Last updated on August 16, 2025
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Both are here, both have settled quickly, and both have given the boss a very real dilemma for the first whistle of the season.
Image credit: Bridgways
The Premier League is back — and Chelsea kick things off with a headache every manager secretly loves.
Two new faces have wasted no time making their mark.
João Pedro, the silky Brazilian with a £60 million price tag, has brought flair and finesse from Brighton.
Table of Contents
Liam Delap, fresh from a breakout season at Ipswich, offers raw power and a predator’s instinct in the box.
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Both are fit, firing, and hungry.
But come opening day against Crystal Palace, only one name can be on that teamsheet.
Transfer & Background Context
It’s not every summer Chelsea splash out on two strikers in one window, but this year’s rebuild has been anything but ordinary.
João Pedro’s arrival from Brighton was a statement.
At just 22, he’d already shown he could light up the Premier League — a forward who dribbles like a winger, finishes like a poacher, and plays with the easy swagger only Brazilians seem to have.
Chelsea paid around £60 million for the privilege, tying him down on a long-term deal as part of Enzo Maresca’s attacking blueprint.
Then came Liam Delap — a different kind of weapon.
Signed from Ipswich for roughly half the fee, the 21-year-old is a striker in the old-school mould: tall, strong, relentless in the press, and deadly in the box.
He was Ipswich’s top scorer last season, a constant handful for defenders, and his move to Stamford Bridge is seen as the next step in his fast-rising career.
Now, both are here, both have settled quickly, and both have given the boss a very real dilemma for the first whistle of the season.
Preseason Form & Early Impressions
Chelsea opened their preseason with a confident 2–0 win over Bayer Leverkusen—a match that gave fans an early glimpse of what might be coming.
João Pedro wasted no time making his mark, coming off the bench to slot home with composure.
Youngster Estevão had already lit things up with the opener, while Jamie Gittens added flashes of creativity that kept the crowd buzzing.
Liam Delap, handed a starting role, struggled to get involved—Sky Sports noted he managed just 13 touches before being subbed in the second half.
The final warm-up against AC Milan at Stamford Bridge had a bit more bite.
Chelsea struck early—first through an own goal, then when João Pedro climbed highest to head in Pedro Neto’s cross, bringing his tally to five goals in as many preseason games.
A red card for Milan tipped the momentum firmly in Chelsea’s favour.
Enter Liam Delap after the hour mark, and the mood shifted again.
Calmly burying a penalty for 3–0, he wasn’t done—capping things off with a well-taken second goal to seal a 4–1 victory.
From a quiet start to a match-winning cameo, it was the perfect way to silence doubters.
What the Numbers Say
- João Pedro: Scored in every preseason game he’s played—showing the kind of rhythm and confidence any manager dreams of.
- Liam Delap: Uneventful against Leverkusen, but his Milan brace showed he can change a game in minutes.
Preseason hasn’t just been about fitness—it’s been a live audition for Chelsea’s frontline.
João Pedro has offered consistent quality and clever link-up play, while Delap has delivered bursts of decisive, physical finishing.
Enzo Maresca now has two strikers making a very strong case for opening day selection.
2024–25 Season Stats Snapshot (From Brighton & Ipswich)
Before they put on the Chelsea jersey, both João Pedro and Liam Delap wrote their stories elsewhere last season—and here’s what made them stand out.
João Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion)
João Pedro wasn’t just scoring—he was orchestrating.
In 27 Premier League appearances, he struck 10 goals and added 6 assists, logging 1,953 minutes of flashes of brilliance.
That’s roughly a goal every 196 minutes, and a goal contribution (goals + assists) nearly every 122 minutes—both solid returns for a forward who drifts, links, and finishes with flair.
Why it felt electric
One moment he’s dropping wide to thread a pass—next, he’s bending it into the corner when you’re not looking.
Against Arsenal, his ice-cold penalty stopped the title chasers in their tracks and gave Brighton a lifeline.
Liam Delap (Ipswich Town)
Ipswich Town leaned on Delap with good reason.
He finished as their Premier League top scorer with 12 goals, plus chipped in 2 assists across 2,612 minutes and 37 appearances.
That’s about a goal every 218 minutes—not bad for a striker playing in a side that spent much of the season under pressure.
Why it mattered
His goals weren’t just numbers—they were ripples of hope.
Who can forget his composed finish in that famous 2–0 win over Chelsea, or the brace that rescued Ipswich when survival seemed impossible?
Stats Comparison Table
| Player | Club (2024–25) | Apps | Goals | Assists | Mins Played | Minutes per Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| João Pedro | Brighton | 27 | 10 | 6 | 1,953 | ~196 min |
| Liam Delap | Ipswich Town | 37 | 12 | 2 | 2,612 | ~218 min |
Why Both Deserve a Nod
João Pedro delivered with artistry—even in tight spaces.
His creative instincts and finishing precision gave Brighton a spark.
Liam Delap, on the other hand, was a mission statement: powerful, opportunistic, and relentless for Ipswich.
Both wore their back pages with pride—now the question is who’ll truly own the striker’s role come opening whistle.
Playing Style & Strengths
João Pedro
If you want an attacker who knits moves together and decides them, João Pedro is your guy.
He’s a clean first-touch player who likes receiving between the lines, rolling defenders, and slipping give-and-goes before arriving in the box.
His data profile backs the eye test: high ranks for progressive passes, shot-creating actions and successful take-ons show a forward who both creates and carries danger, not just waits for it.
