Chelsea open their season on the road at Huddersfield Town. The Blues have plenty to figure out and will not have some stars do it.
Chelsea are still sorting out their squad after the nominal end of the transfer window. Two loans – Kurt Zouma and Michy Batshuayi (sorry, three loans – Josimar Quintero) – were confimed yesterday, and a few players may still be on the way out. But Maurizio Sarri still needs to aim for three points against Huddersfield, and those prospects at least look good.
Abhishek Pancholi: Huddersfield Town 0 – 3 Chelsea. It won’t be the SarriBall people expect to see, but the Blues will run out comfortable winners in their opening game of the season. The goals won’t be collectors items – two from set-pieces and a scuffed finish from Willian. But hey, three points on the board is all that matters.
Kevin Peacock: 0 – 2. After their shocking time-wasting performance at the Bridge last May and subsequent ruination of Chelsea’s end-of-season celebration with the supporters (and fans), Huddersfield should get the hammering they deserve. Unfortunately, Sarri’s Chelsea are not quite the finished product yet and labour to an eventual win with goals from Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud.
Hugo Amaya: 0 – 2. Like the entire pre-season campaign, Chelsea will be trying to find their rhythm. However, this will be another game where nothing concrete shows. The Blues will get two goals in the most unconvincing of ways but will, at least, start to notice where their deficits lie.
Scott Brant: 0 – 2. Sarri’s men will have tons of possession, so much so that a 2-0 victory won’t seem fitting. Huddersfield are boring, Chelsea will pass it around a million times, Alvaro Morata will score goal and Antonio Rudiger will add one off a corner.
Barrett Rouen: 1 – 2. Chelsea look out of sorts with the new manager having trouble getting things going and some of the World Cup stars not quite up to snuff. Huddersfield, though, are worse than Chelsea and lose.
Brendan McDonnell: 1 – 3. Remeber that incredibly dumb draw the Blues had with Huddersfield at the end of the 2018 campaign? That match, AT HOME, was so obnoxious it still makes me mad. Anyway, I’m more bullish on Chelsea than my prediction earlier this week as I’ve fallen madly in love with the midfield. They unlock Morata and he scores a brace as Chelsea cruises to victory.
Vishnu Raj: 0 – 2. Chelsea are long way from reaching their potential under Sarri. It will be a game that will suggest what Sarri’s team will be like since all the players have been training together in last couple of days. They will be keen to keep a clean sheet in what could be Kepa Arrizabalaga’s debut.
Nate Hofmann: 1 – 1. There’s no hiding from the fact Chelsea aren’t exactly heading into the season with a bucketload of confidence, whereas the Terriers are just happy to be back for a second go at the top flight. This match will come down to fitness and familiarity, both of which the Blues lack at the moment. A goal for Ross Barkley and a goal for Depoitre. Not an ideal start for Sarri and the gang.