Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea are up against fellow Londoners Crystal Palace on the opening day of the 2021-2022 Premier League campaign that gets underway over the coming weekend.
Under the charge of a new gaffer in ex-Arsenal hero Patrick Vieira, Palace will be looking to cause a massive upset on their visit to Stamford Bridge when they face the newly crowned Super Cup winners.
Tuchel’s Blues clinched the curtain-raiser trophy in the midweek clash at Belfast Park against Spaniards Villareal after a tense penalty shootout in which substitute goalkeeper Kepa came clutch with two crucial saves to lead his side to the win.
Chelsea, bolstered by the recent arrival of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku who has made a return to the Premier League in a big-money move from Inter Milan, will be backed as serious contenders for the Premier League crown with Tuchel spending big on a player of Lukaku’s calibre to fortify Chelsea’s options up on the pitch.
Jorgi is always a mood. 😁 pic.twitter.com/jXsgkGBmg1
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 13, 2021
The likes of N’Golo Kante and Jorginho in the centre of the park for the west London giants are crucial as ever to Chelsea’s plans of reclaiming league glory this upcoming season and on the back of his Euros-winning campaign earlier this summer, Jorginho will be hoping to carry on his rich vein of form with Chelsea.
Both teams head into the opening contest on Saturday with a wonderful pre-season run in their bags and as Chelsea fans will be back in attendance on the weekend at the Bridge, Tuchel will be counting on his players to deliver a solid showing and secure all three points from the home outing.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Date – 14 August
Time – 2 PM GMT
Venue – Stamford Bridge
TEAM NEWS
New recruit Romelu Lukaku is not in the fray for the team selection ahead of the weekend clash at Stamford Bridge, confirmed the Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel in his pre-match talk with the press.
Hakim Ziyech opened the scoring for Chelsea in the last outing on Wednesday but the playmaker had to be brought off the pitch with a shoulder injury which rules him out for the Palace matchup.
There is also some level of concern over the fitness of N’Golo Kante which could mean that Tuchel drafts Mateo Kovacic in the central midfield role alongside Jorginho.
KEY BATTLE
Timo Werner vs Marc Guéhi
Werner has a lot to prove to the Chelsea fans as the Germany international striker enters into his second year of life in west London and he will be looking to make an impact in the opening match of the top-flight campaign.
For the visitors, it is the new signing Marc Guéhi, who moved to Selhurst Park earlier this summer from Chelsea, who will be backed to improve Palace’s fortunes at the back as he is expected to be handed his league debut for his new side.
MATCH PREDICTION
Chelsea play hosts to an inspired Crystal Palace outfit who enjoyed an unbeaten run in the recently concluded pre-season camp with three wins out of their four fixtures.
But Thomas Tuchel’s star-studded side are backed to take the three points from the Stamford Bridge showdown and we expect Chelsea to secure a 3-1 win.
