CHELSEA VS SWANSEA

SAT AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1) COURTOIS, IVANOVIC, CAHILL, TERRY, AZPILICUETA, MATIC, FABREGAS, WILLIAN, OSCAR, HAZARD, COSTA

SWANSEA (4-2-3-1) AYEW, MONTERO, SIGURDSSON, DYER, SHELVEY, CORK, TAYLOR, FERNANDEZ, WILLIAMS, RANGEL, FABIANSKI

Chelsea begin the defence of their Barclays Premier League title and are bidding to retain it for the first time in their 110-year history, after four championship successes in the last 10 years.

The Blues should be confident; in 23 opening-day fixtures in the Premier League they have lost just three, the most recent in August 1998, at Coventry. Since then, Chelsea have played 16 first-day fixtures, winning 14 and drawing two.

And they last lost the first game of the season at Stamford Bridge in August 1993, when they were beaten 2-1 by Blackburn Rovers.

More reasons for José Mourinho’s men to be confident are last season’s games against Swansea City; Chelsea won 4-2 at home against the Welshmen and 50 at the Liberty Stadium.

Furthermore, in 13 visits to Stamford Bridge Swansea have won just once – in 1925. Since that victory 90 years ago, the Swans have drawn three and lost nine.

Indeed, in the Premier League, Swansea have lost all four visits while conceding 11 goals and scoring just three. Overall they have lost on their last five visits, conceding 17.

Chelsea have doubts over striker Diego Costa, who missed the 1-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal last weekend with a hamstring problem.