Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens will start for Chelsea against Crystal Palace in the 2025/26 season-opening Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea will aim to kick-start the 2025/26 Premier League campaign on a high when they welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Enzo Maresca has several roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s season-opening fixture.
Levi Colwill is the most notable absentee, with the English international recovering from a long-term knee injury. The 22-year-old centre-back accompanies Benoit Badiashile (knock), Romeo Lavia (match fitness), and Omari Kellyman (hamstring) in the treatment room. Additionally, Nicolas Jackson is serving a suspension, and Mykhailo Mudryk is indefinitely unavailable after failing a doping test several months ago.
Maresca has been sweating over Wesley Fofana’s fitness, with the Frenchman facing a late fitness test to determine his availability. However, Trevoh Chalobah has recovered from a minor issue to be ready to take on Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Maresca provided fitness update on several players.
The Chelsea manager said, “We guess we are ready, but we need to wait for the real competition to verify that. As you said, it’s been quite a short break. We are going to try to be ready. He [Colwill] is ok, aware [after undergoing knee surgery] he will be out for a long time.”
“It’s a big loss for us. You know how important Levi has been for us last season and the way we want to play. We have said many times that we are able to create chances and attack if we’re able to build up the right way, and Levi was a huge part of our build-up.”
Robert Sanchez is the undisputed first-choice striker for Chelsea, and the home side will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Crystal Palace on Sunday. The backline should feature Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joao Pedro will lead the line for Chelsea against Crystal Palace, with Liam Delap likely to appear off the bench in the second half.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro