Stamford Bridge opens with a big question and real pressure. Chelsea head back to league play after Club World Cup win and a short preseason.
Crystal Palace arrive nine matches unbeaten and keen to prove last spring was no fluke. Yet all attention rests on Eberechi Eze, who remains linked with a major move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs want to strengthen their attack after losing James Maddison to a long-term knee injury, seeing Son Heung-min leave for LAFC and failing to complete a move for Morgan Gibbs-White and that has left Spurs chasing Eze.
The England international previously had a release clause worth £60m [$81m] plus an additional £8m [$10m] in add-ons, but that clause has expired.
Spurs are believed to be preparing an offer slightly below that total amount, with some reports suggesting the negotiations are moving in a positive direction.
Eze’s future remains uncertain and while he was not initially expected to feature in Crystal Palace’s trip to Stamford Bridge, the situation has since changed.
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According to The Times Eze is expected to play against Chelsea even as Tottenham continue to consider their options.
That situation adds another layer to an already demanding start for both sides.
Chelsea and Crystal Palace meet in a clash packed with storylines
Chelsea begin with four consecutive London derbies that will test both their depth and their belief and Enzo Maresca knows the spotlight will fall quickly if early results fail to match the spending that has once again reshaped his squad.
Their preseason was short due to Club World Cup commitments yet they still found encouragement with wins over Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.
Palace come into this game from a different perspective since Oliver Glasner has to prepare for a Conference League playoff against Fredrikstad while also managing a squad that could lose major players before the window closes.
Defender Marc Guehi has also been linked with a move, which increases the sense of uncertainty around Selhurst Park.
This month could decide not only their European hopes but also whether they can build stability in the league.
