Chelsea lineup features Estêvão in season opener

Chelsea opens the season with Estêvão favored to start on the wing as injuries test the lineup.

Estêvão to Start for Chelsea Against Crystal Palace

Chelsea s opening game against Crystal Palace centers on defense as players like Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo are unavailable. Neither Wesley Fofana nor Benoît Badiashile is fully fit, so changes at the back are likely. The big talking point is who will start on the wing beside Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto behind João Pedro. In the WAGNH Community poll Estêvão edged Jamie Gittens by a hair 50 to 48.

The lineup shows a 4 2 3 1 shape with Sánchez in goal and a back four of Cucurella, Chalobah, Tosin, James. The midfield duo are Enzo and Caicedo while the attacking trio includes Estêvão, Palmer, Neto behind João Pedro.

Starting Estêvão signals Chelsea leaning on youth to bring pace and unpredictability to the attack. It tests Enzo Maresca s willingness to trust a teenager in a key role early in the season. If Estêvão thrives, Chelsea could unlock a more dynamic frontline that supports Palmer and Neto. If not, the absence of a proven winger could leave the team chasing a quick plan B. The defensive gaps created by injuries raise the stakes for the back line and may push Maresca to rotate more than planned.

The choice also highlights how Chelsea will balance depth with immediate needs. A strong debut for Estêvão could set a tone for a season that emphasizes homegrown talent and fast transitions, while heavy reliance on youth invites harsher scrutiny in tough fixtures.

Highlights

Chelsea begins the season with a lineup that signals attacking intent and a willingness to test new talent