their last match against Arsenal, Everton were leading 2-0 but the Gunners hit back late on to return home with a point.

Chelsea captain John Terry said this week that new signing Diego Costa will be a great asset to the team this season as Mourinho went on record as saying his team have plenty of room for improvement despite making a perfect start but he is happy to take things ‘step by step’.

In the very first season of Premier League football, in 1992-93, Chel-sea beat Everton 1-0 away thanks to a netting by Robert Fleck.

The record of the last ten seasons at Goodison Park denotes a perfect balance with both sides winning four matches each.

2013: Everton-Chelsea 1-0.
2012: Everton-Chelsea 1-2.
2012: Everton-Chelsea 2-0.
2011: Everton-Chelsea 1-0.
2010: Everton-Chelsea 2-1.
2008: Everton-Chelsea 0-0.
2008: Everton-Chelsea 0-1.
2006: Everton-Chelsea 2-3.
2005: Everton-Chelsea 1-1.
2005: Everton-Chelsea 0-1.

Tottenham play Liverpool at White Hart Lane, tomorrow.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is showing the stuff the Londoners wanted and on Thursday led the side to the Europa League group stage following a 5-1 aggregate win over Limassol.

Pochettino, however, is pleading for calm, demanding that Spurs stay grounded. He wants to keep his players focused after shining brightly in a comfortable win over QPR in their last league outing.

Balotelli’s chance

Liverpool are short upfront following the loss of Luis Suarez but Mario Balotelli has all the potential to become the new attacking hero for the Reds, only if he is not let down by his off-field behaviour.

Manchester City start favourites to make it three from three at the expense of Stoke today.

Manuel Pellegrini, the wily City manager, believes his squad remains the strongest in the top flight and favourites to retain the league title.

Swansea, meanwhile, can persist with the scorching form that saw them claim the first two wins as they play hosts to West Brom at the Liberty Stadium.

The Baggies are also undefeated but they only managed two draws so far.

Captain Ashley Williams got the perfect 30th birthday present from his Swansea team-mates as they proved there is more to their game than pretty passing, following the home win over Burnley.

Arsenal are through to the group phase of the Champions League after sweating past battling Turks Besiktas.

The Gunners travel to the Midlands to play Leicester who signed veteran midfielder Esteban Cambiasso in midweek.

It seems that Arsenal have become the top performers for the late, late shows but manager Arsene Wenger will be tempted to delve into the transfer market this weekend for a replacement to striker Oliver Giroud who will be out for several weeks with ankle trouble.

In today’s early kick-off, misfiring Manchester United will parade new signing Angel Di Maria at newly-promoted side Burnley.

Louis van Gaal was surely not happy with his players’s contribution in the two opening matches of the Premier League. Their woes were compounded in midweek when United went down heavily to lowly MK Dons (4-0) in the League Cup second round.

This was United’s worst start since 1992 as the Dutch manager reckons hard work is needed to improve.

Fixtures and forecast

Premier League
Burnley-Man. United (13:45) - 2
Everton-Chelsea (18:30) - 2
Man. City-Stoke - 1
Newcastle-Crystal Palace - 1
QPR-Sunderland - X
Swansea-West Brom - 1
West Ham-Southampton - 1

Tomorrow:
Aston Villa-Hull (14:30) - X
Leicester-Arsenal (17:00) - 2
Tottenham-Liverpool (14:30) - X

Standings: Tottenham, Chelsea, Man. City, Swansea 6; Arsenal, Hull, Aston Villa 4; West Ham, Liverpool 3; Everton, Sunderland, West Brom 2; Man. United, Southampton, Stoke, Leicester, Newcastle 1; C. Palace, Burnley, QPR 0.

The Championship
Brighton-Charlton - 1
Derby-Ipswich - 1
Fulham-Cardiff - X
Leeds-Bolton - X
M’boro-Reading - 1
Millwall-Blackpool - 1
Norwich-Bournemouth - 1
Rotherham-Brentford - X
Sheff. Wed.-N. Forest (13:15) - X
Watford-Huddersfield - 1
Wigan-Birmingham - 1
Wolves-Blackburn - 1

League One
Colchester-Peterborough - 2
Doncaster-Oldham - 1
Fleetwood-Leyton Orient - X
Gillingham-Crewe - 1
MK Dons-Crawley 1
Port Vale-Chesterfield - X
Preston-Sheffield United - 1
Rochdale-Bradford - X
Scunthorpe-Walsall - 1
Swindon-Coventry - 1
Yeovil-Barnsley - X

Tomorrow:
Notts County-Bristol City - X

League Two
AFC Wimbledon-Stevenage - 1
Bury-Accrington - 1
Cambridge-Carlisle - 1
Cheltenham-Hartlepool - 1
Mansfield-Burton - 2
Northampton-Exeter - 1
Oxford-Dagenham - 1
Plymouth-Southend - X
Portsmouth-Newport 1
Shrewsbury-Luton - 1
Tranmere-Morecambe - X
York-Wycombe - 1

Hot four
Manchester City, Newcastle United, Swansea City, Watford.

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