The new Premier League season gets underway this Friday, bringing with it the familiar wave of anticipation, debate, and bold predictions that signal the return of English football’s most compelling drama.
While the opening night spotlight will fall elsewhere, Chelsea fans must wait until Sunday to see their side in action as the Blues welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge.
There is cautious optimism in west London.
Last season delivered two trophies in the UEFA Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup but also highlighted domestic shortcomings that Enzo Maresca will be eager to correct.
His second Premier League campaign in charge offers a fresh slate, and there is a growing belief that an early statement could set the tone for something far bigger.
History suggests there is reason for such hope.
On multiple occasions, including the title-winning campaigns of 2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10 and 2014/15, Chelsea began the season with a victory and went on to lift the Premier League trophy.
Those opening-day wins were not just important results; they were markers of the relentless form that followed.
The meeting with Crystal Palace offers a valuable opportunity to collect three points and begin the journey with momentum.
With that in mind, here are the Top 6 Chelsea Opening Day PL Facts to Know.
Opening Day Victories as a Title Omen
Chelsea’s history reveals an intriguing trend. When they have opened the season with a win, it has often been the first step toward a Premier League title.
The 2004/05 campaign began with a narrow 1–0 victory over Manchester United in José Mourinho’s first league match.
It proved to be the perfect foundation for a record-breaking season in which Chelsea conceded only 15 goals and lifted their first league title in 50 years.
A year later, the 2005/06 season started away to Wigan Athletic. With the match heading for a draw, Hernán Crespo produced a stunning stoppage-time strike to secure a 1–0 win.
That moment of brilliance set the tone for another dominant title defence.
In 2009/10, Carlo Ancelotti’s debut in the Premier League began with a tense 2–1 victory over Hull City, sealed by Didier Drogba’s delightful lob deep into injury time.
Chelsea went on to complete a domestic double, winning both the league and the FA Cup.
The story continued in 2014/15, when a composed 3–1 win at Burnley marked the start of a campaign in which Mourinho’s side finished eight points clear at the top.
And in 2016/17, Antonio Conte’s men defeated West Ham 2–1 thanks to a late Diego Costa strike, sparking a remarkable 13-match winning run that carried them to another championship.
These moments underline how a winning start has often been the launchpad for Chelsea’s greatest seasons. It is a history that adds extra weight to this Sunday’s meeting with Crystal Palace.
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2004/05: Chelsea 1–0 Manchester United – Eidur Gudjohnsen’s goal secured Mourinho’s perfect start.
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2005/06: Wigan Athletic 0–1 Chelsea – Crespo’s stoppage-time thunderbolt stole the points.
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2009/10: Chelsea 2–1 Hull City – Drogba’s injury-time lob set the tone for a domestic double.
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2014/15: Burnley 1–3 Chelsea – Goals from Diego Costa, Schürrle, and Ivanović put down an early marker.
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2016/17: Chelsea 2–1 West Ham United – Diego Costa’s late strike sealed Conte’s debut win.
Last 10 Premier League Openers
Chelsea’s record across their last 10 Premier League opening-day fixtures captures both the highs and lows that come with the start of a new campaign.
There have been convincing victories, such as the 3–0 win at Huddersfield Town in 2018, when the team looked sharp and clinical from the outset.
A similar level of dominance was on display in 2021, when Chelsea brushed aside Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge to begin the season with confidence.
There have also been difficult afternoons. The 4–0 defeat away to Manchester United in 2019 served as a harsh reminder of the fine margins in elite football, while the 2–0 home loss to Manchester City last season was a sobering way to open the campaign.
Over this 10-year period, Chelsea have recorded five wins, three defeats and two draws, collecting 17 points from a possible 30.
On paper, that return is respectable, but it also points to a recent decline in their opening-day performances.
In the past two seasons, the Blues have managed just one point from their first fixture, though those results came against Liverpool and Manchester City, two of the strongest sides in the division.
