Title-favourites Chelsea make the visit to Turf Moor for the first match of their season. Last season Chelsea made a hash of things when they met the bottom clubs especially when they faced them away. This match would be a good test of their resilience. We would be able to judge Chelsea’s progress. Fellow title rivals Arsenal, Manchester City & Liverpool started on a winning note, which leaves the Blues in need of nothing less than three points away from home.
Team News
Chelsea will have to deal with the suspension of midfielder Ramires who carries the suspension from last season. Didier Drogba is supposedly fit for selection in the first match, after he injured himself in a preseason match. Apart from Drogba, there isn’t any fitness worry for the Blues. New signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas after their impressive performances in the pre-season, is expected to start with fellow new comer Filipe Luis.
Burnley would be without striker Sam Vokes who injured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament last March. Apart from him, they are full strength going into the match. Summer signings Sordell, Jutkeiwicz, Reid and Taylor would be expected to feature in the match.
Style of Play Expected
Chelsea would look to play new signing Cesc Fábregas in the pivot alongside Matic. Chelsea will also play Costa up front, and a blend of free flowing and direct opportunities to the forwards would be expected with this set-up. Hazard would benefit from the physical presence and movement of Costa.
Burnley like playing with two strikers and would focus on long passing and direct counter attacking. They wouldn’t mind conceding possession and control of the match to Chelsea as they face a side with a lot of midfield quality. They would look to sit deep and defend on the line.
Key Players
Chelsea: Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Cesc Fábregas
Burnley: Danny Ings, Keiran Trippier, Jason Shackell
Possible Lineups:
Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee; Wallace, Marney, Jones, Barnes; Ings, Jutkiewicz
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Luis; Matic, Fabregas, Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Costa
Match Facts:
- Burnley lost their only previous opening weekend fixture in the Barclays Premier League (0-2 to Stoke in Aug 2009).
- Jose Mourinho has seen Chelsea win on all five opening weekends that he has been manager.
- In fact, the Blues are unbeaten since 1998/99 on the opening day, winning 13 of 15 games (D2).
- Burnley lost both games against Chelsea during their only previous Premier League season (2009/10).
- Chelsea have won more points than any other team on the opening weekend of Premier League seasons (47).
- Cesc Fabregas has scored in each of his two Premier League appearances against Burnley.
- Chelsea have conceded just 10 goals in their last 23 Premier League matches.
- Only Sunderland’s Vito Mannone (77.4%) had a better save percentage than Petr Cech (76.9%) in the 2013-14 Premier League.
Facts compiled from uk.eurosport.yahoo
The Verdict
Burnley 0-2 Chelsea
Chelsea have a lot of quality to breaj down deep sitters. The midfield has technique and physicality, a blend that should let Chelsea dominate matches and win by creating more chances.