Good afternoon! Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will be speaking to the media shortly as his side gets ready for a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton. The champions have picked up just one win in their first four outings, leaving them eight points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Mourinho's side have had two weeks to get over their defeat to Crystal Palace prior to the international break. They were without captain John Terry for that match, as he was suspended after being sent off the week before. He'll be available again for this fixture, while Oscar is also expected back after time out with a minor injury.

One player who seems likely to miss out though is Thibaut Courtois. The goalkeeper came through two fixtures unscathed while on international duty with Belgium, but picked up a knee injury in training at Cobham on Wednesday. It has been reported that it's an injury which could keep him out for the next two months. Although Asmir Begovic will be available to deputise, it's still a huge blow for the team if the absence is confirmed. Hopefully Mourinho will have some more details for us this lunchtime.

At one point, it looked like Chelsea could be handing a debut to Everton's John Stones in this match, having made a string of bids for the England international during this summer's transfer window, resulting in the defender handing in a transfer request at Goodison Park. Roberto Martinez wanted him to stay though, and the club backed him, so Stones will line up for the home side this weekend.

Chelsea have been looking back at some of their previous matches against Everton on their social media accounts this week, including sharing a vine of this stunning Didier Drogba strike:

The manager will be ready to speak in the next couple of minutes, so there's just time to tell you that Sports Mole will have live coverage of this match from an hour before kickoff. It's the early kickoff tomorrow, so make sure you're with us from 11.45am tomorrow for all the build up, including the all important team news.

As it looks like Mourinho is just running a minute or two behind schedule, here's the match preview for this fixture. Why not vote in the poll by picking who you think will win. Chelsea currently have 63% of the support.

Just a little later than expected, Mourinho casually strolls into the media centre ready to face the question from the reporters at the club's training ground. So, let's see what's on his mind this week.

The first question is about Courtois's knee, and it's not good news for the Belgian, as Mourinho confirms: "No problems were caused by the national teams, but Courtois was injured in training. I cannot tell you much, but I can tell you that he needs surgery in his right knee, and as a consequence he will be out for a long time. But at this moment I cannot be more specific."

Mourinho is pressed further on Courtois's injury, but he insists: "It's a big blow, but you will not see me next week speaking about Thibaut, I never do when a player is injured. It's not easy to have the best goalkeeper injured, but it's easy to have one of the best to play, and we have Begovic. We have a top goalkeeper, and Begovic will play."

On his side's difficulties in the opening weeks of the season, Mourinho admits that he has some theories about the team's problems, but responds: "I won't share them. Every match, we played better than the result. Even West Brom, 3-2 looks a tight match, but it wasn't. I say the same about the defeats and the draws."

Mourinho is asked about the title race, with his side now eight points off the pace. He admits: "Every game is important. We are in the title race, we are. We need points, but every game is difficult. Everton is no different. Every team is getting better. Every team has economic power. Every game is more difficult, and every point is more difficult to get. We have lots of respect for our opponents' quality."

Mourinho is asked about the support of the players, and is confident that he still has the backing of his squad: "We are strong together. I believe in the players and they believe in me. We are positive."

There's another injury blow for the champions as Mourinho confirms that this fixture is just a little too soon for Oscar, but that he could return on Wednesday, when they will be in Champions League action.

Papy Djilobodji completed his move to the club on transfer deadline day, but Mourinho admits that the defender wasn't his pick: "He was not my choice, he was the choice of someone I trust completely. That's the same thing. The same person that told me Djilobadji could be fantastic for us is the same who said Zouma could be fantastic. He's not in the Championships league squad because, if he is, Kennedy and Traore are not in the list. If they are not, you ask why, because Champions League is good for their development. We will be very unlucky if in six matches we need Djilobadji in the team."

And with that, Mourinho wraps up his press conference. The news on Courtois's injury will be a huge blow to Chelsea fans, as will Oscar's continued absence. However, the manager seems confident that Asmir Begovic can do the job while the Belgian recovers from knee surgery.

That's all from our coverage of Mourinho's press conference, but join us again tomorrow morning for the start of our build-up to this match. Until then, thanks for joining me this lunchtime. Goodbye.