Xabi Alonso has made five changes to his Chelsea starting XI for Friday night’s Premier League clash with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Jordan Henderson makes his competitive debut against his former employers, and Danny Welbeck will spearhead the attack with Joao Pedro ruled out through injury.
Emiliano Martinez stays in goal behind a back three of Wesley Fofana, Maxence Lacroix and captain Levi Colwill. On the flanks are Pedro Neto and Pep Chavarria, and in midfield, Henderson and Valentin Barco form a new partnership. Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are given the responsibility to support Welbeck from the front.
Chelsea XI: Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill (c); Neto, Henderson, Barco, Chavarria; Palmer, Rogers; Welbeck
Subs: Penders, Acheampong, Gusto, Hato, Lavia, Nicoll-Jazuli, Gittens, Estevao, Quenda
The reshuffle is a big difference from last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Hull City at Stamford Bridge. Malo Gusto, Jorrel Hato and Romeo Lavia are all dropped to the bench with Reece James and Joao Pedro out injured.
Joao Pedro withdrew from the Brazil squad for the international window with a knee issue, and the forward was unable to recover in time. Moises Caicedo also misses out, having not played since being forced off 13 minutes into his return appearance in the 4-3 win over Brighton.
Henderson, 36, joined Chelsea from Brentford in the summer but had been unable to play in a competitive game until now due to injury. His experience comes at a timely moment for a team that has shipped 12 goals in six games this season.
Chelsea are sixth in the table with seven points from four games, one place and one point better off than their hosts. Victory for either side would see them move into third place, and this is the Blues’ final league fixture before the long international break.
Brentford confirmed XI vs Chelsea: Keith Andrews recalls Michael Kayode, Mikkel Damsgaard
Keith Andrews has made two changes to the Brentford side that began last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth. Right-back Aaron Hickey is replaced by Michael Kayode, while Mikkel Damsgaard comes in for Mamadou Sangare in midfield.
Kelleher starts in goal with a back four of Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Jannik Schuster and Keane Lewis-Potter. The midfield three is Vitaly Janelt, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Damsgaard, with Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade up front.
Brentford XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Schuster, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Anthony, Thiago, Schade
Subs: Balcombe, Hickey, Henry, Ouattara, Wilson, Carvalho, Sangare, Diouf, Fredrick
Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg, Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Antoni Milambo and Kaye Furo are out through injury. But Andrews’ side remain unbeaten in six games this season in all competitions, winning three and drawing three.
Bees have failed to beat Chelsea in five Premier League meetings at home, and the last four ended all square. Schade, who scored twice at Bournemouth last weekend, will be vital to their hopes of ending that run.