The fixture list, on paper at least, has been kind to Chelsea given their toils in pre-season. The champions’ World Cup contingent are still finding their feet, with four successive friendlies lost, though the suspicion remains that they will hit the ground running against newly promoted opponents. West Bromwich Albion have not even scored a league goal at Stamford Bridge since 1988 and Roberto Di Matteo, once the hearty welcome back to an old haunt dies down, could be in for a troubled top-flight managerial baptism. Certainly, the size of the task ahead could be made very clear on the opening afternoon. Dominic Fifield
Venue Stamford Bridge, Saturday 5.30pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season n/a
Referee M Clattenburg Last season’s matches 31 Y84, R5, 2.87 cards per game
Odds Chelsea 2-11 West Bromwich 20-1 Draw 13-2
Chelsea
Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Ivanovic, Bruma, Mancienne, Zhirkov, Benayoun, Matic, Kakuta, Kalou, Borini, Sturridge
Doubtful Alex (thigh), Cech (calf), Lampard (ankle)
Injured Bosingwa (knee, Sep)
Suspended None
Form guide n/a
Disciplinary record (last season) Y57 R5
Leading scorer (last season) Drogba 29
West Bromwich
Subs from Myhill, Barnes, Olsson, Cech, Mattock, Zuiverloon, Cox, Bednar, Méïté, Wood, Thomas, Moore
Doubtful Dorrans (groin), Ibáñez (hamstring)
Injured None
Suspended None
Form guide n/a
Disciplinary record (last season) Y89 R4
Leading scorers (last season) Brunt, Dorrans 13
Match pointers
• Chelsea have not lost their first game in a top-flight season since Coventry won 2-1 at Highfield Road in 1998
• West Bromwich have not won at Chelsea in a league match since September 1978
• In 2009-10 Chelsea became the first side to score over 100 goals in a top-flight campaign since Tottenham in 1962-63
• West Bromwich scored 27 goals from outside the box in the Championship last term – a divisional high
• Chelsea conceded a higher proportion of goals from set pieces (68%) last season than any other side in the division
Premier LeagueChelseaWest Bromguardian.co.uk