Chelsea vs LAFC live: Latest team news and updates from Club World Cup

Hugo Lloris starts in goal for LAFC, with Olivier Giroud primed to make an impact off the bench against his former club.

LAFC XI: Lloris; Palencia, Long, Segura, Hollingshead; Tillman, Jesus, Delgado; Ordaz, Ebobisse, Bouanga.

Enzo Maresca resists the urge to start Liam Delap immediately as Nicolas Jackson returns from suspension up front.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson.

Having won the race to sign Liam Delap earlier in the summer, Enzo Maresca has predicted big things from Chelsea’s new No 9 – though has refused to confirm his place in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

“I never say to a player they will be first choice,” Maresca explained. ‘The message is the same: you arrive, you work hard, you work more than, in this case, the other No.9s, and you can be the first choice. The conversation with Liam was quite clear; he was keen to join us because he knows how we play.

“Liam knows quite well how important the No.9 is. Personally, I don’t see any problem about that; Liam is quite relaxed and easy. He has done well since he arrived and is working well. We know each other from years ago, so I know what he can give us, and he knows what we can give to him to help him improve to become a better player.

“Hopefully, in terms of the No.9, he can score goals for us.”

The Club World Cup is underway. Here’s every fixture and the full schedule:

Thomas Tuchel was musing about the knock-on effect of the Club World Cup on next season’s title race. “I think it will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there,” he said.

What Tuchel did not mention is that Chelsea, disadvantaged as a result, qualified for the Club World Cup because of him. It feels a very different era given that Enzo Maresca is the fifth man to manage them since – Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor, Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino are the others – and that Reece James is the only player to take the field in Tuchel’s 2021 Champions League final victory who is in the squad they have taken to the United States.

The Fifa Club World Cup is underway, launching a jam-packed month of action in the United States that will see 32 of the best club sides in world football vie for international glory.

Several veteran footballers like Lionel Messi will attempt to add to their legacy by winning the ultimate prize in New Jersey, whilst other promising youngsters will be looking to announce themselves on the international stage.

A handful of fine performances may also convince clubs to table bids once the transfer window reopens too.

The Club World Cup continues with Chelsea facing LAFC in Atlanta. Kick off is at 8pm BST for the Group D fixture.