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2015/16: Chelsea 2–2 Swansea
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2016/17: Chelsea 2–1 West Ham
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2017/18: Chelsea 2–3 Burnley
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2018/19: Huddersfield 0–3 Chelsea
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2019/20: Manchester United 4–0 Chelsea
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2020/21: Brighton 1–3 Chelsea
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2021/22: Chelsea 3–0 Crystal Palace
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2022/23: Everton 0–1 Chelsea
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2023/24: Chelsea 1–1 Liverpool
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2024/25: Chelsea 0–2 Manchester City
London Derby Advantage
Beginning a Premier League season with a London derby is a relatively rare occurrence for Chelsea.
It has happened only three times in the competition’s history, and on each occasion the Blues have started with a victory.
The most recent example came in 2021, when Chelsea produced a composed display to beat Crystal Palace 3–0 at Stamford Bridge.
Before that, they opened the 2016/17 campaign with a hard-fought 2–1 win over West Ham, a match settled by Diego Costa’s late strike.
In 2020, they faced the Hammers again on the opening weekend, delivering a commanding 3–0 victory.
London derbies on the first day can carry extra weight. The familiarity between teams can sharpen performances, while the local rivalry can raise intensity levels. At the same time, the added emotion can lead to costly errors if not managed well.
Chelsea’s perfect record in these fixtures suggests they have been able to channel the occasion into positive results.
This season’s meeting with Crystal Palace follows that tradition and comes with an unusual twist: for the first time in the club’s history, the first four league fixtures will all be against London opposition.
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London derby openers:
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West Ham (2016/17, 2–1 win), West Ham
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(2020/21, 3–0 win)
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Crystal Palace (2021/22, 3–0 win)
Most Opening-Day Appearances
When it comes to Premier League opening-day consistency, few players in Chelsea’s history have matched the reliability of John Terry and Frank Lampard.
Terry, the club’s iconic former captain, leads the way with 14 appearances on matchday one, setting the standard for durability and leadership over nearly two decades.
Close behind is Lampard with 13, underlining his importance not only as a prolific goalscorer but also as a dependable presence whenever a new campaign began.
César Azpilicueta and Petr Čech are next in the rankings with nine starts each, representing the defensive stability that became a hallmark of Chelsea’s success in their respective eras.
Just behind them are Didier Drogba, Dennis Wise, and John Obi Mikel, each with eight, along with Ashley Cole on seven.
Among the current squad, Reece James holds the highest total with four opening-day appearances.
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John Terry – 14 appearances
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Frank Lampard – 13 appearances
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César Azpilicueta – 9 appearances
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Petr Čech – 9 appearances
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Didier Drogba – 8 appearances
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Dennis Wise – 8 appearances
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John Obi Mikel – 8 appearances
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Ashley Cole – 7 appearances
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Reece James – 4 appearances (most in current squad)
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Most Goals on Matchday One
Chelsea legends Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba share the record as the club’s top Premier League opening-day scorers, with six goals each to their name.
Not far behind them are a group of players who made strong starts to their seasons. Gianfranco Zola, Jorginho, Gustavo Poyet, and Florent Malouda each netted three goals on opening day.
With no clear current-day heir to this record, Chelsea will be looking for one of their forwards to take on the role of “opening-day specialist” in the coming seasons.
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Frank Lampard – 6 goals
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Didier Drogba – 6 goals
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Gianfranco Zola – 3 goals
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Jorginho – 3 goals
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Gustavo Poyet – 3 goals
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Florent Malouda – 3 goals
Overall Record
Chelsea’s history on matchday one is among the strongest in the Premier League era. Only Manchester United, with 22 opening-day wins, can boast a better record than Chelsea’s 20.
The Blues’ 60.6% win rate on the first weekend is testament to their ability to prepare well for the season’s start, even during transitional periods.
That said, recent years have brought a reminder that past success is no guarantee of a flying start. In 2023, Chelsea were held to a 1–1 draw by Liverpool; last season, they were beaten 2–0 at home by Manchester City.
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Played: 33
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Won: 20
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Drawn: 7
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Lost: 6
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Goals For: 65
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Goals Against: 32
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Win Percentage: 60.6%
