How 'excited' Delap's debut showed striker can be Chelsea's No9

New signing Liam Delap and Chelsea’s top-scoring striker last season, Nicolas Jackson, both produced eye-catching assists but were not on the pitch together as their side opened their 2025 Fifa Club World Cup campaign with a hard-earned 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in Atlanta.

Speaking afterwards, Delap said he wants to “thrive off the competition” to be a starting centre-forward at the club, having whipped in a cross 15 minutes after coming on for Enzo Fernandez to score Chelsea’s second.

Chelsea have repeatedly been linked with former African Footballer of the Year and Serie A Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, who top-scored in Turkiye last season on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli.

After a bright start for his new club, could England youth international Delap be the right choice for the lowest scorers in the Premier League top five last season?

78′ GOAL! Enzo Fernandez doubles the lead with an assist from Delap: 2-0!

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Liam Delap: Chelsea competition ‘hard’

“It’s a really happy feeling,” 22-year-old Delap told Channel 5, reflecting on his impactful part in the win over the MLS team after replacing Jackson in the 64th minute at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“I’m so excited to be here, so to play my first game and contribute is a good feeling. They’ve welcomed me really well.

“I’ve only had a few sessions here but I can’t wait for even more. It’s always healthy to have competition. It’s football and this is an incredible club, so it’s going to be hard. You’ve got to thrive off the competition.”

Delap goals: ‘He’s going for it’

Despite Ipswich rarely threatening to stay in the Premier League in 2024/25, Delap contributed an impressive 12 goals and three assists in his first season in the top flight, persuading Chelsea to trigger his release clause on a deal until 2031.

“The number nine at Chelsea is a big shirt to fill but he’s probably thinking ‘you know what? This is easy,’” Newcastle forward Callum Wilson told the broadcaster.

“A lot of players shy away from the number nine shirt because of the history. It’s not notoriously been successful but he’s taken it on and he seems like a young lad who’s really ready to give it a go. He’s going for it.

They’ve both got an assist each, so it puts something in the manager’s mind. Delap has come in as a substitute and still performed, so the manager knows he can trust him.

“He’s going to take time but that will do his confidence the world of good. For [manager] Enzo [Maresca], it’s about how you supply the forward players with the ball.

“Phases of play, building up from the back, having full-backs and centre-backs who can play through the lines is what’s going to give Cole Palmer time. He gets the ball and gives the forwards opportunities to go and flourish.”

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‘Chelsea fans wanted Victor Osimhen’

Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel sees promise in Delap but believes 26-year-old Nigeria talisman Osimen was supporters’ first-choice attacking arrival.

“We needed someone to come in and finish those chances,” said the former midfielder, who won every major domestic trophy at least once and the Europa League and Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge between 2006 and 2017.

“He wasn’t the guy the fans wanted – the fans wanted Victor Osimhen to come to the football club, but the club decided to go with Delap.

“He’s young, he’s going to improve and get better. Hopefully, he hits the ground running and then he’s going to quieten those doubters. I wish him well; I hope he succeeds.

“From the runs I saw today behind defenders and that assist, he can be the guy who will finish those chances.”

Nicolas Jackson ‘will elevate game’

Jackson joined Chelsea on an eight-year contract for more than £30.1m in 2023, scoring 17 goals in all competitions in his first season and 13 in his second, as well as a total of six assists.

Against LAFC, the 23-year-old cleverly set up Noni Madueke for a chance that was saved by Hugo Lloris before playing an even better pass to send Pedro Neto clear, the winger responding with a scintillating run and turn before firing in the first-half opener.

“Jackson knows he’s got someone breathing down his neck,” said Wilson. “That will elevate his game to work on the things he needs to work on.”

Mikel believes the Senegal international will take some dislodging. “Let’s not forget, Nicolas Jackson is going to be the main man,” he asserted.

“He just needs to work on his finishing. He’s still going to be the guy who starts the season. If he’s not scoring, Delap gets his opportunity.

“It’s just the way it works – healthy competition is very important.”

Chelsea Fifa Club World Cup 2025 fixtures, schedule, results

Chelsea are in Group D with MLS side LAFC, Tunisian team Esperance and Brazilian league leaders Flamengo. Here’s when and where they play each of their initial rivals.

Monday, June 16

Group D: Chelsea 2-0 Los Angeles FC (Atlanta)

Friday, June 20

Flamengo vs Chelsea (Philadelphia, 19:00)

Wednesday, June 25

Esperance vs Chelsea (Philadelphia, 02:00)

Chelsea Club World Cup knockout stage path

Chelsea will be eliminated if they finish outside of the top two in their group. Otherwise, they will advance to a last-16 match against a team from Group C, which contains Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors and Benfica.

That game will be on Saturday, June 28 and take place in Charlotte at 21:00 if they are runners-up in their group or be held on Sunday, June 29 in Miami at 21:00 if they win their section.

Should they reach the quarter-finals, Chelsea will face a team from Group A – Palmeiras, Al-Ahly, Porto or Inter Miami – or Group B, which features Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and Seattle Sounders.

That game will take place on Saturday, July 5 in Philadelphia at 02:00 if they are runners-up or in Atlanta at 17:00 if they win their group.

Their semi-final will be in New Jersey, taking place at 20:00 on Tuesday, July 8 if they are runners-up or at the same time on Wednesday, July 9 if they win their group.

The final is also in New Jersey at 20:00 on Sunday, July 13.

Chelsea Club World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Robert Sanchez, Gaga Slonina

Defenders: Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Mamadou Sarr

Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos

Forwards: Liam Delap, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer

Chelsea at the Club World Cup: Live stream, TV channel in UK

Live coverage of 40 of the matches is on DAZN, with 23 on Channel 5. DAZN Subscribers or Freemium member can tune in as part of their existing membership, while non-subscribers can register for a free account to start watching.

Fans can watch on the go via the DAZN App on smart TVs, phones, tablets, games consoles and streaming devices.

Club World Cup 2025: Which Chelsea games are on Channel 5?

Channel 5 will also be showing games for free. John Obi Mikel, Sami Khedira, Ronaldo, Christian Vieri, Shay Given, Callum Wilson, Andros Townsend, Ade Oladipo, Kelly Somers and Fabrizio Romano are among the pundits and presenters.

The co-commentators are Andros Townsend, Michael Brown, Brad Friedel, Rob Green, Danny Higginbotham, Don Hutchison, Jonas Olsson and Anita Asante.

A highlights and analysis show, The Press, will be presented by James Alcott and Julien Laurens and analyse each day’s games on 5’s streaming service.

Here’s the full list of confirmed and potential Chelsea games being shown on 5.