Mauricio Pochettino to follow Liverpool and Arsenal path with Chelsea transfer criteria amid issue

Mauricio Pochettino will be faced with a stiff task against Everton this weekend as he looks to turnaround the form of his Chelsea side. While the Blues come into the clash off the back of defeat to Manchester United, the Toffees will be full of confidence at Goodison Park having beaten Newcastle United 3-0 on Thursday evening.

Pochettino's side failed to match the energy of the Red Devils at Old Trafford, and will have to deliver in that department to match the efforts of Sean Dyche's Everton team. Chelsea have won only one of their last six matches away to Everton, and will have their work cut out to overcome their opponents.

The west London side will face a discrepancy when they take to the pitch in the North West as they take on the Premier League's tallest side. Everton have yet to concede a header this season, and will look to use their physicality to put Chelsea under pressure.

«It can be a problem, yes,» said Pochettino, «But we need to be more aggressive and try to avoid conceding chances like corners or wide free-kicks. We need to be clever in the way we are going to work and try to stop them. Yes, it can be a problem but maybe no. In football, it’s the way you approach the game, the attitude and then being clever, trying to avoid giving the possibility to the opponents to use their strengths.»

The Blues have struggled in the air at times this season with Scott McTominay, Manuel Akanji, Joao Pedro all taking advantage in recent matches. The 51-year-old is aware that is an issue that needs addressing, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all sides who have substantial spines. When squad planning, it is something that Pochettino takes into account.

He said: «Yes of course when you create a team and