Sports
Source: BBC Sport
NICOLAS Jackson could return to Chelsea’s starting line-up but head coach Mauricio Pochettino says Reece James will again begin on the bench.
Armando Broja, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Christopher Nkunku, Trevoh Chalobah, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana remain out.
Aaron Hickey comes back into contention for Brentford following a one-game ban.
Rico Henry, Keane Lewis-Potter, Shandon Baptiste, Ivan Toney, Mikkel Damsgaard, Kevin Schade and Josha Dasilva are out.
Head-to-head
- Brentford are vying to make it three Premier League wins out of three at Stamford Bridge – no team has ever won each of their first three matches away to Chelsea in the competition.
- The Bees are unbeaten in the past three meetings (W2, D1), scoring a total of six goals and conceding just one.
Chelsea
- The Blues’ 3-0 win against Luton in August is their only victory in their previous 12 home league games (D6, L5).
- They have won just two of their last 12 Premier League London derbies (D4, L6).
- For the first time in a year, Chelsea have scored at least twice in three successive top-flight fixtures.
- In those three league matches they have earned seven points and scored eight goals – more than in their previous nine games combined (six points and seven goals).
- They are in danger of losing 15 league fixtures in a calendar year for the first time since 1994.
- This will be Chelsea’s 1,200th Premier League match.
- Cole Palmer could become the second Chelsea player to score a penalty in three consecutive Premier League appearances, emulating Willian in July 2020.
Brentford
- The Bees beat Burnley 3-0 last Saturday to end a run of six Premier League games without a victory (D3, L3).
- Both of their league wins this season have come in west London – 3-0 away to Fulham in August and last weekend’s home victory.
- Brentford are unbeaten in their last 12 London derbies in the league (W6, D6), the longest run in their history.
- Thomas Frank’s team have opened the scoring in six top-flight matches in 2023-24, which is bettered only by West Ham.
- But they have dropped 11 Premier League points from winning positions this season, a joint high with Bournemouth.
- Bryan Mbeumo has been involved in 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games, scoring eight and assisting three. T October 27, 2023 @ 20:03 GMT|
