Chelsea will look to build on the midweek cup win when they take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.
The 2023/24 Premier League season continues this weekend with Gameweek 27. The latest round of fixtures gets underway with six simultaneous games on Saturday, one of which will have Brentford welcoming Chelsea to the Gtech Community Stadium in a West London Derby.
2023/24 has been a frustrating season thus far for Brentford. The West London outfit bowed out of the EFL Cup and the FA Cup in the third round while being in a precarious position in the Premier League. The Bees are 16th in the standings, with 18th-placed Luton Town only five points behind them.
As for Chelsea, they are not in a much better position. While the Blues reached the EFL Cup final and have progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals, they will unlikely qualify for European competition for the second successive season. Mauricio Pochettino’s men are 11th on the table, winning only ten of their 15 matches thus far.
The reverse fixture had Chelsea suffering a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge to Brentford, with Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Brentford
Thomas Frank has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Chelsea on Saturday, the Brentford manager will be bereft of the services of seven first-team players.
Ben Mee is the latest absentee after picking up an ankle injury earlier this week against West Ham United. The veteran defender has joined Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Ethan Pinnock (ankle), Rico Henry (knee), Joshua Dasilva (knee), Kevin Schade (groin), and Bryan Mbeumo (ankle) in the treatment room.
Mark Flekken will take his spot between the sticks, with Brentford lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him against Chelsea. Meanwhile, the central defensive unit should consist of Mathias Jorgensen, Kristoffer Ajer, and Nathan Collins. Mads Roerslev and Sergio Reguilon should be the two wing-backs.
The duo will help out on both ends, providing the width in the final third while transforming the backline into a back five during the defensive phases. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Mathias Jensen, Vitaly Janelt, and Christian Norgaard. Finally, Yoane Wissa and Ivan Toney should be the two strikers.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Flekken; Jorgensen, Ajer, Collins; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Toney, Wissa
Chelsea
Unlike his counterpart in the Brentford dugout, Mauricio Pochettino might receive a positive update on the team news front ahead of the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. The Chelsea boss will be without eight first-team players on Saturday.
Pochettino hopes to see Thiago Silva returning to action this weekend after missing the last few games due to a groin issue. In addition, Marc Cucurella is closing in on returning to action. But Saturday’s game might have come too soon for him.
Meanwhile, Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Benoit Badiashile (groin), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Carney Chukwuemeka (ankle), Romeo Lavia (hamstring), and Christopher Nkunku (knock) remain in the treatment room.
Djordje Petrovic should return between the sticks after Robert Sanchez started the FA Cup tie against Leeds United. Chelsea should line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Brentford, with Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill, and Ben Chilwell forming the backline.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot. Conor Gallagher will reprise his usual no. 10 role, with Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling being the two wide attackers. Finally, Nicolas Jackson should spearhead the Chelsea attack against Brentford.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
Key Stats
- Brentford are unbeaten in their last four league games against Chelsea (W3 L1). They can complete only their second-ever league double over Chelsea and their first since 1938/39. The Bees have kept a clean sheet in their last three Premier League meetings with Chelsea.
- Brentford have lost five of their most recent six league games. They have already suffered six home defeats in this season’s Premier League, three times as many as they did last term.
- Chelsea have won ten of their 25 Premier League matches this campaign, just one victory short of their final tally in the whole of last season. The Blues have won their most recent four Premier League London derbies, as many as they had in their previous 16.
- Brentford have conceded seven goals in their last two matches at the Gtech Community Stadium and can lose three successive matches at home for the first time in this season’s Premier League.
- Cole Palmer has been involved in 16 goals in his last 17 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, scoring ten times and providing six assists.
Player to Watch
Raheem Sterling
Ivan Toney was unsurprisingly a candidate for this section, but we have picked Raheem Sterling as our Player to Watch. The English international has been the subject of speculation in the last few weeks, with Saudi Pro League clubs considering signing him.
While the 29-year-old is happy and content at Chelsea, he needs to prove his credentials and nail down his spot in the team in the coming weeks. So, the game against Brentford gives him an opportunity to show that he belongs.
Prediction
Brentford 1-2 Chelsea
Brentford appeared comfortable in the 2-0 win over Chelsea in the reverse fixture. While the Blues have not set the stage alight much since then, they have looked better than their hosts, who have had a soft underbelly throughout the 2023/24 season.
While that is also true for Chelsea, the away side should find a way past Mark Flekken twice. Meanwhile, Ivan Toney should continue his fine run of form since returning from his betting ban. But that might only be a consolation goal, with Chelsea handing Brentford a 2-1 defeat.