Are returning players the answer for Alonso's Chelsea?
- Published
As with all the 19 other Premier League clubs, this week's pre-match news conferences will be overshadowed by Manchester City's guilty verdict on the breaches of financial regulations, external.
As City continue to fight the case by lodging an appeal, the league resumes and, for Chelsea, there are more questions than answers.
New manager Xabi Alonso suffered a 3-0 defeat at Brentford before the three-week international break, and there are major concerns about his side's inability to keep goals out against top-flight opposition.
During the break, Chelsea also lost 2-0 to Championship side Portsmouth in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
The pressure is building before Bournemouth's visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with the Blues sitting 10th in the table.
Alonso could be boosted, however, by the return of several injured players, including Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo, Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha.
Cole Palmer also withdrew from England duty and was criticised by manager Thomas Tuchel over his availability for the national team.
Meanwhile, Jamie Gittens was injured while representing England Under-21s.
Chelsea's poor form may be the main question, but some of those returning players could provide the answer.
Come back to this page later on Friday for all the key lines from Alonso's pre-Bournemouth news conference.
