Chelseavs.Brentford

The Bees boss named a very offensive lineup for the 4-2 win over Newcastle United last weekend, with five recognised attackers in the XI, including starting Bryan Mbeumo at wing-back.

There were rare starts for Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho in attack, but both could drop out here in a slight change of shape, with Brentford still chasing a first league away win of the campaign.

Mads Roerslev, who scored against Chelsea last season, may return at full-back if Frank reverts to a back four, while Mikkel Damsgaard could also retake his place in the side after being given a rest last week.

The undroppable duo of Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will be the first names on the teamsheet though, and after both found the net again last weekend, they now have a combined 18 Premier League goals this season - only Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson have more as an attacking partnership in the Premier League.

So absurd are the attacking riches available to Frank, he could afford to leave Kevin Schade on the bench against Newcastle, just seven days after netting a hat trick in the 4-1 win over Leicester City, and it is unclear whether there is a place for him in the side this weekend either.

Vitaly Janelt, who has fond memories of playing at Stamford Bridge, scoring twice in the 4-1 win in 2022, could return to the side here after missing the Newcastle win with a minor knock, so the German will undergo a late fitness test.

Josh Dasilva, Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry are all set to be out until 2025, but Mathias Jensen should return sooner from his hamstring issue, it is just unlikely to be this weekend, so Yehor Yarmolyuk could partner Christian Norgaard in the engine room if Janelt is not fit to start.

Brentford possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Van den Berg; Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Wissa

Written by

Andrew Delaney