Maresca Opts for Experience as £30m Striker Starts on Bench Against LAFC
Chelsea fans will have to wait a little longer to see new signing Liam Delap in action, with the £30 million striker named among the substitutes for the Blues’ FIFA Club World Cup opener against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta.
The 22-year-old, who joined from Manchester City earlier this month, will begin tonight’s match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on the bench as manager Enzo Maresca fields a strong starting XI. Nicolas Jackson gets the nod up front, supported by an attacking trio of Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, and Chelsea’s Player of the Season, Cole Palmer.
In midfield, Romeo Lavia makes a rare start alongside Moisés Caicedo, with Enzo Fernández surprisingly named among the substitutes. Club captain Reece James starts at right-back, while new defensive signing Tosin Adarabioyo partners Levi Colwill at center-back. Marc Cucurella takes the left-back spot, with Maresca expected to use either him or James in an inverted midfield role.
The bench includes several other fresh faces, including Andrey Santos, who could make his competitive debut, and recent arrivals Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr. However, fellow new signing Mike Penders, despite traveling with the squad, has not been included in the matchday squad.
With Chelsea eager to make a statement in the revamped Club World Cup, all eyes will be on whether Delap gets his chance to impress later in the game—or if Maresca’s trusted starters can deliver an early victory.
Chelsea Starting XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Sarr, Anselmino, Essugo, Fernández, Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Nkunku, Delap, Guiu.
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