Everton travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on Saturday.
Writing in the London Evening Standard, Danny Murphy says Romelu Lukaku will need to be at 100% if he is to punish former club Chelsea on Saturday.
The Everton star travels to Stamford Bridge in Saturday’s late kick-off looking to continue his strong start to the season.
He has managed seven goals in the league so far this season, his latest coming in the win over West Ham United last weekend.
It means he has seven goals in the league this season, just one behind the league’s leading goalscorer Diego Costa.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal with Yannick Bolasie
He will be keen to add to his tally when he takes on his former club this weekend, and more importantly get his first goal against them in the league since departing Stamford Bridge.
And Murphy says he will have to be at 100% physically if that is to happen for him.
“Lukaku is a player who needs to be at 100 percent in physical terms if he is to deliver for Everton,” he told the London Evening Standard.
“When he is not at that level, people question his work rate, but I believe it is about physical condition.”
“Other players can be under par physically but still make an impact with their passing or skill, but Lukaku relies on his power to burst past people.”
Everton manager Ronald Koeman
In regards to the game, Murphy has urged Everton manager Ronald Koeman to take a bold approach to their play.
The Blues head to London to take a Chelsea side in fine form, with Antonio Conte’s team having scored nine and conceded none in their last three league games.
That is likely to worry Koeman and it would not be surprising to see him look to play things cautiously to come away with a positive result. Murphy, though, argues otherwise.
“It would be good for the game if manager Ronald Koeman asks Everton to get after Chelsea,” he added.
“There is so much talent in that Chelsea side that if they have the ball for long enough, they will make it count. So Koeman may benefit from adopting a bold approach. I will be interested to see how he reacts.”
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
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