Chelsea fielded six attacking signings worth a combined £250m in their Premier League opener, yet failed to break down Crystal Palace in a frustrating goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
Record summer arrival João Pedro (£55m from Brighton) led the line, supported by debutants Jamie Gittens (£52m from Dortmund) and Pedro Neto (£45m) on the flanks, with Cole Palmer (£40m) in the No.10 role. Despite their firepower, it was Palace who nearly struck first when Eberechi Eze’s free-kick found the net, only to be ruled out by VAR for encroachment.
In search of a breakthrough, Chelsea introduced more fresh faces after the break, with £29m winger Estevão Willian and £30m striker Liam Delap joining the attack. Both spurned good opportunities, while Andrey Santos also missed a clear chance, leaving the Blues to settle for a point.
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Although just the opening weekend, questions will inevitably follow Mauricio Pochettino’s side if they fail to back up their recent Club World Cup triumph with consistent domestic form. While some believe Chelsea could mount a title push, sharper creativity and finishing will be needed to keep pace with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
For now, the club’s primary goal remains a top-four finish and Champions League qualification – but their expensively assembled frontline will need to deliver quickly.
