Graham Potter's allegiance may have changed from Brighton to Chelsea but the rivalry with Crystal Palace has not gone away. Despite the London derby not being as fierce of a competition as Palace's hatred of Brighton - and vice versa - the pressure to win at Selhurst Park is still there.
Chelsea's form against London teams had been almost exemplary until the end of Thomas Tuchel's only full season in charge. The Blues lost matches at Stamford Bridge to both Arsenal and Brentford, conceding eight goals in the process, and halted a record breaking run against London sides.
Potter will be less bothered about picking this up and more about getting three points to start his league career off at the club in full flow, and he's got the players to do it too.
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As well as boasting a dominant record in recent times against the Eagles, winning the last 10 matches going back to 2017 and only losing one of the last eight at Selhurst Park, Chelsea's players have some impressive personal records against their opponents.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is yet to score for his new club - though he has only played two games in the month since joining - may fancy his chances against Patrick Viera's side. He has four goals against the Londoners including one in his last match against them and boasts a good record away, too. With all of these goals coming for Arsenal, who beat Palace on the opening night of the season at Selhurst Park, Chelsea will be looking to channel the form Aubameyang showed during his time with the Gunners.
His two goals in three matches at Selhurst Park could give him confidence to find the net in blue and open his account for the side. Speaking ahead of the game, Potter revealed that the pair have gelled well early on, saying: "Yeah, I'm looking forward to working with him, I've enjoyed working with him in the brief time we've worked together. He's a good guy, focused, wants to do well, wants to play, wants to score."
Having come to Stamford Bridge as a perceived Thomas Tuchel target the move to sack the German was confusing, but the Gabon striker has been reassured he's still in Potter's plans. The manager added: "He's got nothing to prove to me. His career is his career, I've got a huge respect for that. My job is to help him enjoy his football, help him be part of what we're trying to do here. He's acted as a top professional, top person."
Aubameyang's record is bettered by Christian Pulisic. The American, who is fit for the game despite missing one of his countries international matches, has a fight to regain a spot at Chelsea amid transfer speculation and a souring relationship with the fans.
His relationship with Palace fans isn't much better. With five goals in six matches against them, including three in three away from home, Pulisic loves to score against Palace and will be desperate for the chance to prove it. Such is his record, more than 25% of his league goals have been against Palace and 20% of his total Chelsea goals too.
Although that says more about his underperformance across three seasons at the club, Pulisic has made a good impression on his new manager: “I can only comment on him in terms of how he’s been with me. Really positive, he’s an intelligent guy, articulate, knows how to express himself. My conversation with him has been good and positive, I’m not going to judge anybody on what has happened in the past, I’m going to make my own mind up. Football hopefully decides."
Aubameyang is a more likely starter than Pulisic but both players will be hoping to spark their seasons and Chelsea careers into life under new management, and who better than a familiar foe to get it going for them.
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