Close connections and recent changes

After a disappointing 2022/23 campaign and a 12th-place finish, England’s most successful club home and abroad in the 21st century will be targeting a substantial improvement. The man tasked with restoring the glory days in the second year of the Boehly-Clearlake era is Mauricio Pochettino, a league winner with another capital city club, Paris Saint-German, as recently as 2022.

• What Jackson can bring to Chelsea attack

• This season's squad numbers

• 'We want to dominate every game we’re in'

Thirty years after fixed squad numbers were introduced in the Premier League, the Argentinean will oversee a radically remodelled and reduced group – younger, pacier and each, seemingly, with a personal memory or connection to the west Londoners’ recent history. It could be a thrilling ride.

The curtain will not be drawn on the summer transfer window until 1 September, but already only a handful of the squad selected for the May 2021 Champions League triumph in Porto remain: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben Chilwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James, and Thiago Silva.

Despite the changes, and the departure of some popular Cobham graduates, Academy representation remains impressive, with players from the Chelsea youth system accounting for 23,031 minutes across the 2022/23 Premier League – more than any other club.

After a successful and impressive pre-season, the Blues’ league campaign kicks off on Sunday with Liverpool’s visit to Stamford Bridge. Last season Chelsea managed around half the average across the league in home wins and goals, and took a quarter fewer points. It is certain Poch will aim to restore the fear-factor on the Fulham Road and bond immediately with supporters.

Pre-season friendly matches

Chelsea 5-0 Wrexham, Thu 20 July, North Carolina
Chelsea 4-3 Brighton, Sun 23 July, Philadelphia
Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle, Thu 27 Jul, Atlanta
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham, Sun 30 Jul, Washington DC
Chelsea 1-1 Borussia Dortmund, Thu 2 Aug, Chicago

Tenth place in May 2016 was famously followed by our sixth title success 12 months later – fired by a season-on-season improvement of 43 points (from 50 to 93).

Opening day fixtures 1992-2022

Fresh blood

Mauricio Pochettino is one of four coaches who have taken charge of a Premier League club since May. Ange Postecoglu, formerly of Celtic, has replaced Ryan Mason at Tottenham, and Gary O’Neil has made way for ex-Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth. O'Neil has since replaced Julen Lopetegui at Wolves.

How to watch Chelsea matches this season

The only big change to TV coverage of the Blues’ matches this season in the UK is that BT Sport has been rebranded as TNT Sports and will have a new presenting team. They new rights-holders will also show some games on Saturdays at 8pm, rather than their usual Saturday lunchtime slot.

Live TV coverage of the Carabao Cup in the UK remains with Sky Sports, and the FA Cup will again be shared by BBC and ITV. BT’s monopoly on Champions League matches will continue until 2024/25, when Amazon Prime Video will stream key matches and the BBC will show highlights. The club’s own Chelsea TV will also provide extensive companion coverage via the website and the 5th Stand app.

Four-in-a-row Women’s Super League champions Chelsea can be followed through the FA Player app, which streams matches live. Each week Sky Sports will also broadcast two WSL matches live, and the BBC one. Emma Hayes’ team’s pursuit of the elusive Women’s Champions League can be followed on the DAZN YouTube channel.

Sky Sports

Premier League 128 live matches

Carabao Cup Exclusive live matches

WSL two live matches per week

TNT Sports

Premier League 52 live matches

Prime Video

Premier League 20 live matches

BBC

FA Cup 18 live matches including final

WSL 1 live match per week

WFA Cup Live matches including the final

ITV

FA Cup 20+ live matches including final

DAZN

Women’s Champions League Live streams

FA Player

WSL Live streams not on BBC/SKY

Women’s League Cup Live streams including final

• Part two of our Pre-Season Briefing, published tomorrow, will focus on the competitions we are participating in in 2023/24, and the noteworthy changes to the laws of the game...