At Brighton he thrived as a roaming 9/10—dropping off the centre-backs to link midfield and attack, then ghosting into the area late.
Technical skill & movement.
PremierLeague.com’sAdrian Clarke highlighted his ability to receive under pressure, combine, and attack the box, traits that translate to either a false-nine or second-striker brief.
Versatility across the front.
He’s comfortable as a centre-forward, a support striker or off the left, which gives Maresca interchangeability with the likes of Nkunku and Palmer.
Brighton’s own analytics write-up noted how naturally he toggles between creator and finisher.
Penalty-taking & composure.
He’s a proven taker from the spot—his 2024/25 scouting report shows elite rates for penalties won/made, and his Europa League run before that cemented the reputation.
It’s calm technique more than power.
What it means for Chelsea.
João Pedro gives you control: keeping attacks alive, drawing fouls, and upping the quality of the last pass while still threatening the six-yard box.
Think “flow plus finish.”
Liam Delap
Delap is your chaos engine. He stretches backlines with straight-line pace, wrestles centre-halves, and lives for hard, front-post runs.
Under Kieran McKenna he grew into a classic English No 9—power through contact, relentless pressing, and a knack for attacking space early.
- Physical presence & hold-up.
Managers and scouts keep coming back to the same notes: “back-to-goal strength,” “loves the physical contact,” and “different beast” after Ipswich sharpened his game—precisely the profile that pins defences and creates second balls for onrushing 8s and wingers.
Liam Delap what a goal. Defenders must really hate playing against Chelsea. You simply can't keep up against Delap and Joao Pedro for 90 minutes pic.twitter.com/ECEOaO0DLS
— CFCDatro (@CFCDatro) August 10, 2025
- Aerial and penalty-box threat.
He contests and wins his share in the air and times those near-post darts well; FBref’s 24/25 report shows solid aerial metrics and strong take-on success for a big striker—useful for rolling defenders in tight spaces.
- Poacher instincts.
The best Delap actions are simple: burst across a centre-back, one-touch finish, repeat.
Features from The Guardian and Sky Sports both underline the “old-school centre-forward” feel—arriving early, finishing quickly, and pressing like mad once possession is lost.
What it means for Chelsea.
Delap gives you direct threat and territory: he drags the block deeper, opens room for creators, and turns scruffy sequences into shots. Think “pressure, presence, payoff.”
One-line contrast
- João Pedro: control the move, then finish it.
- Liam Delap: break the game open, then bury it.
Tactical Fit for the EPL Opener
Choosing between João Pedro and Liam Delap isn’t just about form—it’s about how Chelsea want to play and what opponents might throw at them.
When João Pedro is the better choice
If Chelsea want to control the game, keep the ball, and build attacks through the midfield, João Pedro is ideal.
His movement, quick passing, and ability to drift into pockets of space make him perfect for a team that wants to dominate possession and unlock a compact defence.
Against a side that sits deep, his clever runs and link-up play could create the chances Chelsea need.
When Liam Delap is the better choice
Delap shines when the game calls for directness and impact.
If opponents line up high and leave gaps behind, his pace, physicality, and poacher instincts make him deadly on counter-attacks.
Set pieces, crosses into the box, and scrappy chances all suit him. He’s the player who can turn chaos into a goal.
How the opponent’s style matters
Opponents can adapt—sometimes they press high, sometimes they sit deep.
If they press, Delap’s strength and quick runs could stretch them and create space.
If they sit back, João Pedro’s technical skill and creativity might be better to break them down.
Bottom line: Both have clear strengths, and Maresca’s choice will likely depend on how he wants Chelsea to play on the day.
Managerial Options
Chelsea’s boss has a tasty problem on his hands.
With João Pedro and Liam Delap both ready to go, the choices are as exciting as they are tricky.
Start one, bench the other: One could lead the line from the first whistle, while the other waits for a chance to change the game.
It’s about balancing rhythm and impact—sometimes the starter needs to hold the fort, while the sub brings energy and unpredictability.
Rotation matters: Over a packed Premier League schedule, both players are likely to see time.
Maresca could rotate them based on fitness, opponent, or even just to keep the squad fresh.
Fans might get to see different combinations as the season unfolds.
Tactical substitutions: There’s also the late-game chess move.
Delap’s strength and finishing could be unleashed against a tired defence, or João Pedro could come on to unlock a stubborn backline with his clever movement.
Either way, the manager has options that could tip the balance in Chelsea’s favour.
The Selection Dilemma
Here’s the thing: Chelsea fans are fortunate right now.
Both have earned their place on the pitch, and both give Chelsea exciting options to kick off the Premier League season.
Image credit: Chelsea Dodgers
Both João Pedro and Liam Delap are in serious form, and both have shown they can make a difference on the pitch.
That’s a good problem to have.
Enzo Maresca now faces a choice many managers dream of: who leads the line in the Premier League opener?
Do you start the silky, creative João Pedro who can unlock a tight defence? Or the powerful, instinctive Delap who can terrorize tired defenders late in the game?
Either way, Chelsea win. The dilemma isn’t about weakness—it’s about having two top-quality forwards ready to fire.
It’s the kind of selection headache that makes fans excited and social media buzz like crazy.
Verdict & Fan Debate
At the end of the day, there’s no wrong choice.
João Pedro dazzles with creativity, movement, and composure, while Liam Delap brings power, presence, and a nose for goals.
Both have earned their place on the pitch, and both give Chelsea exciting options to kick off the Premier League season.
