Chelsea's quest to return to the top four under Maurizio Sarri this season has started well with the Blues taking maximum points from their opening two matches.
A routine win over Huddersfield on the opening day was followed by a dramatic victory against Arsenal last time out but next up for Chelsea is a fixture that they have struggled badly in recently: Newcastle United away.
Since their last win at St James' Park back in 2011, Chelsea have drawn once and been beaten four times in five games, including a 3-0 hammering in Antonio Conte's final Premier League game in charge a few months ago.
So how will Sarri go about arresting the St James' Park slump? Here are three big decisions he has to make...
How to protect Kepa
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Opposition teams will try and target Kepa during his early days at Chelsea. (Picture: Getty)jpg[/img]
Sarri would have been alarmed with the frequency at which Arsenal peppered his new goalkeeper with shots. The Gunners had 15 in total, with six - it should have been far more - hitting the target, compared to Huddersfield the previous week where he was a virtual spectator. It was one extreme to the other for Kepa.
Kepa will feel that he should have dealt better with one of Arsenal's attempts on target as he got a hand to Henrikh Mkhitaryan's strike from the edge of the box but couldn't prevent it from squirming in.
It must be said that the closing down from his defenders was virtually non-existent and as Chelsea transition away from a counter-attacking team into an attack-minded one under Sarri, they will have to tighten up considerably at the back.
Pedro praises Kepa
I think he's very young but with experience as well. He's played a lot of games in Spain with Athletic Bilbao and also played for the national team.
He's very clever and very good in the air, he's fast when trying to save the ball and for this reason he's a good option for the team and he makes us stronger.
It's very different [in England], I know that and I've spoken with him. For example, from corners it's very difficult to defend them with the central defenders and strikers but he knows this and he's seen in training the fast rhythm of the game.
Chelsea would also be wise to try and limit the number of crosses into the box - from both open play and set-pieces - from Newcastle on Sunday. Matt Ritchie, in particular, can be a danger when cutting inside from the right, as he showed against Spurs with an assist for Joselu.
Courtesy of his position, goalkeeping style and Spanish passport, Kepa will invariably be compared to David Gea, who had a similarly spindly physique when he first came to the Premier League.
It took a while for De Gea to fill out and Kepa will have to go through a similar transformation at Chelsea. In the meantime, his defenders will have to try to relieve some pressure on him by stopping deliveries at source out wide and winning aerial duels when they do come in.
Virgil Van Dijk offered a defensive clinic in that regard against Crystal Palace on Monday and Kepa will require similar protection to that enjoyed by Alisson at Selhurst Park.
The Marcos Alonso conundrum
Although a defender by trade, Marcos Alonso is renowned for his attacking qualities and after two games this season he has scored a match-winning goal, registered an assist and won a penalty. There is a reason why Alonso is one of the costliest defenders in Fantasy Football.
Yet while Alonso is a buccaneering force going forward, he is regularly at risk of being found out defensively. A clear tactic of Arsenal's as they sought to get back into the game on Saturday, was to target the Spaniard's left-hand side.
He was caught out completely by a slide-rule pass from Mateo Guendouzi into Hector Bellerin which led to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fluffing a gilt-edged chance from close-range, moments before Chelsea doubled their lead.
When Arsenal's equaliser eventually came through Alex Iwobi, the attack was formed down Alonso's left flank while the Nigerian should have put Arsenal in front from a near identical situation shortly afterwards. Too often, Alonso sat off his opponent, allowing crosses to come in or passes to be slid in behind him.
Alonso's defensive deficiencies were masked somewhat during the Conte-era as he was playing as a left wing-back which meant there was always a central defender spare to cover his flank. There is also a lingering suspicion that Alonso doesn't quite possess the mobility and speed that Sarri favours from his full-backs.
Now that Sarri has Chelsea set-up a flat back four, there is far greater onus on Alonso to provide defensive stability and if he fails to deal effectively with Ritchie, Emerson Palmieri is ready and waiting in the wings.
Who makes way for Hazard?
Following his exploits for Belgium at the World Cup, Eden Hazard has been eased back in gently during Chelsea's start to the season, being named as a substitute in both league games so far.
He has still managed to make a significant contribution, though, providing two assists from his cameo outings including one for Marcos Alonso's winner against Arsenal.
Only Manchester City's crossing enthusiast Benjamin Mendy has provided more Premier League assists than Hazard this season, even though he has only played for 43 minutes.
Now fully up to speed, Hazard is ready to assume his place in the starting XI, but the question is, who drops out? Chelsea haven't been lacking in attacking intent without him in the side, scoring four goals when he wasn't on the pitch.
Pedro has started the season in good goalscoring form, netting in both league games so far, while Alvaro Morata ended a run of one goal in his last 14 Premier League fixtures by finding the net against Arsenal.
Willian - linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United this summer - has completed Sarri's attacking triumvirate and he provided Chelsea's first assist this season, picking out N'Golo Kante to scuff in the opener against Huddersfield.
With no goals to his name so far this season and following a subdued showing against Arsenal, though, it could be Willian who makes way, particularly as he has started on the left flank that Hazard has made his own during his time at Stamford Bridge.
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