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?
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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
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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.
