Five things to look out for when Chelsea play Fulham
Chelsea will travel to Fulham for Monday Night Football, with fans hoping Xabi Alonso can kick off his reign at Stamford Bridge with a convincing victory.
All eyes will be on Craven Cottage come Monday evening, with plenty of questions surrounding Chelsea ahead of their Premier League opener. From Alonso’s tactical approach and team selection to how the new-look attack will gel, there will be plenty to keep an eye on as the Blues begin a new era.
We look at the five factors we will be keep an eye on during the game:
The formation
Xabi Alonso used a back three during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, while his role at Real Madrid saw him operate within a 4-3-3 system. So, which formation will become his preferred setup at Chelsea? Both systems have been used during pre-season, and we could see Alonso switch between them depending on the opposition throughout the season. But which will he choose tomorrow?
I predict a flat back four, with Chelsea’s full-backs providing width and Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer drifting inside from the flanks to create space for overlapping runs. If Alonso can get the balance right, it could be an exciting tactical setup for Chelsea fans.
Starting XI idea going forward
With the squad largely available for the opener, barring Wesley Fofana, there is a strong chance Xabi Alonso will name his strongest possible XI despite several World Cup players returning late and having a shortened pre-season.
The preferred centre-back pairing appears fairly clear, while questions remain over who will partner Moisés Caicedo in midfield and which full-backs Alonso will select.
How the two amigos play
The amigos, or perhaps the Eskimos given their celebrations, but it will be interesting to see how the two good friends link up on the pitch. Whether they operate as two No. 10s supporting Joao Pedro, or drift into the half-spaces as inside forwards, will be fascinating to watch. Their movement and understanding could be one of the most exciting aspects of Chelsea’s attack, particularly if they can find a consistent rhythm in the final third.
We will be wanting to see goals and assists from the pair throughout the season, but their impact should go beyond simply putting numbers on the board. Their ability to combine, create space for one another and bring Joao Pedro into dangerous areas could give Chelsea another dimension in attack. If the chemistry we have seen off the pitch can translate onto it, the Blues could have a seriously exciting partnership on their hands.
Could this be the coldest link-up in the Premier League, for all the right reasons? We will have to wait and see.
Enzo Fernandez
Many questions will surround Enzo Fernandez heading into the game, with rumours of a move to Manchester City expected to intensify before kick-off. Will he be named in the matchday squad? And if he is involved, could we see what might be a farewell to the Chelsea fans at the final whistle?
If a move is ruled out and the rumours begin to fade, the focus will then turn to Fernandez’s attitude. Will he look fully committed and continue to show the desire and happiness you would expect from a player who wants to remain at Stamford Bridge? Perhaps we could be reading too much into it, but keeping a close eye on Fernandez could provide plenty of clues about his future.
The performance
The aim will be for Chelsea to hit the ground running and open the season with a win. With many already tipping the Blues to challenge for the title, this performance will provide an early indication of whether they have what it takes to compete at the top end of the table and secure a top-four finish come the end of the season.
