When the Premier League fixture schedule comes out, many managers dread having to play at 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon, especially if the away side has to travel a substantial distance to their opponent's ground.
Managers like Jurgen Klopp have spoken openly about the number of times that his Liverpool side would be put on the early kick-off on a Saturday, previously calling it a "crime". Whilst at the time these quotes came out, the German might have been on to something; clubs that play Thursday nights in Europe will most likely be given a Sunday or Monday game, as opposed to playing on a Saturday, so that would rule out six or even eight teams from being given an earlier game.
But for Chelsea, they seem to love playing in the 12:30 slot, with the Blues unbeaten in their last 10 games in the early kickoff, winning eight and drawing their last two against Newcastle and Liverpool, and will hope to make it eleven unbeaten when they take on Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium tomorrow.
Not even Chelsea managers are immune to being on the wrong end of a 12:30 kick-off, with ex-manager Frank Lampard unhappy with the fact that his side was asked to travel to Newcastle straight after the international break, stating the Premier League was undermining its own product.
"That 12:30 slot, how much does it need to be there? It’s absolutely not the optimum way to have players preparing for a Premier League game, which is an incredible brand all around the world."
By three o'clock tomorrow, one of these things could have ended: Chelsea would have either ended a four-year wait for a win away at Everton, or Everton would have ended Chelsea's unbeaten 12:30 run, but there is a world where a draw is possible, which would mean that Chelsea's unbeaten run would stand, but not their away win drought.
Chelsea' s aim for three points will mean more with the records and giving the fans an afternoon to enjoy.
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