Chelsea vs Brentford LIVE: Fernandez and Mudryk missing for hosts, Maupay dropped

The Blues are unbeaten in their last three games and are starting to rise up the Premier League table after a woeful start to the season.

Mauricio Pochettino's side beat Fulham and Burnley before giving up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Arsenal last time out.

They missed out on three points in that game but the performance will encourage Pochettino heading into the clash with Brentford who have only won two of nine games this campaign.

Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge to kick-off at 12:30pm

Live commentary: talkSPORT website stream HERE, via the app HERE

Match to be broadcast on TNT Sports 1

Chelsea: Sanchez, Cucurella, Silva, Disasi, Colwill, Caicedo, Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling, Jackson, Madueke.

Subs: Beach, Badiashile, Ugochukwu, James, Gusto, Petrovic, Maatsen, Washington, Matos.

Brentford: Flekken, Hickey, Ajer, Pinnock, Collins, Janelt, Jensen, Roerslev, Norgaard, Wissa, Mbeumo.

Subs: Strakhosha, Maupay, Zanka, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Mee, Yarmolyuk, Olakigbe, Brierley.

FOLLOW OUR LIVE MATCH BLOG BELOW FOR REGULAR UPDATES...

3 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Chelsea vs Brentford

Warm-ups well underway.

6 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

More from Poch on Fernandez and Mudryk

"Yesterday, they both felt a small muscle problem. They cannot be available today, but they aren't big issues.

"Hopefully, we can fix them in the next few days."

Enzo Fernandez has also just become a dad, so congratulations to him and his partner, and that's possibly a reason he misses out today.

Pochettino said: "Yes, they have a baby.

"That's possibly why he felt uncomfortable and couldn't train, and now, he's going to rest and recover."

11 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Chelsea vs Brentford: Pre-match facts

Since the start of February, Chelsea have won fewer home games than any other ever present Premier League side (2), with only Bournemouth (12) earning fewer home points in that time than the Blues (13). Chelsea's two victories in that run were against eventually relegated Leeds in March, and against newly promoted Luton in August.

Cole Palmer has scored a penalty in each of Chelsea's last two Premier League games, putting them 2-1 ahead against Burnley and 1-0 ahead against Arsenal. He could become the second Chelsea player to score a penalty in three consecutive appearances, after Willian in July 2020, while he would be the youngest player overall to do so in the Premier League.

21-year-old Cole Palmer has scored in each of Chelsea's last two Premier League games - only two players have scored in three in a row for the Blues while aged 21 or younger, with Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic both doing so in the 2019-20 campaign.

15 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Onyeka dreaming of Champions League

Since they've been promoted to the Premier League, Brentford have been a breath of fresh air.

The Bees are brave and ambitious, and Frank Onyeka believes they can play in the Champions League one day.

19 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

And just like that, Pochettino has an update

So it appears that neither injury is too bad.

Mauricio Pochettino speaking ahead of the game said: "We hoped they would be okay to be in the squad, but unfortunately, they aren't quite ready.

"Neither of them are big issues, but we didn't want to take any risks."

23 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Fernandez and Mudryk absences

We should here from Mauricio Pochettino soon, and hopefully, he will have an answer for why Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk are missing.

If available both would have almost certainly started this game, so their absences will impact the hosts.

28 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Mbeumo the danger man

In Ivan Toney's absence, Bryan Mbeumo has really stepped up for Brentford.

He is their main goal threat.

33 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Chelsea vs Brentford: Pre-match facts

Brentford are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League London derby matches (W6 D6), their longest run without defeat against fellow London sides in their league history. Away from home they've won their last three such games, never winning four in a row on the road before.

Chelsea have won more points (7) and scored more goals (8) in their last three Premier League games than they did in their previous nine beforehand (6 points, 7 goals).

Heading into MD10, only West Ham (7) have opened the scoring in more different Premier League games than Brentford so far this season (6), though the Bees have won just two of these (D3 L1). Both of their victories this season have been 3-0 in west London (away at Fulham and at home to Burnley).

35 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Frank looking forward to derby clash

Brentford won this very same fixture last season near the end of the campaign and Thomas Frank is looking forward to this one.

Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the match, he said: "I hope one day down the line we will be able to go with a back four [in games against better sides], but we are so good in this formation against the bigger teams.

"We are difficult to play against, and then, we are very aggressive in the press.

"It was nice to get the three points after another good performance against Burnley. We know we are a good side."

41 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Poch is here

44 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Chelsea vs Brentford: Teams

This is how we expect the two teams to line-up.

46 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Chelsea vs Brentford: Teams

The teams are in!

And it's bad news for the Blues as Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk are missing.

Noni Madueke comes in for Mudryk.

For the Bees, Neal Maupay drops to the bench.

Chelsea: Sanchez, Cucurella, Silva, Disasi, Colwill, Caicedo, Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling, Jackson, Madueke.

Subs: Beach, Badiashile, Ugochukwu, James, Gusto, Petrovic, Maatsen, Washington, Matos.

Brentford: Flekken, Hickey, Ajer, Pinnock, Collins, Janelt, Jensen, Roerslev, Norgaard, Wissa, Mbeumo.

Subs: Strakhosha, Maupay, Zanka, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Mee, Yarmolyuk, Olakigbe, Brierley.

54 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Team news alert!

Just five minutes to go until we get the confirmed team news.

55 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Mauricio Pochettino is happy with how his squad is progressing but wants more

59 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

talkSPORT coverage

What a line-up we have for you over on talkSPORT!

Reshmin Chowdhury is your host and she is joined by Sam Matterface and Scott Minto, who will provide commentary.

Today, 11:17By Jack Cunningham

Chelsea vs Brentford: Pre-match facts

Having won seven of eight meetings with Brentford in all competitions between 1947 and 2021 (D1), Chelsea have now lost two of their last three against the Bees (D1).

Brentford have won both of their Premier League away games against Chelsea - no team has ever won their first three games at Stamford Bridge in the competition.

Chelsea have won just two of their last 12 Premier League London derbies (D4 L6), beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in January and Fulham 2-0 earlier this month. The Blues threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Arsenal in their last such match.

Today, 11:14By Jack Cunningham

How things stand in the Premier League

A win here for either side would see them fly up the table.

If Chelsea win, they will leap above Manchester United and move just five points off the top four.

If Brentford win, they will jump up to tenth and move ahead of Chelsea.

A draw would also see the Bees claim 12th.

Today, 11:09By Jack Cunningham

Chelsea vs Brentford

It's a very mild day on the banks of the Thames this morning.

The sun is shining and the conditions are perfect for a game of football.

Today, 11:07By Jack Cunningham

Huge injury lists for both teams

We aren't even into November yet, and the injuries are piling up for both of these sides.

The hosts are without Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romeo Lavia, Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja.

Meanwhile, Ivan Toney still isn't available for Brentford due to his ban.

Rico Henry and Kevin Schade are long-term absentees.

Josh Dasilva, Shandon Baptiste and Mikkel Damsgaard are also absent.

Today, 10:59By Jack Cunningham

West London derby

Hello, and welcome to talkSPORT.com's live coverage of Chelsea against Brentford in the Premier League.

The Blues are starting to pick up form after a shaky start under Mauricio Pochettino and can jump above Manchester United with a win.

Meanwhile, Brentford are languishing in the lower half of the table and are looking to build on their 3-0 win over Burnley and get back up the table.

It's got the potential to be a great game, so let's get going.