Straight after the international break, Chelsea travel to Turf Moor to face a Burnley side that has just one win against the Blues in the Premier League — a result that was historic for a few reasons.
Chelsea will be looking to continue their challenge at the top of the table, and a trip to Burnley is their next opportunity for points.
It’s a fixture that has traditionally gone quite well for the Blues, only falling to defeat once in 18 meetings during the Premier League era.
That one loss came on opening day of the 2017/18 season, when Chelsea stumbled at the first hurdle of their title defence, and broke a couple of Premier League records in the process.
Two Premier League firsts in Chelsea’s only loss to Burnley
Antonio Conte’s first season at Chelsea couldn’t have gone better.
The Blues cruised to a sixth league title in convincing fashion, and they were given every chance of repeating the feat the following season.
But that mission would hit a snag on opening day when Burnley shocked the Blues with a 3-2 win.
Sean Dyche’s side were three goals up at the break after a 14th-minute red card was shown to Gary Cahill in his first outing as Chelsea captain. Goals from Sam Vokes and Stephen Ward shocked the Stamford Bridge faithful, and gave Chelsea the difficult task of coming back with ten men.
The second half was much improved, with Alvaro Morata grabbing a debut goal and assisting David Luiz for a late second. But the dismissal of Cesc Fabregas added to Conte’s woes and left Chelsea unable to equalise, giving Burnley a shock win.
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Chelsea became the first side in Premier League history to have two players sent off on opening day, and the first reigning champions to concede three goals in the first game of the following season.
They were also only the second-ever side to lose the first game of their title defence, following Leicester the season before.
A day to forget, but one of significance.
An opening day collapse that was a sign of things to come with Conte
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
While his time at Chelsea was short and sweet, there’s no denying the Italian was a brilliant coach. Didier Drogba wishes he played under Conte, and he will be remembered fondly at the Bridge.
It was as strong a debut season as we’ve seen from a manager in the English top flight, but he struggled to reach the same heights in his second attempt.
Conte’s controversial decision to get rid of Diego Costa certainly didn’t help things, but there just wasn’t the same solidity in the new iteration of his side, and that was evident from the first kick of the ball.
Chelsea didn’t put up much of a fight as Man City’s centurions walked the league. The Blues did win the FA Cup, but it wasn’t enough to appease the board and Conte was swiftly dismissed at the end of the campaign.
His Chelsea end could perhaps be traced back to opening day, and a game that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.