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The latest Chelsa team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of the Blues' clash with Brentford.
Chelsea are back to Premier League action this weekend, when they take on Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Blues will head into the match in high spirits, having forced their way into the title race conversation with a gutsy 4-2 win away to rivals Tottenham last weekend.
As things stand, the Blues sit second in the league table - four points off current leaders Liverpool, who do have the advantage of a game in hand over Chelsea and fellow title contenders Arsenal and Man City.
Ahead of this weekend's clash with the Bees, a second string Chelsea side cruised to a 3-1 win over Astana in the Europa Conference League. The match, against relatively low calibre opposition, allowed Blues manager Enzo Maresca to rest the vast majority of his preferred Premier League line-up, with Pedro Neto the only regular first team starter to be exposed to the sub-zero temperatures in Kazakhstan.
Fresh and raring to go, Chelsea will look to power their way past a Brentford side who have been dire on the road in the 2024/25 campaign, drawing one and losing six away matches so far. This comes in stark contrast to their exceptional home record, which is currently the best in the Premier League. Brentford have also won their last three matches at Stamford Bridge, proving a real bogey team for the Blues during the early days of their rocky transition under new ownership.
Ahead of Sunday afternoon's encounter, we've got the latest Chelsea team news and predicted XI as the Blues look to eat up further ground on league leaders Liverpool:
Goalkeeper and defence
Summer signing Filip Jorgensen was between the sticks for Chelsea's aforementioned win over Astana in midweek, meaning Robert Sanchez is likely to keep his place as the preferred starting Premier League goalkeeper for another week.
At the back, the Blues are still without captain Reece James, who will be out until at least mid-January as he continues to recover from his latest injury setback. He's joined on the treatment table by Wesley Fofana, who is also likely to be sidelined until the middle of next month with a thigh injury.
While it's far from ideal losing two key defenders, the Blues have plenty of backup options fit and raring to go. Maresca has dabbled with Moises Caicedo at right-back of late, and he could well continue this experiment against the travelling Bees. Spare a thought for our recent Wonderkid Power Rankings entrant Malo Gusto, who will be champing at the bit to capitalise on James’ absence.
With Fofana out, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile have emerged as the preferred centre-back fairing, and the back four looks likely to be completed by Spain's Euro 2024 winning star Marc Cucurella, who will be at left full-back.
Midfield
Enzo Fernandez, who played a role in Chelsea’s chaotic start to the season, has enjoyed somewhat of a revival of late, proving himself to be adept at providing assists and emerging as a real goal threat. He'll likely be paired with Romeo Lavia, who has also impressed greatly in recent weeks, particularly with his ability to remain composed under the pressure of an opposition press.
Forwards
Chelsea will be without Neto for Sunday's match, as he is serving a suspension for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in last weekend's win over Spurs. Some would say being forced to travel to Kazakhstan to play in -11C is a rather brutal punishment for his misdemeanour.
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With Neto presumably thawing out in the sauna, Noni Madueke looks set to start on the right wing. Over on the left, Jadon Sancho should keep his starting spot after scoring an excellent goal against Spurs. Completing the all-English attacking midfield, star boy Cole Palmer will once again look to dazzle in the number ten role.
Chelsea predicted XI: Sanchez; Caicedo, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
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