Blues Begin with Turf Moor Test

[Liquidator 5,176]

Chelsea kick off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Lancashire this Monday to face newly-promoted Burnley.

The 20:00 GMT kick off is seen by many as a mismatch on paper, with Chelsea tipped to lift the Premier League trophy come May and Burnley installed as firm favourites for relegation among pundits, although Jose Mourinho will be eager to oust any complacency from his squad.

The Blues can expect to encounter an enthusiastic Turf Moor crowd who will be seeing their side in top-flight action for the first time since the 2009/10 season. The corresponding fixture in that memorable double-winning season saw Carlo Ancelotti's side run out 2-1 winners courtesy of goals from Nicolas Anelka and John Terry.

The Opposition

Dubbed 'The Ginger Mourinho', Sean Dyche pulled off one of the major surprises of last season in English football by guiding a side expected to be battling for Championship suvival to automatic promotion. In comparison to the squads of QPR and Leicester, the Clarets lack Premier League experience and will rely on a strong team togetherness and fighting spirit to preserve their top flight status. Dyche has also spent modestly. Summer spending currently totals £3.5m with Matt Taylor, Stephen Reid and Marvin Sordell adding important strength in depth. In comparison, Chelsea's Summer spending currently stands at some £81m.

Without doubt, Burnley's primary threat to Premier League defences will come from their potent strike force of Sam Vokes and Danny Ings. Little or possibly completely unknown to fans of some Premier League clubs, the pair should not be underestimed, with their combined total of 41 league goals proving pivotal to the Clarets' return to England's elite competition.

Pressing and pace may be the order of the season for Sean Dyche's men. The fitness of Burnley's squad was rarely called into question last season, with tireless pressing and quick conversion from defense to attack catching the eye of many scouts. Wide areas proved particularly useful to Burnley last season, as defenders and midfielders cleverly utilized the channels to quickly release Vokes and Ings on the attack. This is not a side that likes to build from the back with short passes either. Some 81 long passes were averaged each game last season by our opponents, the second highest in the Championship.

When not in possession, wide men and full backs (including the impressive Kieran Trippier) are expected to tuck in and create a solid, narrow spine to their 4-4-1-1 formation. This, coupled in with high pressing from Vokes and Ings, make the Clarets a difficult side to play against.

Team News

Burnley- Blues fans will be relieved to learn that a knee injury suffered by Sam Vokes in March will keep the striker sidelined for our opening weekend clash. Cameron Dummigan will also miss out due to a thigh injury.

Likely line-up: (4-4-1-1) Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee; Kightley, Marney, Taylor, Jones; Ings; Jutkiewicz

Chelsea- The question on the lips of many Blues fans during the last week has been who will start in goal. Jose Mourinho gave nothing away in his Press Conference this afternoon, instead choosing to describe Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech as '2 of the 3 best goalkeepers in the world'. Despite Mourinho's secrecy, a general consensus that Courtois has beaten Petr Cech to this season's starting place appears to have been reached by the press. Branislav Ivanovic is expected to get the nod ahead of Cesar Azpilicueta, while Felipe Luis is expected to make his first Premier League start.

In midfield, Summer signing Cesc Fabregas is likely to start alongside Nemanja Matic and Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah will battle it out for the three attacking midfielder berths available in the side. Ramires is suspended. Diego Costa, whose two quickfire goals on Tuesday night quickly endeared him to the Stamford Bridge faithful, will almost certainly start up front. Didier Drogba could feature from the substitutes bench.

Likely line-up: (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Felipe Luis; Fabregas, Matic; Hazard, Willian, Schurrle; Diego Costa

Statistics:

Chelsea are unbeaten in opening weekend fixtures since the 1998/99 season, when we lost 2-1 to Coventry City.

This is Jose Mourinho's sixth season at Chelsea and the fourth time that he has faced a newly-promoted side on the opening weekend.

The last 4 winners of the Premier League have all started their campaigns on a Monday night.

Our all-time record against Burnley reads as P 81, W 28, D 17, L 36

Our biggest win against Burnley was in the 1957/58 season when we triumphed 6-1

We have only met the Clarets once outside league football, losing 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the League Cup at Stamford Bridge in 2008.

Sam Vokes and Danny Ings provided 57% of Burnley's goals in the league last season

Odds

Courtesy of SkyBet

Chelsea Win- 2/5

Burnley Win- 7/1

Draw- 7/2

TV Coverage

UK- Sky Sports 1HD

USA- NBCSN, mun2, NBC Sports Live Extra

Brazil- FOX Sports

Middle East- beIn Sports

Belgium- Sporting 1

Others see here

http://www.livesocce...ley-vs-chelsea/

Click here to view the article

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

"Ginger Mourinho"

[Jase 43,479]

Nice work Harry!

And the preview should go up on the site later today.

[Fernando 6,585]

Thanks for putting the channels of where to watch. :blue scalf:

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Great job @Liquidator! Mind if we wait till late in the afternoon today to put it on the main site? That way it gets more hits.

[Liquidator 5,176]

Yeah whatevs choo choo xxx

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Yeah whatevs choo choo xxx

Don't use that language with me, young man!

Done.

[Jase 43,479]

Don't use that language with me, young man!

Done.

From late afternoon to late night...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

From late afternoon to late night...

Why didn't you put it up then, smart arse?

[Jase 43,479]

Why didn't you put it up then, smart arse?

Don't have to go all Mr Snorty Choo there..

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Don't have to go all Mr Snorty Choo there..

Look who's talking

Now get back on topic before I ban your ass pussy(cat)!