PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea Vs Burnley Preview

In Jose Mourinho’s second season as Chelsea boss in the 2004/05 season, his first EPL league match was away to newly promoted Wigan. And the Blues had to wait until the 93rd minute before Hernan Crespo rescued all three points. Today (Monday), Mourinho will be hoping for a better start against another newly promoted side in Burnley.

And with over £70 million spent on the trio of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis, Mourinho will hope that his team can turn on the style to justify the tag being most pundits’ choice to win the EPL title come May 2015.


How they will play
With a low wage package, Sean Dyche has built a very energetic side that would run for 90+ minutes. They will likely start with a flexible 4-5-1 formation with Danny Ings coming from midfield to support Lukas Jutkiewicz, who should play as the lone striker. They would also have trained very well on set pieces and fast counter attacks, as Chelsea should have more of the possession and the ethic of the team is intense pressing from the front so Matic and Fabregas will be under constant surveillance to prevent balls to Costa and to the flanks.

Mourinho has said the quality they now possess should help them open up teams that are practically set up to defend deep so he will be looking for Fabregas to open up the Burnley defence with passes in the channel for Costa to run unto.

Chelsea will play a 4-3-3 formation with Eden Hazard and Andre Schurrle either side of Costa, with Nemanja Matic in the holding role in midfield.

Dyche told the Independent last year, “I want quick passing football through the units to open the opposition up, particularly on transition.” He will find out today whether what worked in the Championship will work in the upper echelons of the Premiership.

Probable XIs

Burnley XI: Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee; Wallace, Marney, Jones, Barnes; Ings, Jutkiewicz

Chelsea XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Luis; Matic, Fabregas, Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Costa

Duels to watch

Jason Shackell v Diego Costa

Sheackell does not shirk the physical battle and he had a lot of it last season in the Championship so he should be ready for Chelsea’s new bruiser, Costa. The Spaniard loves nothing better than getting under the skin of his opposing defenders either legally or illegally. This would be an interesting duel to watch.

Kieran Trippier v Eden Hazard

One of the better players in the Burnley team but he has never played against a player like Hazard. The Belgium winger had a torrid World Cup and would like nothing better but to show the watching world that his performance in Brazil was just a bleep. If he plays well, most times, Chelsea wins so Dyche will have issued Trippier with clear instructions – STOP HAZARD!

Danny Ings v Oscar

Ings will play a slightly withdrawn role in midfield, but with the instruction to join Jutkiewicz in attack whenever he sees the space but the bigger job will be tracking the elusive play of Oscar who loves to roam the park. He can pass and he can score so Ings will have to be on his toes throughout the game.


Managers’ Quotes

“But look at what you've got, not what you haven't. We have to find a way of operating to get where we want. Behind my extremely bouncer-like look, there are a couple of brain cells in there. Never say never," he said. "Was it Cardiff who got three points off Man City early last season? I don't think many would have been expecting that.”– Sean Dyche, Burnley

“"This season obviously we bought some key players, we believe and we are feeling that the new players have brought the squad and team into another dimension. Yes, we are title contenders. If you expect me to say we will win the Premier League I can't say that. I can't because I have to respect the competition, which is the only [league] that has more than two title contenders.”- Jose Mourinho, Chelsea

Facts

Jose Mourinho has led Chelsea to win on all FIVE opening weekends that he has been manager.

Chelsea are unbeaten since 1998/99 on the opening day, winning 13 of 15.

Burnley lost both games against Chelsea during the 2009/10 season.

Chelsea have won more points than any other team on the opening weekend of Premier League seasons – 47.

Cesc Fabregas has scored in each of his TWO Premier League appearances against Burnley.

Burnley have kept a clean sheet in 50% of their last 20 home games while Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in 40% of their last 20 away games.