Chelsea will make the short trip across London to the Brentford Community Stadium where they face Brentford in the 12th Round of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
Venue: Brentford Community Stadium (London)
Key Statistics
Brentford have scored 18 league goals this season, which is six more than they had scored at this stage of last season.
The Bees have failed to win across their last six midweek PL matches (D1, L5).
They have failed to score in four of their last six London derby home matches (W2, D2, L2).
Chelsea have kept seven clean sheets in their last ten away games against London opposition (W7, D2, L1).
No PL side has conceded fewer away league goals this season after the break than Chelsea’s.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last six games (W6, D1).
The visitors have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four games.
Ivan Toney has scored 30% of Brentford’s total PL goals – that’s the highest percentage of any player in the competition.
Mason Mount has registered five goal contributions across his last three competitive matches for Chelsea (G2, A3).
Head to head
Both sides won one game apiece last season in the Premier League with Chelsea winning here while Brentford won away at Stamford Bridge.
Latest performances in all competitions
Brentford: W-L-D-L-W
Chelsea: W-W-W-W-W
Brentford
Brentford will return to Premier League action in search of their second win in a row when they welcome Chelsea to the Brentford Community Stadium.
The Bees come into this game off the back of an impressive 2-0 win over Brighton last Friday. An Ivan Toney brace on either side of the half sent Thomas Frank’s side into ninth in the EPL tables.
The Danish coach will be pleased to have seen his side take all three points against the Seagulls, having gone three games without a win, before the visit of Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Brentford will now look to maintain their purple patch when Graham Potter and his side come visiting.
However, the Blues present an altogether different test than the Bees have had in recent weeks, and Thomas Frank will be keen to see his side avoid dropping points as they look to continue climbing up the league table.
Brentford have not enjoyed success in this fixture in recent seasons, with the Bees picking up just four defeats in their last five games with the Blues. However, Thomas Frank’s side recorded a 1-4 win over Chelsea last season in their last meeting together and the Danish coach will be hoping for the same kind of performance from his boys once more. More so, the form of England striker Ivan Toney will be a form of optimism for the Bees, with their star striker firing on all cylinders this season with eight goals in his last ten games, Brentford will be counting on their forward once more to do the damage on Graham Potter’s side.
Possible Brentford starting line-up
David Raya; Kristoffer Ajer, Ethan Pinnock, Ben Mee, Rico Henry; Frank Onyeka, Joshua Dasilva, Mathias Jensen; Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa.
Injured: Pontus Jansson, Christian Nørgaard, Thomas Strakosha
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Chelsea
Chelsea travel to Brentford in search of their sixth straight win in all competitions under Graham Potter.
The England coach has brought back swagger to the blue side of London, with his side playing with more joy and freedom than was evident in the last days of Thomas Tuchel, much to the delight of the Blues fans.
Chelsea come into this game off the back of a 2-0 win over Aston Villa who made lives very difficult for the Blues, with Kepa Arrizabalaga being into action severally to keep Steven Gerrard’s side at bay.
Mason Mount may have stolen the spotlight with two beautiful goals, one from a beautifully executed free-kick, but it was the Spanish goalie who kept his side in the game time and again with seven saves.
However, Graham Potter will be keen to see his kill off the game early against a more clinical Brentford side.
With four points separating them from third-placed Tottenham, Chelsea have a chance of cutting their deficit to just one point with a win and so maintain a firm grip on the top four.
Possible Chelsea starting line-up
Kepa Arrizabalaga; César Azpilicueta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Thiago Silva; Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell; Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Injured: Ngolo Kante, Wesley Fofana, Reece James
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Brentford 0-2 Chelsea
