Chelsea kick off their Premier League campaign with a visit from Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

A baptism of fire for new head coach Enzo Maresca in his competitive Stamford Bridge debut, expectations won’t be too high against England’s most dominant side. However, Chelsea did earn draws in both Premier League matches with Man City last season and could catch them cold in the opening round of fixtures.

One issue Maresca faces is deciphering his best starting XI. Following another frenzied summer in the transfer market, Chelsea have a squad overflowing with star talent and it may take some time for the Italian to learn his most prosperous team.

Here is how Chelsea could line up for their opener with Man City, with Maresca handed some big decisions.

GK: Robert Sanchez – Despite the arrival of Filip Jorgensen and the presence of Djordje Petrovic, Maresca seems to have landed on Sanchez as his number one for the start of the season. He will need to be accurate in his distribution to avoid being replaced by his new boss.

RB: Malo Gusto – Reece James’ suspension makes Gusto a nailed-on starter this weekend and he will be given the unenviable task of stifling the speedy Jeremy Doku down Chelsea’s right. The Frenchman should support the attack, too.

CB: Wesley Fofana – Chelsea have a mountain of excellent centre-back options but Fofana’s return during pre-season has been hugely encouraging. The defender is a standout option on the right of central defence if fully fit.

CB: Levi Colwill – Maresca is going to like Colwill. The left-footed central defender is strong, quick and very capable in possession, allowing the Chelsea manager to implement his methodical passing philosophy.

LB: Marc Cucurella – Reinvigorated and fresh from Euro 2024 glory, Cucurella could be another Maresca favourite. The relentless Spaniard has the ability to invert, which is something the Italian coach certainly values in his full-backs.

DM: Moises Caicedo – The £115m man showed his best self at the end of last season after a slow start to life in west London and followed that up with an excellent Copa America campaign. He should be guaranteed minutes at the base of midfield.

DM: Romeo Lavia – For a game against the champions, Maresca may be inclined to use two sitting midfielders. Lavia has shone during pre-season after playing just 32 minutes last term due to injury.

RW: Noni Madueke – Three goals in pre-season will have caught the manager’s eye, even if Pedro Neto’s arrival threatens his game time further down the line. For now, Madueke should get the chance to continue his impressive form.

AM: Cole Palmer – A late returner to the Chelsea squad after Euro 2024 but a must-start if available. It’s believed that Palmer will operate more centrally under Maresca, either as a number eight or ten, and he will be aiming to haunt his former employers this Sunday.

LW: Mykhailo Mudryk – Chelsea’s left-hand side still feels up for grabs. Mudryk may start this weekend given his minutes in pre-season but Raheem Sterling and the returning Nicolas Jackson are both options on that flank.

ST: Christopher Nkunku – The phrase ‘feels like a new signing’ really does apply to Nkunku. An injury-hit campaign limited his impact during his debut season but he’s looked sharp when donning a blue jersey so far. As a false nine or number ten, he could be transformative for the capital side.