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Chelsea pre-season tourXabi Alonso
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Live and extensive coverage from the Accor Stadium in Sydney as Chelsea's pre-season officially gets underway against local side Western Sydney Wanderers
Xabi Alonso during a Chelsea training session(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Hello and welcome to football.london for live updates from Chelsea's pre-season opener today against Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Blues have been in Sydney, Australia, since Saturday as preparations for the new season continue under Xabi Alonso. Today (10:45am UK kick-off time/7:45pm local) sees the west Londoners take on the team that finished rock-bottom of the A-League last season.
Alonso is expected to rotate heavily as the game goes on at the Accor Stadium. Usually in these types of matches, the team that walks out for the second half is a completely different line-up than the one the manager starts with. Let's see if Alonso does something similar today.
There are a number of academy players desperate to make a strong first impression on the Spaniard ahead of his debut season at Stamford Bridge. Likewise, there are a host of first-team stars who may be feeling they have a point to prove today - and in the rest of the summer.
Bobby Vincent is on the ground in Australia and has been throughout the week. Our Chelsea reporter will bring you live updates throughout the match. Grab a coffee and stay tuned!
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Today09:56 BST
Shock double deal
Yesterday was full of surprises on the Chelsea transfer front. Firstly, news of interest in Brighton striker Danny Welbeck emerged online.
The Blues are now at the advanced stages in negotiations with the Seagulls for the 35-year-old forward, who has agreed personal terms over a move to Stamford Bridge.
Then, a few hours later, news of interest in Jordan Henderson broke. Chelsea are in talks with Brentford over signing the 36-year-old England international.
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Today09:53 BST
More team news
Here is how Western Sydney Wanderers are setting up...
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Today09:53 BST
Match odds
Match result
Western Sydney Wanderers - 9/1
Draw - 6/1
Chelsea - 1/6
Odds courtesy of BetGoodwin
Today09:36 BST
Here are the boys
The Chelsea squad have arrived at the Accor Stadium for tonight's pre-season friendly. Some of them are inspecting the pitch...
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Today09:29 BST
Chelsea XI vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Chelsea XI: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Tosin, Subuloye, Emenalo, Walsh, Watson, Essugo, Delap, Satpaev, Kavuma-McQueen
Chelsea subs: Sanchez, Palestra, Colwill, Palmer, Gittens, Joao Pedro, Fofana, Anselmino, Nicoll-Jazuli, Kellyman, Curd, Estevao, Diakite, Lavia
Chelsea's XI vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Chelsea XI vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Today09:14 BST
Debut for new signings
Marco Palestra is set to make his Chelsea debut today in some capacity. The versatile Italian defender was signed for £47million at the start of the month from Atalanta and is expected to take some part in Sydney.
Elsewhere, Dastan Satpayev has also been training with Xabi Alonso and the group in recent weeks following his pre-agreed move from Kairat Almaty.
Morgan Rogers is not in the squad as he is on holiday following his World Cup exploits with England. Geovany Quenda is set to join up with the Blues squad in Asia next week after recovering from a minor muscular injury, but Emmanuel Emegha will miss the tour due to a hamstring problem.
Marco Palestra
Marco Palestra involved in Chelsea training(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Welcome to Sydney
Hello, good morning, good afternoon, good evening - wherever you are in the world, we hope you are well.
Welcome to Sydney, Australia, for the beginning of Chelsea's pre-season tour. It's all very exciting, isn't it?
There is no doubting that Xabi Alonso has brought a new lease of life around the place - whether you are a player, staff member of supporter.
Today, we get to see Alonso's team in action for the very first time. Kick-off at the Accor Stadium is at 7:45pm local time and 10:45am UK time. Live updates will be right here throughout the match, so stay tuned!
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso during a Chelsea press conference(Image: David Gray/AFP)