Trio of £4.0m defenders start in 3pm kick-offs with Hazard on Chelsea bench

A trio of £4.0m defenders have all earned places in their starting line-ups ahead of the first Saturday 3pm kick-offs of the new seasong.

As expected, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lee Peltier and Ben Hamer are all involved from the beginning for Crystal Palace, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town respective.

Meanwhile, Eden Hazard (£10.5m) has been named on Chelsea’s bench at the John Smith’s Stadium with Pedro (£6.5m) and Willian (£7.5m) starting on the wing. There was no place in the match squad for Callum Hudson-Odoi (£4.5m).

Nathan Aké (£5.0m) was passed fit to play for Bournemouth while key figure Josh King (£6.5m) features in a two-man attack with Callum Wilson (£6.0m).

FPL Sol Bamba (£4.5m) gets a start in central midfield for Cardiff after being tested in that role towards the end of pre-season.

Ryan Sessegnon (£6.5m) has kept his place in attacking midfield at Fulham while absences at the back have forced Joe Bryan (£5.0m) into an early debut at left-back. Calum Chambers (£4.5m) also starts at centre-back with Maxime Le Marchand (£4.5m) alongside him.

Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m) looks to be in an advanced position for Crystal Palace, as Christian Benteke (£6.5m) also features from the beginning.

BOURNEMOUTH XI (4-4-2): Begovic; Daniels, Aké, S Cook, A Smith; Fraser, Surman, Gosling, Brooks; King, Wilson.

CARDIFF CITY XI (4-1-4): Etheridge; Bennett, Manga, Morrison, Peltier; Bamba; Hoilett, Ralls, Paterson, Mendez-Laing; Reid.

FULHAM XI (4-3-3): Fabri; Bryan, Le Marchand, Chambers, Christie; Seri, Cairney, McDonald; R Sessegnon, Mitrović, Schürrle.

CRYSTAL PALACE XI (4-4-2): Hennessey; van Aanholt, Tomkins, Sakho, Wan-Bissaka; Schlupp, McArthur, Milivojevic, Townsend; Benteke, Zaha.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN XI (3-5-1-1): Hamer; Kongolo, Schindler, Zanka; Löwe, Mooy, Billing, Hogg, Hadergjonaj; Pritchard, Mounié.

CHELSEA XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Alonso, Rudiger, David Luiz, Azpilicueta; Barkley, Kante, Jorginho; Pedro, Morata, Willian.

WATFORD XI (4-4-2): Foster; Holebas, Kabasele, Cathcart, Janmaat; Pereyra, Capoue, Doucouré, Hughes; Deeney, Gray.

BRIGHTON XI (4-4-1-1): Ryan; Bernardo, Duffy, Dunk, Bruno; March, Pröpper, Stephens, Knockaert; Groß; Murray.

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