Chelsea’s first three Premier League games in August

The Premier League returns this month, and the anticipation is building for fans across the country. One club in particular that are well and truly awaiting the return of the Premier League and that is Chelsea. After a solid debut season for Enzo Maresca with a top-four finish and a Europa Conference League win, Maresca will be hoping that he can build on that and challenge for the title for as long as possible.

It was an excellent summer for the London club, who were crowned World Champions in New York, amid some madness from Donald Trump, but it has given them the confidence that they can mix it with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, who are the likely title contenders.

However, the mood can change quickly in football if results are not going your way, so Chelsea will be hoping that their August will be the start they anticipate.

So how will Chelsea fare in their first three games, and who are their opponents?

Sunday 17th August vs Crystal Palace (Home)

There are no easy games in the Premier League, and Chelsea know that more than any other side. Their first game will be at Stamford Bridge, which is always a bonus, and fans will be anticipating a strong first weekend back. The Bridge is expected to be a sell-out out but there are still tickets available on Ticket-Compare.com.

The first game of the season will see a short visit across London for Crystal Palace, who themselves are on a high from last season, having won the FA Cup against Manchester City. Given that the two sides could not be separated on both occasions last season, the two sides will be itching to get one over their London rivals.

Chelsea have strengthened massively over the window, but for Crystal Palace, it has been the fact that they have kept most of their star players. Jean-Phillipe Mateta, Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton and Marc Guehi (who was strongly linked with a move to the Bridge) has been the highlight of their summer.

Chelsea are the stronger of the two on paper, but sometimes the occasion of the day can overtake many teams.

Friday 22nd August vs West Ham United (Away)

An away game this time, but like Crystal Palace, Chelsea will have to make a trip across London. West Ham have not proved the usual threat they usually are when playing Chelsea on the past three occasions having lost 5-0, 3-0 and 2-1.

West Ham have got deals over the line early on in the window and have had a full first summer with manager Graham Potter able to get his tactics and ideas across to his men. With Potter hosting his former employers for the first time, he will be keen to show them why they were wrong to sack him so early on in his tenure.

However, the attacking threat of Chelsea should be too much for this West Ham side but it could well be a ding-dong game with the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Niclas Fullkrug both finding the net in the Premier League series hosted in the USA.

Saturday 30th August vs Fulham (Home)

To complete August, Chelsea play their final London opponent at home on a Saturday. Fulham finished 11th last season but did beat Chelsea at The Bridge thanks to an incredibly late goal from Rodrigo Muniz as Fulham completed the comeback, much to the Blues’ disappointment.

Fulham have not done much in terms of transfers so far, with Reiss Nelson the only major signing as former Blues winger Willian re-signed for Fulham. They really did need to do more in the transfer market to push on from their mid-table finish.

With the backing of the home support, it should be enough to get them over the line.

Chelsea’s start to the season

It will be incredibly important that Maresca and his men are able to get all nine points on offer and really establish themselves in the league at this early stage. The league is not won or lost in August, but start well, especially with an itchy trigger finger chairman, and it could well set the tempo for the rest of the season.

A minimum of six points is certainly required for Chelsea if they are to be taken as serious title contenders this year.