Advertisement

Chelsea Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Burnley

Goal.com

Chelsea open their Premier League season against Burnley on Saturday afternoon as they welcome the Lancashire club to Stamford Bridge. 

The Blues may be the reigning champions but they are not going into the game in the best of form, having lost in the Community Shield at Wembley to their rivals Arsenal. 

Lewis Baker closes in on Championship loan move

Any result for Burnley would be a huge upset but Antonio Conte's side are without a number of players and will face the challenge of bedding in new players, having lost several players who helped them win the title last year. 


CHELSEA INJURIES





Conte has confirmed that Pedro will join Chelsea's list of notable absentees after suffering an ankle injury against Arsenal in the Community Shield. 

Eden Hazard will miss the match at Stamford Bridge after suffering a serious ankle injury while with Belgium at the end of last season. He is expected to return in a couple of weeks. 

Tiemoue Bakayoko is nearing a return to action but he hasn't yet had a full training session with the first team. Chelsea's £39.7 million signing from Monaco has missed the entirety of pre-season after being brought in to replace Nemanja Matic. 

Willian reveals Man United failed to sign him

Diego Costa remains in exile, training alone in Brazil after he was told by Conte that he could leave the club. Chelsea have no other injuries but Conte has expressed his concerns about the size of the squad after fielding several youngsters on the bench against Arsenal. 

EMBED ONLY Tiemoue Bakayoko Chelsea GFX
EMBED ONLY Tiemoue Bakayoko Chelsea GFX


CHELSEA SUSPENSIONS





Victor Moses misses out through suspension after receiving a red card against Arsenal in the FA Cup final last season. He will return to face Tottenham Hotspur. 

Chelsea odds versus Burnley
Chelsea odds versus Burnley


POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP





Following the successful deployment of the 3-4-3 formation, Conte is expected to continue with his title winning shape but he will need to offset the loss of Moses. Pedro is also out so it could force Chelsea to start with both Batshuayi and Alvaro Morata. 

Morata could be used out wide as he was in pre-season although he will likely take up a more central role at a later date. Willian will be Chelsea's other forward and a very youthful looking bench will have to deputise for an experienced starting line up. 

Cahill bemoans Matic sale to Man United

Cesc Fabregas should start, with Matic sold and Bakayoko out in a midfield two with N'Golo Kante. Antonio Rudiger will likely come in for Moses, with Cesar Azpilicueta moving out wide into a wing-back role.  

Chelsea team to face Burnley
Chelsea team to face Burnley


BURNLEY TEAM NEWS





Dean Marney is Burnley's only missing player, who remains out after a long term knee injury. However, Sean Dyche's biggest problem is the loss of striker Andre Gray after Watford agreed a club record fee to sign the Lancashire club's star player. 

Chelsea are unbeaten in six games against Burnley. 

Andre Gray Burnley Sunderland
Andre Gray Burnley Sunderland


BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS





  • Chelsea have won more points on opening day than any other Premier League club (54).

  • In fact, the Blues haven’t lost an opening day Premier League fixture since 1998 v Coventry, going unbeaten in their last 18 games to start the season (W15 D3).

  • Chelsea summer signing Alvaro Morata (27.3%) had the highest conversion rate of any striker to score 10+ goals in La Liga last season, scoring 15 goals from 55 shots (inc. blocks).

  • Morata’s goals won Real Madrid 13 points in the La Liga last term, only Cristiano Ronaldo won more for the side (14).


TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME





The match isn't being televised in the UK and the highlights will be first shown on BBC's Match of the Day from 22:30 on Saturday. The game kicks off at 15:45 BST.