Chelsea are without Cole and Maresca but need points against Ange

World champion Chelsea can’t boast of a good start to the Premier League season. The team already has two defeats, but the win before the international break at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool — secured by Estevao’s goal in the final moments of the match — lifted the spirits in the Blues’ camp. Still, Cole Palmer’s injury worries everyone at the London club. Chelsea’s best player hasn’t played for a month and won’t return at least until December.

Emergency call: Palmer out at least until December

That’s a big blow ahead of a packed schedule over the next few weeks. Chelsea will open the eighth round of the Premier League away to Nottingham Forest. Last season, the team owned by the controversial Evangelos Marinakis qualified for Europe and was the biggest surprise of the championship, but the “honeymoon” at the City Ground is over. The Greek owner dismissed Nuno Espírito Santo and replaced him with his compatriot — albeit one with an Australian passport — Ange Postecoglou. Just like last season with Tottenham, Postecoglou now faces the threat of being sacked. No wins in seven matches for the new manager, with the only victory of the season coming under the Portuguese coach at the very start of the campaign.

Postecoglou keeps repeating his mantra about winning trophies in his second season and needing time, but Marinakis is anything but a patient owner — so we’ll see how long he lasts on the hot seat. Another setback could bring him to the brink of dismissal. Despite leading Tottenham to the Europa League and a Champions League qualification last season, that didn’t help him keep his job with Spurs either.

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Nottingham also has injury problems, but Douglas Luiz and Murillo should return to the squad, while striker Chris Wood is fit again. On the other hand, besides Palmer, defender Benoît Badiashile is also sidelined until December. Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Pedro Neto missed recent training sessions, putting their participation for the trip to the City Ground in doubt. Returning to the team are Wesley Fofana, Andrey Santos, and Tosin Adarabioyo. Captain Reece James didn’t play for the England national team due to an injury sustained in the Liverpool match, but he has recovered and will make his 200th appearance for the London club. Coach Maresca won't be in the dugout since he is serving a one match ban due to his red card against Liverpool.

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Nottingham have suffered two consecutive home defeats without scoring a goal — against Sunderland and West Ham, neither of which belong to the elite of English football. Chelsea thrashed West Ham 5–1 at the start of the season at the Olympic Stadium, but from their last two away matches, against Brentford and Manchester United, they returned with only one point. In last season’s meeting at the City Ground, the Blues won 1–0 thanks to a Levi Colwill goal in the second half, while the match at Stamford Bridge ended 1–1.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 8

Saturday

14.30: (3.70) Nottingham Forest (3.50) Chelsea (2.00)

17.00: (2.65) Brighton (3.20) Newcastle (2.75)

17.00: (3.25) Burnley (3.25) Leeds (2.30)

17.00: (2.25) Crystal Palace (3.40) Bournemouth (3.20)

17.00: (1.40) Manchester City (4.60) Everton (8.00)

17.00: (2.50) Sunderland (3.10) Wolverhampton (3.05)

19.30: (6.00) Fulham (3.90) Arsenal (1.58)

Sunday

16.00: (2.15) Tottenham (3.45) Aston Villa (3.35)

18.30: (1.63) Liverpool (4.00) Manchester Utd. (5.30)

Monday

22.00: (2.55) West Ham (3.30) Brentford (2.80)

***odds are subject to change***