Gus Poyet has a warning for his old side Chelsea ahead of the start of the new Premier League season.
Chelsea kick off their campaign on Sunday with a home fixture versus Crystal Palace before two more London derbies against West Ham United and Fulham.
Marc Guehi has a poor record against Chelsea, but the defender may not even be a Palace player by the time Oliver Glasner’s men travel to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Liverpool are reportedly in talks to sign the central defender.
Ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea player Gus Poyet before Premier League match
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Gus Poyet warns Chelsea teams are going to play differently against them
Whether Guehi plays or not, Palace will be up for the fight, but Chelsea need to win and get off to a good start if they want to challenge for the title this season.
Poyet thinks they will get closer to first place but has warned Enzo Maresca‘s side that teams are going to play differently against them now.
Since the end of the previous Premier League campaign, Chelsea have become a more serious outfit, winning both the Club World Cup and Conference League.
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On his former team, Poyet told HaytersTV: “I think they’re going to be closer to the top. I’m not saying they’re going to win the league, but they’re going to be closer. So now teams are going to play differently as well against Chelsea. So it’s going to be interesting this season.”
If Chelsea are hoping to mount a title challenge this term, they will have to do it without Levi Colwill.
An ACL injury means the 22-year-old is likely to miss most of the campaign. The Blues, of course, still have time to replace him.
It has been claimed that Chelsea are interested in Piero Hincapie, with the Ecuadorian being a left-footed central defender just like Colwill.
Levi Colwill of Chelsea celebrates scoring with teammates
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Can Chelsea win the Premier League title?
Even before Colwill’s injury there were some concerns about Chelsea’s backline. They are missing a world-class centre-back like Thiago Silva, who left the club last year, and there are still question marks surrounding Robert Sanchez in goal.
Sanchez really impressed against AC Milan last weekend, but many still have their doubts about him.
In midfield and attack, though, Chelsea have terrific options. If the likes of Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro are consistent this season, Chelsea winning the title does not sound impossible.
However, right now, you would have to make Liverpool favourites. And if the Reds go on to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, then no one probably stands a chance.