Chelsea will look to record their third straight Premier League victory at the start of the new campaign when they welcome newly-promoted Burnley to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
The Blues have collected maximum points from their opening two league fixtures, but Burnley will enter the match full of confidence following a 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Turf Moor last weekend.
Chelsea
© AFPIt was a disastrous 2015-16 campaign for Chelsea as the defending champions finished 10th in the Premier League, some 31 points behind the winners Leicester City. They were always going to improve this season, however, and big things are expected of new boss Antonio Conte, who had success with Juventus and impressed while leading Italy at the European Championships.
Chelsea had to wait until the Monday after the opening weekend to begin their new Premier League season, but it was worth the wait for the Blues as they started with a 2-1 victory over West Ham United. James Collins looked to have grabbed a point for the Hammers when he cancelled out an Eden Hazard penalty, but Diego Costa hit a late winner to make it a happy start for Conte.
It did appear that the capital side would drop points against Watford last weekend after falling 1-0 behind in the early stages of the second period, but Michy Batshuayi levelled 10 minutes from time, before Costa popped up with another late winner. There were some that believed the Spaniard should have been sent off or indeed missed the match due to his conduct against West Ham, but the striker was present and once again had a big say on the outcome of the contest.
Conte then had his first taste of League Cup football during the week as Chelsea welcomed Bristol Rovers to Stamford Bridge. In the end, it was far from convincing from the home side, but they progressed with a 3-2 success and will now travel to Premier League champions Leicester in the third round of that competition next month.
It is a tasty few weeks for the former English champions as they prepare to travel to Swansea City after the international break on September 11, before hosting Liverpool five days later. Then comes their clash with Leicester in the League Cup, before visiting Arsenal in the league on September 24. By that point, Conte would have found out a lot more about his team.
Incredibly, Chelsea only won five of their 19 home Premier League games last season - picking up just 24 points. Even Newcastle United performed better on home soil than the Blues, who have struggled to break down the so-called smaller teams in recent seasons. This weekend will be another test against a side that will set up not to be beaten.
Recent form: WW
Recent form (all competitions): WW
Burnley
© Getty ImagesBurnley were, by some distance, the best team in the Championship last season, only losing five of their 46 matches to finish top of the division and earn the right to compete in the Premier League once again.
The Clarets have never managed to consolidate their position in England's top flight, however, and that will once again be the challenge for Sean Dyche and his players this season. Their first Premier League campaign arrived in 2009, but they were relegated in 18th position and had to spend the next four seasons in the second tier.
They again rose to the Premier League in 2014, but once again finished 18th to drop into the Championship. They managed to secure an immediate return after winning the second tier last term, but it promises to be another difficult season for a club that have simply not been prepared to spend the money needed to consolidate in the top flight. For Burnley, a summer spend of £10.9m is high, but it just does not compare with the teams around them.
It was a disappointing start to the new Premier League season as they lost 1-0 at home to Swansea City on the opening weekend, but they put it right last Saturday when they recorded a 2-0 victory over Liverpool. Incredibly, the Clarets only had 20% of the possession against the Reds, but goals from Sam Vokes and Andre Gray secured all the points at Turf Moor.
Burnley travelled to near-neighbours Accrington Stanley in the second round of the League Cup on Wednesday looking to make it back-to-back wins, but they lost in the final minute of extra-time courtesy of a strike from Matty Pearson. In the grand scheme of things, the League Cup was not too important for Burnley this season, but they must respond this weekend.
In terms of what is ahead for Burnley, they will host Hull City in their first match after the international break on September 10, before travelling to Leicester and hosting Watford before the end of September. October is then very tough on paper for Dyche's side as they face Arsenal (H), Southampton (A), Everton (H) and Manchester United (A).
Recent form: LW
Recent form (all competitions): LWL
Team News
© Getty ImagesConte rung the changes for the League Cup clash with Bristol Rovers during the week, but the Italian is expected to recall the likes of Hazard, Costa, John Terry, N'Golo Kante and Oscar to his starting XI this weekend.
Brazilian attacker Willian is still struggling with a calf problem, however, which should see Pedro keep his spot in the XI. Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, is expected to drop to the bench, where he has started Chelsea's first two Premier League games this season.
Summer signing Batshuayi continued his impressive start at Stamford Bridge with a brace against Bristol Rovers, but the Belgian should drop to the bench as Costa takes up the starting central position in the final third.
As for Burnley, head coach Dyche also rung the changes for his team's League Cup exploits and like Conte, the 45-year-old is expected to recall all of his big guns for the clash in the English capital.
Vokes and Gray, who scored the goals against Liverpool last weekend, will start in the final third, while Scott Arfield and George Boyd are expected to feature in the wide midfield positions.
Summer signing Steven Defour should return to the middle of the park alongside Dean Marney, while Michael Keane, who has been tipped to earn an England call-up this season, will continue at centre-back alongside Ben Mee.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic; Matic, Kante, Oscar; Hazard, Costa, Pedro
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Arfield, Defour, Marney, Boyd; Vokes, Gray
Head To Head
Saturday will be the 93rd fixture between Chelsea and Burnley in all competitions. Incredibly, Burnley lead the head-to-head record 37 victories to 33, while the remaining 22 matches finished level. It is a rivalry that dates back to November 1905, when Chelsea recorded a 1-0 victory in League Division Two.
The last time that Chelsea welcomed Burnley to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League was in February 2015, when the points were shared in a 1-1 draw.
Chelsea are actually unbeaten in all four of their Premier League games with Burnley and have not lost against the Clarets in the league since April 1983. That said, Burnley picked up a penalty-shootout victory in the League Cup at Stamford Bridge in November 2008 and have found the back of the net in all but one of their last eight clashes with the Blues in all competitions.
We say: Chelsea 2-0 Burnley
Chelsea have won all three of their competitive matches this season and while Burnley picked up all three points against Liverpool last time out, it is difficult to back the Clarets this weekend. Chelsea might need to be patient against a team that will set up in a defensive shape, but we expect the Blues to move onto nine points in the Premier League in relatively comfortable fashion.
