Enzo Maresca makes Liam Delap and Andrey Santos decisions for Chelsea vs Los Angeles

Liam Delap will have to wait for his Chelsea debut in the Blues’ FIFA Club World Cup opening match against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta.

The 22-year-old striker, signed for £30million earlier in the month, has been named on the bench for this evening’s clash. The Blues kick off their adventure in the revamped competition in the United States tonight at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Enzo Maresca has – unsurprisingly – gone strong for Chelsea’s first game of the Club World Cup, with Nicolas Jackson set to lead the line this evening. Elsewhere, Robert Sanchez starts in goal with Filip Jorgensen named on the bench.

Club captain Reece James starts at right-back, with Malo Gusto on the bench, while Tosin Adarabioyo partners Levi Colwill at the centre of the Chelsea backline. Marc Cucurella starts at left-back, with either one of him or James expected to invert into midfield.

Romeo Lavia makes a start with Enzo Fernandez named on the bench, named alongside Chelsea’s Player of the Season Moises Caicedo. In front of the midfield duo are Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jackson, with Delap forced to wait for his debut.

Elsewhere on the bench, Andrey Santos – who could make his competitive debut for the Blues – is on there, with the likes of Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr, who both arrived earlier in the month. Fellow new signing Mike Penders has not been named in the matchday squad despite travelling with the rest of the players to the United States.

Chelsea XI to face Los Angeles FC: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.

Chelsea bench: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Sarr, Anselmino, Essugo, Fernandez, Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Nkunku, Delap, Guiu.