This will be the fourth time the Blues’ season opens on the first day of the week – we won each of the previous three at Burnley (2014/15), home to West Ham (2016/17) and away to Brighton (2020/21).

Two of those became title-winning seasons and the other ended in Champions League glory.

Overall, Chelsea have won eleven of the past 14 Premier League matches played on a Monday.

The World champions have also taken three points from four of the past five all-capital clashes in the top flight.

Chelsea’s new manager Xabi Alonso and his Cottagers counterpart Alvaro Arbeloa have much in common.

They both managed Real Madrid in 2025/26 and were Liverpool team-mates in nine historic games against the Blues, losing four and drawing three.

This is the first time any manager’s Premier League bow has come against a former team-mate in that competition.

The Blues’ 2-1 loss on the bank of the Thames was one of many affected by red cards last season – Marc Cucurella receiving his marching orders for denying a goalscoring opportunity after just 22 minutes.

One legacy of that unhappy collection of red and yellow cards is that Wes Fofana is suspended for our opening two fixtures.

Most opening-day Premier League wins

22 Man United
20 Chelsea
= Arsenal
17 Man City
16 Liverpool

Chelsea’s season-opening derbies – the history

Chelsea have started the Premier League season with a London derby five times without defeat.

A highlight of the 4-2 home win against West Ham in 2000 was a spectacular debut goal from distance by Mario Stanic, while the 3-2 at Charlton is remembered as much for red-carded Paul Konchesky’s elbow as the visitors’ Gianfranco Zola-inspired comeback and Frank Lampard’s coup de grace.

The Hammers were beaten again in 2016, ushering in what would be a title-winning season under Antonio Conte. This time it was Diego Costa’s turn to settle the outcome in a 2-1 win.

In 2021 Crystal Palace were the victims of a 3-0 pounding at the Bridge, Trevoh Chalobah among the goalscorers with his first for the Blues.

When the same opponents rolled up in west London as FA Cup and Community Shield-winners last season, the run of wins in derby openers ended with an uneventful goalless draw.

So far, all-capital clashes have accounted for 14 starts to a Chelsea league campaign.

Back in 1957 at White Hart Lane, 17-year-old Jimmy Greaves made an auspicious scoring debut against Tottenham.

In 1984, the Blues’ long-awaited return to the top tier was marked with an opener at Arsenal and John Neal’s newly-promoted side shared the spoils thanks to Kerry Dixon’s volleyed equaliser.

Know this…

- This is Chelsea's 35th campaign in the Premier League, and we are one of just six ever-present clubs in the competition.

- Twenty-seven Chelsea players have scored a Premier League debut goal, most recently Christopher Nkunku at Wolves in December 2023.

- The Blues have failed to win the opening Premier League game in each of the past three seasons (two draws, one loss).

- However, the World champions have won six of the last eight league meetings at Craven Cottage, Fulham two.

- Alonso’s first fixture outside London will be at Everton on 17 October – we will play at least seven matches across the capital before then.

- Ten years ago Chelsea finished tenth in the Premier League with no European qualification but went on to win the title the following season, 2016/17.

- Three Blues managers (Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Conte) have won the Premier League title during their debut season in charge – more than any other club.

- The transfer window will close on Tuesday 1 September at 11pm UK time.

- The building of the River Thames embankment near Craven Cottage stadium was carried out by contractors working for the Mears family out of Crabtree Wharf. The Mears family were later founding members of Chelsea FC.