How Chelsea should line up for Fulham clash with three debuts and Enzo Fernandez dilemma

Xabi Alonso will name his first competitive lineup as Chelsea manager when the Blues face Fulham in their Premier League opener.Chelsea make the short trip to meet their west London rivals at Craven Cottage next Monday night as a new era begins for both clubs, with Alonso’s former Liverpool and Spain team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa in the home dugout.The team Alonso names against Fulham could be a sign of things to come, indicating who exactly is in line for the bulk of starting minutes this season.Robert Sanchez is expected to remain as the No1 goalkeeper, even though Mike Penders is now at the club to provide competition and back-up.While Chelsea are most comfortable in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the system they played under both Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, Alonso may feel content to persist with the 3-4-2-1 formation that worked so well for him at Bayer Leverkusen.The fit-again Levi Colwill, new signing Maxence Lacroix and Wesley Fofana lined up in a three-man defence against Sociedad.Reece James played in midfield but could drop back and take Fofana’s place at right centre-back against Fulham, with the latter suspended after his red card against Sunderland on the final day of last season.New signings Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria shared duties at left wing-back, but Jorrel Hato could now come in to occupy that spot.Hato is expected to step into a larger role this term after Marc Cucurella was sold to Real Madrid, but perhaps more as a left-back than a left wing-back. That could mean that Palestra keeps his place here.Read MoreThat, though, could depend on if there have been any further developments before kick-off in the Fernandez transfer saga.That would leave Estevao and Geovany Quenda as attacking options from the bench.Predicted Chelsea XI to face Fulham (3-4-2-1): Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Palestra; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro