Date: Sunday 15th
December 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 19:00 GMT
Whilst some travelled to Kazakhstan for
the Uefa Conference League win against Astana midweek – and massive respect to
the supporters who made that trip – we’ll field a much-changed side again for
tonight’s Premier League game at home to Brentford.
Courtesy of the weekend results being
kind to us, we remain second in the Premier League going into today’s game,
whilst the visitors start the day 10th in the table. Neither side
has been goal-shy this season, however, only 12 of Chelsea’s 35 goals scored so
far have come at home, whilst Brentford don’t score so readily away from home,
which is just as well, given our defence is not as well-oiled as our attack.
3-1 away win to Astana on Thursday aside,
we come into today’s game off the back of a 4-3 win away to Tottenham last weekend.
Brentford, meanwhile, have had their best start to a Premier League season and
beat Newcastle 4-2 last weekend.
Our home form hasn’t been as strong as
away however, with 3 wins from seven and we know Brentford enjoy playing at
Stamford Bridge, winning their last 3 trips.
Tough one to call but it’s probably fair
to say it won’t be a comfortable evening.
.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Enzo Maresca, says “I know [Thomas Frank] and his team for
many years. He’s doing a great, fantastic job. The way they achieve points, the
way they play, the different style they have it’s top, it’s fantastic. The only
thing I can say is that they play fantastic football. The good thing is they
play in different ways, different styles, so it’s difficult.
At
the same time, I said straight after the Tottenham game, we need our fans for
Sunday’s game. We need them behind us because I have the feeling that it will
be a very tough game. It’s a game that can be decided by tiny details, so we
need to pay attention.”
Brentford
manager, Thomas Frank, meanwhile, says “They [Chelsea] are favourites. They
are maybe the best team in the Premier League right now. They are maybe even
more in-form than Liverpool, even though they are top of the league. They are
playing incredible and are well-coached. Maresca has done a top job.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, captain Reece James (hamstring)
and Wesley Fofana (hamstring) are injured, whilst Pedro Neto is suspended.
Mykhaylo Mudryk is expected to be available again after illness.
For Brentford, Mathias Jensen, Rico
Henry, Aaron Hickey, Gustavo Nunes and Josh Dasilva remain sidelined. Vitaly
Janelt and Kristoffer Ajer are available.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez;
Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Madueke;
Jackson
BRENTFORD (Possible line-up): Flekken;
Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Van den Berg; Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Damsgaard,
Lewis-Potter; Wissa
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 0-2 Brentford
(28th October 2023)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: DDWWWW
BRENTFORD: LWDWLW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea are without a win in the last five meetings with Brentford.
- Brentford have won all three of their Premier League games at
Stamford Bridge.
- Chelsea have won four league games in a row, scoring at least three
times in each of the past three.
- Chelsea are the league’s top scorers with 35 goals, four more than Brentford.
- Chelsea have only lost one of their previous 12 Premier League
London derbies.
- Brentford have taken one point from a possible 21 in away games
this season.
- Brentford have lost six consecutive top-flight away fixtures
against London rivals since October 2023.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 3-1 Brentford
