The Premier League is back as Burnley hosted Chelsea at Turf Moor for a lunchtime kickoff. Chelsea is looking to continue their climb up the table, while Burnley is hoping to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Burnley enters the match after a 3-2 defeat to West Ham before the international break, leaving them 17th in the league with 10 points. The Clarets' last home game saw them fall 2-0 to Arsenal. Scott Parker named an unchanged starting XI from the West Ham defeat, with Zian Flemming leading the line. Broja was deemed fit enough to make the bench after an injury scare. The Burnley starting XI is: Dubravka, Walker, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Hartman, Cullen, Luis, Tchaouna, Ugochukwu, Anthony, Flemming. The bench comprises Weiss, Ekdal, Pires, Bruun Larsen, Edwards, Mejbri, Laurent, Foster and Broja.
Chelsea, managed by Enzo Maresca, is currently third in the Premier League with 20 points. Coming off a 3-0 win against Wolves, the Blues are aiming for their third straight league victory. However, they will be without Cole Palmer due to a freak toe injury sustained at home. In a boost for Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto are available. Maresca made four changes to the team that beat Wolves, with Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, and Jamie Gittens coming into the starting XI. The Chelsea starting XI is: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Andrey Santos, Fernandez; Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro, Gittens; Delap. The bench consists of Jorgensen, Gusto, Acheampong, Badiashile, Hato, Caicedo, Estevao, Garnacho, and Guiu.
Maresca expressed his displeasure at having to play the early kickoff for the second consecutive time after an international break. Chelsea has a strong record against Burnley away from home, winning their last six Premier League visits while scoring at least three goals in five of those matches. A win for Chelsea would close the gap on league leaders Arsenal to just three points and potentially move them ahead of Manchester City, who play Newcastle later in the day.
