The Premier League season is back on deck this weekend with all 20 teams returning to action to start off what promises to be one of the more exciting and storyline-filled seasons in recent memory. For the World Champions, they will be looking to pick up where they left off at the Club World Cup with their demolition of PSG 3-0. Based on their brief preseason, I would expect a high-flying performance after they beat AC Milan and Bayern Leverkusen with a 6-1 aggregate over 28 hours. For this article, though, we are going to dive into what I want to see: the starting team that Enzo Maresca runs out in his second season as a Premier League manager for the club on King’s Road.

GK: Robert Sanchez

The Spaniard has slowly won back a little bit of trust from Chelsea supporters since the last few games of the last Premier League season, where he has not made any game-defining mistakes like he was known for making. After swinging and missing on initial keeper targets in the window, Chelsea seems content to enter the season with Sanchez as the number one, so he will start this one for sure.

RB: Reece James (C)

Chelsea’s captain has been on the best run of fitness since the Champions League-winning season and will hope that can continue going into a World Cup year. For me, he is the best right back in the league and is not only a threat on the ball going forward with his class, but his defensive work is off the charts, so if the medical team clears him, he should be starting.

CB: Tosin Adarabioyo

Since being signed on a free transfer last offseason, “Uncle” Tosin has become a key role player for the Blues in his first season, where he appeared in 22 Premier League games last year. With Levi Colwill out and reports of Chelsea not being worried about investing in the positional room during the window, Tosin should see more opportunities, and this weekend will likely be one.

CB: Trevoh Chalobah

The Cobham product has been the perfect professional his whole time at Chelsea, and it is finally paying off for him. Since being recalled from a loan from Palace, Chalobah has been the main partner to Levi Colwill and, with the injury, will now step up as Chelsea’s number one heading into the season. So, for me, there is no question that he will be starting this weekend.

LB: Marc Cucurella

After playing 5,000 minutes last year for club and country, Cucurella is comfortable as one of the best left-backs in the world and arguably is one of the key cogs that allow Maresca to deploy all his system variations. He now has a deputy in Jorrel Hato, but with it being the opening game of the season, I expect Cucurella to be given the starting job.

CM: Moisés Caicedo

After a turbulent first 12 months at Chelsea, their record transfer signing is now the best defensive midfielder in the world and has become the heart and soul of the club for now and the future. He won the player of the season at the club last year, and I would expect his trajectory to continue to rise as this season progresses. In my mind, he is a no-doubt starter for this one and is the first name on the team sheet.

CM: Enzo Fernández

Like his midfield partner, Fernández came into his own for Chelsea last season by generating 25 goal contributions as a midfielder. To back up his resume now as the only club and country world champion, Fernández is one of the better midfielders in the Premier League and seems to be going from strength to strength under his new gaffer.

CAM: Cole Palmer

The mercurial attacker found himself back to being his usual self during the Club World Cup, where he scored a brace in the final to crack the game wide open. Many counted Palmer out, but his production and performance levels last season were still elite and will no doubt be the key to Chelsea’s attack once again this year, which will begin with starting in the ten this weekend vs Palace.

RW: Estêvão

I know Maresca said he is going to ease his future superstar into life in England this upcoming season, but everything I have seen shows this kid is no doubt ready to take on a starting role at one of the biggest clubs in the world. On his debut for Chelsea, he was scintillating off the right and had some unbelievable chemistry with Cole Palmer, which resulted in a goal and a man-of-the-match performance. It might not be the smartest thing to do, but it would be great to see him open the season as a starter.

ST: João Pedro

The signing from Brighton has adapted to life on the King’s Road in astounding fashion, with 5 goals in 5 games for the club and a brace in his first start, which was the Club World Cup semi-final. Since then, he has played 90 minutes at the Bridge and scored twice, and it seems like Chelsea may have finally found their No. 9 going forward with the quality he provides in the box.

LW: Pedro Neto

He really came into his own as a Chelsea player down the stretch of the season last year. Plus, I think it is likely he starts on the right this weekend, but for me, trying to fit in Estêvão has made me have to play Neto on the left, which he can for sure do, as we saw last season splitting time on either flank.

There you have it; that is the squad I would love to see take on London rivals Crystal Palace at the Bridge on matchweek one. Let me know what you think of it and any changes you would make.