Xavi Simons rush, Estevao Willian dilemma, Sanchez debate - Chelsea dream XI vs Crystal Palace

When Chelseawere last at Stamford Bridgefor a Premier League game, their season hung in the balance. They were about to play Manchester United knowing that anything but two wins from two would leave them open to dropping out of the top five.

A position in the Champions League was at stake and the Conference League final was set to follow the week after. Without a natural senior striker available due to Nicolas Jackson's suspension, it was nervy and tense.

On Sunday, Enzo Maresca's side return for competitive action and do so as Conference League winners, plus, more importantly, world champions.They arrive at the gates of the new Premier League season with optimism that promises to propel them forward.

Crystal Palace await them. The FA Cup holders and Community Shield victors after Sunday's penalty shootout win over Liverpool on Sunday, Oliver Glasner's Eagles will be a stern opening day test.

Palace have not lost either of Marc Guehi or Eberechi Eze to transfers yetand arrive with one of the league's best young midfielders in Adam Wharton. Palace drew this fixture last season, also early on, and managed to get a point out of the meeting at Selhurst Park as well.

Both teams will feel much further along the line than in either game, which makes it an intriguing prospect. What waits to be seen is how Maresca goes about selecting his XI.

Reading too much into pre-season is never advised but when there is only 180 minutes to go off, and less than a fortnight of physical conditioning or preparation alongside it, the decisions made over the weekend by Maresca must be taken into account. On paper, those picked against Milan in the second of two friendlies across three days was the strongest available.

Wesley Fofana was still not match fit but is expected to be ahead of Palace's visit. That puts him in contention, although it would not be a surprise to see him eased in slowly via the bench given his fitness struggles.

Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia are also out and have a claim to be in the best team. For Badiashile, with Colwill out he is the most natural replacement as a left-footed centre-back andJorrel Hato seemingly being grooved at full-back initially.

Unlike Fofana, Badiashile will be sidelined until at least September. Lavia has a less clear return date. He has been in the treatment room (again) since picking up a knock at the Club World Cup.

On Tuesday he hinted, on social media, at being back in action sooner rather than later. He will need to be cautiously integrated as well due to a growing history of issues.

For those that did play against Milan, they can be pretty confident of starting on Sunday. Robert Sanchez is the undoubted No.1 and will remain so.

Chelsea are not interested in the big-waged big-framed Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. There is confidence in Sanchez internally even if supporters are dubious of his consistency and ability as a top level option.

Reece James is now eight months into his longest spell without injury for more than four years.He will captain the team from right-back.

Maresca has a number of choices at centre-back but would appear to have settled onTrevoh Chalobah next to Tosin Adarabioyo. Josh Acheampong started the Bayer Leverkusen gamewith Chalobah in Colwill's left-sided slot but the change to include Tosin in the second friendly suggests he will keep his place for Palace.

Marc Cucurellais one of the first names on the teamsheet at left-back.He is now ably supported by Hato but not yet in a competitive sense for his spot. In midfield the same is true.

Chelsea have much more strength and depth withDario Essugo and Andrey Santos coming in butEnzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are the preferred fulcrum to start the season. In attack there is less certainty.

Cole Palmer will be the No.10 andJoao Pedro, surely, goes ahead of him up front. Maresca could experiment with Pedro on the left andLiam Delap at striker but that has not been tested yet, although it does look like a viable option.

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It is on either wing, though, that the real dilemma emerges.Jamie Gittens was exciting in his cameo appearance from the bench against Leverkusenbut had less of an impact with Milan, although he did win the early free kick which resulted in the first goal.

He is still a raw talent with plenty to offer but plenty to improve and iron out. His position is the least secure in this team and that is only made more soby the interest in Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho.

If things advanced quickly, then Chelsea could feasibly register either attacker and play them immediately, although that is unlikely at this point. Chelsea will continue to work on both for the remainder of the window.

Simons is deemed a versatile player who can operate on the left or as cover/rotation for Palmer. Garnacho is a much closer wide man profile fit to Gittens. The deal for him with Manchester United could drag on deep into the window, in particular.

If it presumably isn't Simons or Garnacho then the choice is either Gittens or moving Pedro Neto from the right. That way,Estevao Willian can make a competitive splash as well.

He was excellent against Leverkusen and then lively as a substitute against Milan. Neto also set up a goal against Leverkusen, which really does make the area one to look at.

Ideally, Chelsea could have Simons available and then between Estevao and Neto, there is ample impetus from the bench. Whatever happens, it looks like a strong team indeed.

Chelsea dream XI vs Crystal Palace: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Simons; Pedro.