Chelsea vs Crystal Palace live: Team news, lineups and Eze updates from Premier League opening weekend

Crystal Palace players and fans now believe they have the beating of any team in the Premier League on their day, head coach Oliver Glasner has said.

The Eagles upset the odds to win the FA Cup final against Manchester City and followed up by seeing off Liverpool on penalties in the Community Shield last Sunday.

They open their league campaign against world club champions Chelsea on Sunday, and Glasner said: “I think there are things you can’t measure. I think when we arrived and we were down at half-time against a team like Liverpool, maybe we wouldn’t have the belief to get the turnaround and win the game. This time at half-time (in the Shield), everybody was calm, relaxed, just analysed.

“Maybe there were a few adjustments we could make. We had the honest belief, the deep belief that we could still win the game.

“And maybe not just in the dressing room. If you had asked all the Crystal Palace supporters at half-time ‘do you believe you can win the game?’ I think every single one would have answered ‘yes’.

“And I think this is the biggest achievement for me: to create this belief in the team, in the players, that we’re able to win games. It doesn’t mean that we do it every single weekend. But just that you have this trust and this confidence in the team, in the players, in the squad, in the club.

“I think this is a huge achievement and this is what we want to continue.”

Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea have a stronger squad than last season, but has stopped short of calling them title contenders.

The Blues started Maresca’s first campaign in charge in fine form, only to tail off in the middle of the season and eventually finish fourth.

Having added more firepower to their squad this summer in the shape of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, some are tipping Chelsea to be in the Premier League title shake-up this time around.

Blues boss Maresca said: “For sure we are better than last season. For sure we are going to face that (tough) period better compared to last season.

“I said that when we started last season, we were very far from the ones that they are competing and they are dominating English football.

“Now we are more close and the next step is to be even more close and try to compete with them.”

There was bad, but probably not totally unexpected, news for Crystal Palace as their demotion to the Conference League was upheld at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). Is their punishment fair? Miguel Delaney explains the situation.

Enzo Maresca hands Premier League debuts to Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, with youngster Josh Acheampong partnering Trevoh Chalobah at the back.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandes; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro.

Eberechi Eze starts for Crystal Palace in a familiar looking line-up despite links with a move away from the club.

Will Hughes partners Adam Wharton in central midfield after impressing off the bench at Wembley last week.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta.

Team news is imminent from Stamford Bridge. Will Eberechi Eze start? How many of his new signings can Enzo Maresca cram into his forward line? We’ll let you know in the next five minutes or so…

Right, back to matters at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have been busy improving their forward line this summer with Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens all brought in. Enzo Maresca thinks, though, that they need a new centre-half with Levi Colwill out for the foreseeable future.

There are three more fascinating Premier League fixtures today, before the opening round concludes at Elland Road tomorrow night with promoted Leeds taking on Everton.

Sunday 17 August (all times BST)

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (2pm)

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford (2pm)

Manchester United vs Arsenal (4.30pm)

And let’s say a hearty welcome back to Sunderland, returning to the top flight with a bang by beating West Ham in some style. Plenty of concerns, you would say, for Graham Potter…

Also off to a flying start are Manchester City, with some of their new recruits to the fore. Neil Moxley reports on a team that look to have got their groove back.