The Premier League Match Centre has confirmed Joao Pedro was only just onside when he opened the scoring for Chelsea against Brentford.
New Blues head coach Liam Rosenior faced a tough test in his first Premier League match. The Bees have been in excellent form and began the weekend above the west Londoners, after a run of four wins and one draw in their last five matches.
However, summer signing Pedro gave Rosenior's side the perfect start with a well taken goal after a pass from Enzo Fernandez. When he wheeled away in celebration, the linesperson's flag was raised, pouring cold water over any celebrations.
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As the players got themselves into position to defend a Brentford free-kick, the VAR checking announcement rang out across the tannoy. After a lengthy check, the Brazilian was judged to have been in an onside position when Enzo Fernandez played the pass.
In a tweet uploaded to their X page soon after the VAR decision was completed, the Premier League Match Centre wrote: "26’ VAR OVERTURN VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal – and established that Joao Pedro was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded."
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The left shoulder of Brentford defender Michael Kayode is what kept the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion forward. It was the kind of tiny margin Rosenior needed in a tough test on his Premier League debut.
The new head coach has had to contend with a virus going round the Blues camp. Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens were both struck down last week and had to miss the League Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Arsenal.
Delap was fit enough to make the bench against the Bees, but Gittens was absent. Right back Malo Gusto also missed the match through injury, resulting in Reece James dropping back into the back four to cover for the Frenchman.
Rosenior was able to welcome Cole Palmer back into his starting eleven after he missed the defeat to Arsenal mid-week. The classy midfielder has been hampered by a troubling groin injury for the majority of the campaign.
Joao Pedro of Chelsea (L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge on January 17, 2026 in London, England
Chelsea players flocked round the Brazilian after his goal was allowed (Image: 2026 Chelsea FC)
Against Keith Andrews' side, he was deployed in his favourite position behind the striker, with Fernandez and Moises Caicedo behind him. Fresh off his brace against the Gunners, Alejandro Garnacho was granted a start on the left side of the frontline.
Pedro Neto was also deployed on the right side of the frontline. With Manchester United beating Manchester City, Rosenior desperately needed three points to keep up with the rest of the Champions League chasing pack.
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