Chelsea v Swansea: Champs to kick-off with a win

Chelsea v Swansea
Saturday, 17:30
Live on Sky Sports 1

Chelsea

It's a good job that Chelsea were far and away the best team in the Premier League last season, because they certainly haven't got any stronger over the summer.

So far only Asmir Begovic and Radamel Falcao have been signed, replacing the departing Petr Cech and Didier Drogba. These are clearly players purchased in order to bulk up the squad rather than improve the team, though Falcao does have the potential to make a significant impact if he can recapture his past form.

With Diego Costa possibly unfit for the season opener Falcao could get an early opportunity to prove his worth, though Loic Remy would make a likelier starter. Otherwise the team should have a very familiar look, with the rest of the regular starters from last season's title-winning side being fresh and ready to start again.

Swansea

Garry Monk has had a much busier transfer window bringing in a number of new faces this summer. Their options up front will certainly be improved by the signings of the striker Eder - who scored 26 goals in 60 league games for Braga in Portugal - and Andre Ayew from Marseille.

It is Ayew that most will be expected of. Linked with the likes of Spurs before his move to Wales, the winger's arrival on a free transfer is a real coup for the club. The Ghana international is another who should contribute goals, having hit double figures in four of his five seasons at Marseille.

The only injury worry for Monk is his Spanish centre-back Jordi Maas, for whom the start of the season could come a little too early following an ankle injury picked up in April.

Match Odds

Chelsea are the heavy favourites at 1.37, with the draw at 5.10 and Swansea out at 12.00. It's hard to look past a home victory, with Chelsea winning both games last season including a 5-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium.

With that in mind the 2.10 for Chelsea to win half-time/full-time looks a pretty decent bet. Having made so few changes in the summer there's no reason why they shouldn't hit the ground running and take advantage of a Swansea side featuring a few players trying to find their feet.

Another market to consider is Chelsea to win to nil, which should also be available at around2.10. That said, Swansea scored twice at Stamford Bridge last season in a 4-2 loss.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

With both games last season producing so many goals you might have thought that over 2.5 goals would be shorter than the 1.87 on offer, with unders at 2.10.

Over 3.5 goals at 3.10 might be worth a flutter, though it's perhaps too early on in the season to be going out on such a limb. More attractive is the 2.20 for both teams to score. The 5-0 loss to Chelsea back in January was one of only two occasions that Swansea failed to find the net in their Premier League games against sides in the top six.

Recommended Bets

Back Chelsea to win half-time/full-time at 2.10
Back over 2.5 goals at 1.87
Back both teams to score at 2.20