Nicolas Jackson will be aware that there is more competition for a starting spot in the Chelsea side now that Liam Delap has made the move from Ipswich to join the Blues having netted 12 goals for the Tractor Boys last season, despite them being relegated back down to the Championship.

Enzo Maresca should still opt with Jackson to lead the line for Chelsea at the moment while Delap adapts to his new surroundings, it also offers a great angle with super sub as the two strikers are likely to replace at each other at some point regardless of which player Maresca opts to start as they both offer something different.

Jackson should be motivated by this development, he had 35 shots on target during the 24/25 Premier League season (1.41 per 90) with his shot volume remaining high throughout the campaign as well (3.06 per 90). He should get chances here against an LAFC backline which has only managed to keep two clean sheets across their last 10 matches. 

Igor Jesus has won 32 fouls across his 15 appearances in the MLS so far this season (2.33 per 90). His ability to win fouls should be evident here against a Chelsea midfield which can be a little reckless with their challenges at times, particularly Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

Igor Jesus was fouled four times in LAFC’s most recent outing against Sporting KC. He regularly is involved in the ugly part of the game as his foul committed record (0.95 fouls committed per 90) would further indicate. His main opponent here is likely to be Moises Caicedo who averaged 1.88 fouls committed per 90 in the Premier League during the 24/25 season. 

Chelsea are likely to dominate the ball here so Igor Jesus’ ability to win fouls could prove invaluable to LAFC as they attempt to find a foothold in the game which they can then use to try and exploit some of Chelsea’s weaknesses at the back. 

Chelsea ended the 24/25 campaign really strongly with Enzo Maresca leading the youngest side in Premier League history to a top four finish and a European trophy which has set them up perfectly for the inaugural edition of the new look Club World Cup.

The signals coming out of Chelsea are that the Blues are taking this competition very seriously and view it as an opportunity to acclimatise some of their new signings to an elite environment and also face off against some of the best sides in Europe which they didn’t have the opportunity to do during the 24/25 campaign as they were competing in the third tier of European competition.

LAFC have only kept two clean sheets across their last 10 matches in all competitions which is a record that Chelsea should be able to to exploit with the talent they have in the side and their positive end to the 24/25 season which means they should be entering this competition on a high which can help them secure all three points in their opening fixture of the Club World Cup.

Fernandez has shown real improvement in his goal contribution numbers under the tutelage of Enzo Maresca who sees Fernandez as a player that can make a difference in the final third. This has led to a massive increase in Fernandez’s goal contribution numbers.

During the 23/24 season, Fernandez registered just 10 goal contributions under Mauricio Pochettino. The reason for this is that Fernandez was being played in all areas of the midfield at different times and he never quite looked comfortable in this role. During the 24/25 campaign, as Maresca moved him into a more advanced role, he registered 22 goal contributions which directly shows how he has developed in this area over recent seasons. 

Fernandez was superb in the Conference League final, providing a goal and an assist as Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners over Real Betis. Most of the focus from the final was on Cole Palmer but Fernandez has proven himself as an able threat in the final third who can continue to pop up with important goals and assists for Chelsea during the Club World Cup.

Caicedo received 11 cautions in the Premier League during the 24/25 season, more than any other Chelsea player. Only Sasa Lukic, Flynn Downes and Liam Delap (12) picked up more cautions than Moises Caicedo in the entirety of the Premier League during the 24/25 campaign which shows how reckless he can be.

Caicedo averaged 1.88 fouls committed per 90 across the 24/25 season, further suggesting that he could be in the referee’s eyeline this opening game of the Club World Cup, especially when considering his opponent. Caicedo is likely to line up against Igor Jesus in what could be a real battle in the middle of the park between the two South Americans.

Igor Jesus has won 32 fouls across his 15 appearances in the MLS this season (2.33 per 90) which is a record that suggests he could be a problem for the Chelsea midfield, especially in moments where LAFC look to hit the Blues on transition. Jesus was fouled four times in his most recent outing against Sporting KC.

This could end up being quite an entertaining opening game of the Club World Cup for both Chelsea and LAFC, seeing as the MLS outfit have only kept two clean sheets across their last 10 matches. 

LAFC have seen 3+ goals in each of their last six matches in the build up to the Club World Cup. This would suggest that they are quite an open side that will offer Chelsea chances here. They are also a side that can trouble the Blues themselves, LAFC have scored 30 goals across their 16 games in the MLS this season which is the joint most in the Western Conference alongside league leaders Vancouver.