Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Chelsea could line up for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.
Chelsea will be without captain Reece James for their opening Premier League game of the 2024-25 season against reigning champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
James is currently nursing a hamstring injury, but he is suspended anyway after being sent off against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Blues’ penultimate match of last season.
Malo Gusto is therefore expected to start at right-back as Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell battle for the left-back berth, while Levi Colwill could be partnered at centre-back by Wesley Fofana – who missed the entire 2023-24 campaign through injury – over Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and new signing Tosin Adarabioyo.
After playing regularly in pre-season, Robert Sanchez is expected to start the new season as Enzo Maresca‘s first-choice goalkeeper, despite the £20.7m arrival of Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.
In midfield, Maresca has renewed acquaintances with ex-Man City academy star Romeo Lavia, who is poised to make his first Premier League start for Chelsea – 12 months after joining the club following an injury-plagued 2023-24 season – and could link arms in the middle of the pitch with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
New recruit Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is also in contention to start, but Conor Gallagher is not expected to be involved amid interest from Atletico Madrid.
Last season’s top scorer – and another former Man City player – Cole Palmer could operate on either the right or left flank, while the other wide spot is up for grabs, with £60m arrival Pedro Neto set to compete with Raheem Sterling, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Noni Madueke for a start in attack.
Eighteen-year-old Marc Guiu, a summer signing from Barcelona, featured regularly in pre-season, but the striker may have to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench this weekend, as Christopher Nkunku could be tasked with leading the line.
Nicolas Jackson, meanwhile, earned his first minutes of pre-season las weekend after recovering from an ankle problem and should be fit to feature as a substitute.
Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez; Gusto, W. Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Nkunku, Palmer
> Click here to see how Manchester City could line up for this contest
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