Predicted Chelsea Line-Up vs Fulham - Reece James In Back Three, Pedro Neto Still At Wing-Back | OneFootball

Previewing Chelsea's Premier League opener vs Fulham on August 24. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

For the Premier League season opener against Fulham, Xabi Alonso is expected to field a mostly similar starting 11 to the one he used in the final pre-season game.

In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Alonso confirmed that Danny Welbeck, who was left out of the squad in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Real Sociedad, is expected to return to training on Saturday.

This is good news, of course, since Chelsea had no backup striker on the bench when they hosted the Spanish club at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.

Alonso also cannot field the same starting line-up due to Wesley Fofana’s suspension, which is carried over from his dismissal in the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on the final day of last season.

The Spaniard is likely going to stick with the 3-4-2-1 formation for the trip to Fulham on Monday, August 24, but with a couple of changes.

Mike Penders is an exciting talent, but as it stands, he still seems to be behind Robert Sanchez in the goalkeeper pecking order.

Sanchez is expected to start in goal for the season-opening game, but it would not be a surprise if Penders gets the nod to start in the League Cup game against Luton Town next Thursday.

Both Maxence Lacroix and Levi Colwill will likely keep their spots in the back three, but Alonso will have to decide who replaces the suspended Fofana.

Josh Acheampong and Reece James are the natural choices for this role. If James plays at the back, however, another Chelsea player will have to replace him in midfield.

At wing-backs, Pedro Neto and Marco Palestra, on the left and the right, respectively, have been the manager’s primary options in pre-season.

Palestra naturally plays on the right side of the field, however. If the Italian switches to his preferred right flank, Pep Chavarria may get the chance to make his official debut for Chelsea.

In midfield, Moises Caicedo played alongside James against Sociedad. As mentioned, if James plays deeper as a right centre-back, Alonso will have to choose a new partner for Caicedo.

Enzo Fernandez is the most obvious option, but Alonso is spoilt for choice in this area. Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Valentin Barco, and even Jordan Henderson, whose availability remains unclear, are all good options. Even so, Fernandez and Lavia seem more likely options.

Alonso insisted that Fernandez Fernandez has been training "really well" amid transfer links to Manchester City. They hope it doesn't distract the midfielder.

For the front three, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Joao Pedro are all expected to stay in the starting line-up.

Sanchez, James, Lacroix, Colwill, Neto, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palestra, Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro.