It is a game that takes place within the confines of the 2022-23 season, but neither side can wait to see the back of the campaign.
For Chelsea, a first match post-Graham Potter is being overseen by the now sacked manager's faithful assistant Bruno Saltor, a man who has admitted he's never picked a team before and, if he's still in place next Wednesday, will have taken on Jurgen Klopp, Julen Lopetegui and Carlo Ancelotti on the first three occasions he's done so. There are just the five Champions Leagues, a Europa League and eight major league titles between them.
But like Cristian Stellini at Tottenham, the former Brighton defender has been thrust into the limelight so forcefully that you can't really judge anything that his team do too harshly on Tuesday night. Any form of positivity is a bonus.
