Chelsea begin their 2020/21 campaign with a visit to Brighton on Monday evening - a team they collected four points against last season.
The 2019/20 campaign was a bit of a free pass for Frank Lampard thanks to Chelsea's transfer ban, and despite frequent suspect defending, he guided the Blues to a very respectable fourth place finish.
But the pressure's on for his second season in the dugout after being let loose with the transfer funds. The Blues are around £250m lighter following a summer of lavish spending, and a number of new faces could make their debut for the west Londoners at the Amex.
Here's how the Blues should line up against Brighton.
1. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK) - Chelsea are closing in on a deal for Edouard Mendy, but the Rennes goalkeeper will not have been signed, sealed and delivered by Monday, meaning Kepa will likely have to stand awkwardly between the sticks with his replacement in the pipeline.
Reece James (RB) - Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta has only just returned to training, meaning James could get the nod again at right back. Enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Bridge last season and was thoroughly assured in his 24 Premier League appearances.
Antonio Rudiger (CB) - Chelsea have shored up their defence by bringing in Thiago Silva, but the Brazilian centre back has been quarantining since his arrival and will only train for the first time this weekend. Rudiger played 180 minutes in the Nations League with Germany, but there are eight days between his country's draw with Switzerland and Chelsea' season opener.
Kurt Zouma (CB) - Zouma should get the nod ahead of Andreas Christensen, and can stake his claim to partner Thiago Silva once the Brazilian international is available. His 28 Premier League appearances last season was the highest of his Chelsea career.
Marcos Alonso (LB) - New signing Ben Chilwell is absent with a heel injury so last term's first choice Alonso will keep his starting berth for the time being at least. The 29-year-old was a regular first choice towards the latter stages of last season, starting nine of the final 12 Premier League games.
2. Midfielders
N'Golo Kante (CDM) - Had last season disrupted by injury but on his day there is no one quite like him. Has been speculatively linked with a move away from Chelsea, but Lampard has talked up his importance to the team, and rightly so.
Jorginho (CM) - Given Chelsea's vulnerabilities at the back and the absence of two of the signings brought in to address their defensive issues, it would seem sensible to give Jorginho the nod ahead of the more attack-minded Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The midfielder was class for Italy during their recent Nations League victory over Holland.
Mason Mount (CAM) - Mount was arguably Chelsea' biggest breakout star of the 2019/20 campaign, missing only one top flight game, chipping in with seven goals and five assists and breaking into the England senior side. Could potentially be interchangeable with Havertz out on the right flank.
3. Forwards
Kai Havertz (RW) - The other man staking a claim for most hotly anticipated Premier League arrival. Havertz is regarded as a generational talent, with Chelsea forking out £75m to bring him to Stamford Bridge after two stunning seasons in the Bundesliga. Elegant and blessed with sublime vision and passing range, it's going to be fantastic to watch him grace the Premier League. And he's still just 21.
Timo Werner (ST) - Chelsea swooping in to sign Werner from under the noses of Liverpool will never not be funny. Having hit 28 goals in the Bundesliga last season, the forward is one of the favourites for the Golden Boot, and one of the most exciting new arrivals in the top flight for the upcoming campaign.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (LW) - The highly-rated teenager was expected to be a victim of Chelsea's big money attacking additions, but with Hakim Ziyech out for the start of the season with a knee injury and Christian Pulisic only just returning to training following his FA Cup final hamstring injury, Monday evening could offer Hudson-Odoi the opportunity to remind everyone just how talented he is.
Source : 90min