Tshepo’s picks

Maurizio Sarri will begin his stint as Chelsea manager with an away clash against Huddersfield Town at the James Smith Stadium this afternoon.

Going into this match, it is likely that the new Blues manager will have a different team with some of the club’s regulars from last season – Eden Hazard, Olivier Giroud, N’Golo Kante, Gary Cahill and Michy Batshuayi having only returned to training at the start of this week and are not fit for the match – while midfielder Cesc Fabregas is a doubt for the game as he is nursing a minor knee injury.

Sarri will have to balance his team, but he should be upbeat that Chelsea have won the last four fixtures at Huddersfield’s home ground. The two teams’ last eight meetings have seen Chelsea record five wins, while the other three ended in draws.

Chelsea remain favourites to win this match and I back them to get the three points today.

Pool Name: S6 V3 P2 M1:

Bournemouth v Cardiff Three points for Bournemouth. Bournemouth win = 1 Fulham v Crystal Palace. Palace to clinch it. Palace win = 3 Huddersfield Town v Chelsea. Previewed above. Chelsea win = 3 Nottingham Forest v Reading. Home victory for Nottingham. Nottingham win = 1 Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion. Draw. Draw = 2 Wolverhampton v Everton. Away victory for Everton.

Everton win = 3

Tip: M2: Tip: M3: Tip: M4: Tip: M5: Tip: M6: Tip: