Brentford FC welcome Chelsea FC to the Brentford community stadium this Saturday in what promises to be an entertaining encounter.
Brentford will come into this match on the back of a two-one win against West Ham United as well as a draw against Liverpool the week before. It means the newly promoted club find themselves in an impressive seventh place and just three points behind Liverpool in second.
Brentford will know that if they can get three points against the European champions not only would it be a shock, but with games against underperforming Leicester City, Burnley FC, and Norwich before the next international break, they could find themselves challenging for European places.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will come into the match off the back of a three-goal to one victory over Southampton FC. It means that Chelsea find themselves top of the premier league a mear one point ahead of Liverpool in second.
Chelsea know that if they can overcome Brentford not only would it be a great victory, but with matches against Norwich, Newcastle United, Burnley FC before the international break they will feel confident they can consolidate their place at the top of the premier league table.
Team News
Thomas Frank has got several injury concerns ahead of the match against Chelsea on Saturday. Summer signing Kristoffer Ajer, Mads Sorensen, and Shandon Baptiste are all set to miss out with Vitaley Janelt also set to be sidelined in what is a big blow for Brentford following his brilliant start to the season.
Thomas Tuchel has got some positive and negative injury news ahead of the match Brentford. The positive injury news is that N'Golo Kante will be available again having recovered from covid as well as Reece James who was back in training this week. However, Thiago Silva is definitely going to be absent following his exploits with Brazil, while Antonio Rudiger is also worries following the international break.
Predicted Lineups
Brentford FC: Raya, Pinnock, Jansson, Jørgensen, Canós, Henry, Onyeka, Nørgaard, Jensen, Toney, Mbeumo
Chelsea FC: Mendy, Christiansen, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, James, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, Lukaku, Werner
Players to watch
After his staggering 31 goals in 45 matches for Brentford in the Championship last season. Many people wondered whether Ivan Toney could replicate his form in the premier league and so far this season he has been one of Brentford's best players.
As well as being a clinical finisher, Toney is also very tall and very athletic meaning that he is a nightmare to try and defend against because he can win ariel battles, or if a defender sits off him he can run with the ball.
Brentford will be hoping that he can disrupt and unnerve the Chelsea defenders on Saturday.
Up until Frank Lampard was sacked many people expected Marcos Alonso to leave Chelsea, however, when Tuchel took over he reverted to a back three and Alonso has thrived since. His performances have been so good that he has become a fixture in Tuchel's team.
Although his defensive abilities are not the best, in terms of providing an attacking threat out wide for Chelsea he is deadly in particular making runs to the box. On top of all that he has also got a sweet left foot meaning he is a danger from set-pieces.
Chelsea will be hoping Alonso can stop Brentford's wingbacks from getting forward as well as score a goal.
Last time out
The last time these two faced each other was on the 28th January 2017 in the FA Cup with Chelsea demolishing Brentford by four goals to nil.
The opening few minutes of the match were very cagey, neither side wanted to make a mistake and kept giving away free kicks. Brentford paid for giving away so many free-kicks in the 13th minute when Willian rocketed the ball into the top right-hand corner following a foul on Pedro.
Barely seven minutes later Chelsea got their second this time it was Pedro on the scoresheet. Michy Batshuayi beat several Brentford defenders before passing the ball on the edge of the box who smashed his shot into the bottom right-hand corner giving the keeper no chance.
When the second goal went in Chelsea kept pushing to try and get a third however Brentford stood firm and went into halftime only two goals one.
The second half was much like the first half, Chelsea kept pressing trying to find a way past the stubborn Brentford defence however they didn't budge.
Finally, in the 69th minute, Chelsea got their third. Chelsea won the ball back from Brentford high up the pitch and counter attacked Pedro played the ball out to Branislav Ivanovic who rifled a shot from the right-hand side of the box into the bottom right-hand corner.
Chelsea then put the icing on the cake when they got a fourth in the 81st minute. Ivanovic made a barnstorming run into the box however he was fouled and Chelsea were given a penalty which Batshuayi dispatched comfortably.
How to watch
The match will be on Saturday Night Football live on Sky Sports with coverage getting underway from 5 pm with a kick-off time of 5:30 pm.