Decent team. Looking to control the midfield with L/E/C all playing. 
 

Worried about Cucurella though. They will be targeting him on set pieces. 

Sterling & Chilwell missing, very interesting..

No Sterling, not even on the bench. 
 

Also what’s the script with Petrovic? 

Also, no Sterling in the team. 

Blimey no Sterling !!!! 

 

Just now, SimonH said:

No Sterling, not even on the bench. 
 

Also what’s the script with Petrovic? 

Don’t laugh; club wants to loan him to Strasbourg, and Petrovic is confused about the move.

Well surprised no Sterling and if he’s not in the stands then i suspect they are looking for a out for him

So… Nkunku out left? Why didnt we try that once during pre-season then? 
Oh well, I should know better but am getting all excited again. COYB!

Is Sterling injured? If not that is a clear sign to him to leave or face not playing, Ala Chilwell.

City killed us on set pieces a few times last season. That team has nobody to deal with Haaland or Akanjei in the air.

1 minute ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

So… Nkunku out left? Why didnt we try that once during pre-season then? 
Oh well, I should know better but am getting all excited again. COYB!

Formation & lineup is very confusing which isn’t a good sign. Maresca went on about positional football and building up with a 3-2-4-1 but he is lining up with a 4-3-3. Like you mentioned very strange one playing Nkunku as a LW when he wasn’t used in that role in preseason.

Sterling doesn't fit Enzo M's system.

Chukwuemeka also seems to be getting forced out.

A shame there is no sign of Carney Chukwuemeka today either.  

We really don't need three wingers on the bench so I'd have had him in ahead of Mudryk, who is clearly the luckiest player in the squad for some reason ... 

Our bench could be made a lot stronger just by taking Mudryk off it.

I like the starting 11. We can hurt them if on song but I agree very much with the lack of height. Colwill and Fofana have a job here. 

We can't really defend them away so we need to win back the ball with aggressive pressing and be clinical. 

I am afraid we will be a bit comical like Ipswich was against Liverpool with our high line. 

Good team, let’s see how they perform as a unit. 

No mistakes at the back please!

2 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Formation & lineup is very confusing which isn’t a good sign. Maresca went on about positional football and building up with a 3-2-4-1 but he is lining up with a 4-3-3. Like you mentioned very strange one playing Nkunku as a LW when he wasn’t used in that role in preseason.

Yeah. On a more positive note, even though Madueke can feel hard done by by being on the bench, having Nkunku and Palmer as wingers means Maresca does tweak his system to fit the players he has available. No way they will stay wide, Gusto at least will overlap Palmer, which is not something Leicester did last season 

Happy with the starting XI, Cmon Chelsea!!

4 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Formation & lineup is very confusing which isn’t a good sign. Maresca went on about positional football and building up with a 3-2-4-1 but he is lining up with a 4-3-3. Like you mentioned very strange one playing Nkunku as a LW when he wasn’t used in that role in preseason.

My guess is still that 3241

 

Sanchez 

 

Gusto

Fofana

Colwill

 

Lavia

Cucurella

 

Palmer

Caicedo

Enzo

Jackson

 

Nkunku 

 

Now could be Caicedo and Lavia are swapped, same with Gusto and Cucu. Pretty sure Nkunku will be through the middle though and Jackson pulling out left.

From BBC : 

Raheem Sterling's representatives have released a statement about him being left out of Chelsea's matchday squad today - in an unusual twist.

"Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years," it reads.

"He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.

"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.

"As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.

"Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively."

Don't forget to make your predictions in the Zeta prediction league:

This is a reminder for the few that said they wanted to play but often forgot. Here is the reminder, in the forums busiest thread today.

1 minute ago, Sexyfootball said:

From BBC : 

Raheem Sterling's representatives have released a statement about him being left out of Chelsea's matchday squad today - in an unusual twist.

"Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years," it reads.

"He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.

"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.

"As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.

"Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively."

So left out then, pretty clear message Raheem. Be Winston Bogarde for the next 3 seasons on find a new club.

2 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

From BBC : 

Raheem Sterling's representatives have released a statement about him being left out of Chelsea's matchday squad today - in an unusual twist.

"Raheem Sterling is contracted to Chelsea Football Club for the next three years," it reads.

"He returned to England two weeks early to conduct individual training, and has had a positive pre-season under the new coach, who he has developed a good working relationship with.

"He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard, and given his inclusion in official club pre-match material this week, our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity.

"As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.

"Until then, we will continue to support Raheem’s desire to start the new season positively."

Is this real or made up?

Jackson on left, Palmer on right