Mauricio Pochettino is embracing a formidable contest as his team gears up to face Brentford in the upcoming London Derby this weekend.
Pochettino’s boys will host their cross-town rivals in a highly anticipated Premier League clash, as the Blues aim to sustain their recent excellent form.
Pochettino’s squad has exhibited clear progress in recent weeks, accumulating seven points and netting eight goals in their last three Premier League matches, a notable improvement compared to their previous nine fixtures.
In the London Derby, they will confront Brentford, who have claimed seven points from their last three league encounters with Chelsea.
“It’s going to be a challenging game because they are a formidable team that deploys two different formations. We are fully prepared to face a skilled team with exceptional players,” remarked Pochettino during his pre-match press conference on Friday.
The Bees boast an impressive 12-game undefeated streak in London derbies within the Premier League, having won six and drawn six – a commendable achievement against fellow capital-based clubs. In fact, Brentford has won their last three away games against such opponents, including a 3-0 victory against Fulham in August.
Despite their impressive record, Brentford has encountered difficulties this season, failing to secure victory in their last three top-flight away games. They currently occupy the 14th spot in the standings, with only a six-point buffer from the relegation zone.
A victory for Chelsea in this match could propel them to eighth place in the standings, while Brentford could break into the top half if they manage to secure their third consecutive win over the Blues.
Team News:
Chelsea will still be without Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka (all with knee injuries), Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah (both dealing with thigh issues), and Romeo Lavia (ankle problem). Armando Broja is also expected to be sidelined for this game, despite his return to training.
As for Brentford, Rico Henry, Mikkel Damsgaard (both nursing knee injuries), Kevin Schade (groin problem), Josh Dasilva (hamstring issue), Shandon Baptiste (shoulder injury), and Keane Lewis-Potter (calf injury) all remain sidelined due to their respective injuries.
Match Facts:
Brentford is determined to secure their third consecutive Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge, a feat never before achieved against Chelsea in the competition’s history.
Chelsea’s sole victory in their last 12 home league games came with a 3-0 win against Luton in August (D6, L5). They’ve managed only two wins in their last 12 Premier League London derbies (D4, L6).
Chelsea has scored at least twice in three successive top-flight fixtures, marking the first time in a year.
Brentford remains unbeaten in their last 12 London derbies in the league (W6, D6), setting a new record for the club.
Thomas Frank’s team has taken the lead in six top-flight matches in the 2023-24 season, second only to West Ham. However, they’ve dropped 11 Premier League points from winning positions this season, sharing the highest figure with Bournemouth.
Probable Line-ups:
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Sterling, Mudryk
Brentford: Flekken; Collins, Mee, Pinnock; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Hickey; Mbeumo, Wissa
