2019/20 Premier League preview - Chelsea: Can Christian Pulisic fill void left by Eden Hazard for Frank Lampard?

Richard Jolly runs the rule over Chelsea ahead of the new season, including key player, new signing to watch and predicted league finish

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has been unable to replace Eden Hazard this summer. Press Association

The favourite son is back. Frank Lampard can appear the opposite of Maurizio Sarri, a manager who did not understand Chelsea and who the fans disliked, but the objectives will be the same: to finish in the top four and win silverware.

The context has changed, though, with Eden Hazard gone, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek injured, Chelsea labouring under a transfer ban, though still signing the unproductive Mateo Kovacic.

It will be interesting to see how many opportunities Lampard gives youngsters Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori; it could be an indication of a change of ethos.

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Who finishes where in 2019-20?

20. Sheffield United. Chris Wilder, pictured, has achieved a great deal in getting the Blades up, but staying in the top flight could be a task too far. PA Photo

19. Brighton & Hove Albion. Graham Potter, pictured, faces a tough ask after taking over as manager from Chris Hughton. Getty

18. Newcastle United. A tough set of opening home fixtures could be difficult for Steve Bruce, pictured, and his side to recover from. Getty

17. Norwich City. They need to tighten up defensively but the goals of Teemu Pukki, pictured, can keep them up. Getty

16. Aston Villa. Jack Grealish, pictured, will have a key role to play in Villa's survival hopes. Getty

15. Burnley. Sean Dyche's, pictured, team to have a steadier time of things after last season's early struggles. Reuters

14. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's side to maintain their attacking ethos though they will help Lloyd Kelly, pictured, can help shore things up at the other end. Getty

13. Crystal Palace. Once again will be dependent on the goals of Wilfried Zaha, pictured. Reuters

12. Watford. Concerns over a leaky defence but the quality of Gerard Deulofeu, pictured, should leave them in mid-table. AP Photo

11. Southampton. Stability should come the Saints way under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, pictured. PA Photo

10. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balancing Europa League with domestic games may prove tough. Will look to more fine form from captain Conor Coady, pictured. Getty

9. West Ham United. Should be another solid season with the hope Felipe Anderson, pictured, can kick on. Getty

8. Everton. Bringing in Moise Kean, pictured, is a coup and should help Marco Silva's side continue to progress. Getty

7. Leicester City. Signing Youri Tielemans, pictured, permanently will boost Leicester's hopes of a real push at the top six. Reuters

6. Arsenal. Unai Emery will hope the record signing of Nicolas Pepe and the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, can push them closer to the top four. EPA

5. Chelsea. New manager Frank Lampard needs big things from Christian Pulisic, pictured, if they are to excel. Reuters

4. Manchester United. Signings such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, pictured, will tighten things up and should get United back in top four. Getty

3. Tottenham Hotspur. Third place again for Spurs, though more is needed from Dele Alli, pictured. Getty

2. Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, pictured, will be pivotal again but Jurgen Klopp's men to finish behind City again. AFP

1. Manchester City. Hard to see beyond another title success for Pep Guardiola's, pictured, side. Getty

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Key player: Jorginho

Booed by fans last season, in part because he was seen as Sarri’s favourite and partly because his 3,118 Premier League passes did not bring a single assist.

Lampard is unlikely to afford the Italian preferential treatment and should recalibrate the midfield to emphasise N'Golo Kante's strengths so it will be instructive how he uses Jorginho.

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Chelsea youngsters impress in pre-season

Chelsea's Mason Mount celebrates scoring their fourth goal, and his second, with Michy Batshuayi. Reuters

Frank Lampard acknowledges the Chelsea fans. Reuters

Michy Batshuayi makes a break. Reuters

Kenedy celebrates scoring Chelsea's second goal. Getty

Chelsea's Tammy Abraham applauds the fans after the final whistle. PA Photo

Chelsea players celebrate Kenedy's goal. Getty

Chelsea's Emerson Palmieri on the ball. Reuters

Mount, centre, scored twice after coming on as a second-half substitute. Reuters

There were no goals for Olivier Giroud. Getty

Lampard gives the thumbs up. Getty

Kenedy and Giroud of Chelsea appeal for a hand ball. Getty

Ross Barkley, left, scored Chelsea's first goal. PA Photo

Mount, left, celebrates scoring. PA

Chelsea players celebrate their first goal, scored by Barkley. PA Photo

Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea battles with Charlie Adam of Reading. Getty

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic. Getty

Lampard would not have been happy at conceding three goals to Reading. Getty

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Signing to watch: Christian Pulisic

Actually bought in January, as Chelsea sought to future-proof themselves against the transfer ban and Hazard's departure, but arriving now. With Hudson-Odoi injured, the American winger assumes a further importance.

At 20, he is one for the future, but he has never scored over four Bundesliga goals in a season. Chelsea need more than that.

Talking point: Who will get the goals?

Hazard scored twice as many league goals as any other Chelsea player last season when Willian’s diminishing return was an issue and Loftus-Cheek was the only midfielder to get more than three.

It is in part a question of the system, but also of the striking pecking order as the underused Olivier Giroud was the Europa League’s top scorer, Michy Batshuayi averaged a goal every 151 minutes for Crystal Palace and Abraham struck 26 times for Aston Villa. Yet none, arguably, would be starting for any of the other top-six sides and Chelsea could be the least potent of the elite.

Prediction: 5th