Chelsea vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result as Blues cut Liverpool’s lead and extend streak | OneFootball

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Enzo Maresca insists Cole Palmer could be Premier League's best player

Chelsea cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to just two points as goals from Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson secured a west London derby victory over Brentford.

Capitalising on Liverpool’s draw at home to Fulham - as well as more dropped points for Arsenal and Manchester City - Enzo Maresca’s side won a fifth Premier League game in row to continue their excellent form.

And they did not even need Cole Palmer’s inspiration as Cucurella opened the scoring shortly before half time, meeting Noni Madueke’s cross.

Brentford had their moments - including Fabio Carvalho hitting the crossbar - and Chelsea’s win did not feel secure until late on when Jackson raced through to score his ninth Premier League goal of the season.

Bryan Mbeumo pulled one back for the visitors late on - but it could not stop Chelsea becoming the first Premier League team to win five games in a row this season.

Follow all of the latest from Stamford Bridge, plus updates from Southampton vs Tottenham, in our live blog below:

Marc Cucurella masters ‘three positions’ to inspire Chelsea's title charge

A frantic London derby built on instinct and emotion naturally propelled Marc Cucurella into the spotlight again. Enzo Maresca refuses to acknowledge Chelsea as title contenders, but for large spells, amid such intensity from Thomas Frank’s excellent Brentford, they thrived and eventually held on for a precious victory, cutting the gap to leaders Liverpool to just two points, with the Reds holding a game in hand.

But the Spaniard was the protagonist once again here. He was immense and involved in everything the Blues did well, including a diving header to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. But just as memories fade from his farcical slips at Tottenham, this dynamic display was given a late blemish as Cucurella earned a red card after the final whistle following a needless scuffle with Kevin Schade, meaning he will now miss next week’s game against Everton.

But before the late drama, Cucurella delivered more evidence of how he’s completely transformed both his own game and helped the Blues quickly establish themselves as title contenders under Maresca, no matter the Italian’s reluctance to accept it.

Marc Cucurella masters ‘three positions’ to help Chelsea retain title charge

Chelsea 2-1 Brentford: The Spaniard’s all-action display helped the Blues close the gap on Liverpool to just two points at the top of the Premier League, though manager Enzo Maresca maintains his side are not in the title race

Jack Rathborn15 December 2024 22:26

Enzo Maresca on what Chelsea lack to be title contenders

“The goal we concede, it’s something we need to manage better, when the game is finished, we can manage in a different way, it’s experience for the players,” Maresca adds.

“You can talk about the title and the fans can dream about the title, absolutely, if you ask me I’ll tell you what I think and you think in a different way. For me we’re not ready, but we’re happy the fans can dream.”

(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Jack Rathborn15 December 2024 22:15

Enzo Maresca on why Chelsea are not title contenders

“I don’t think we’re ready to compete in the title, they know how to compete in the title, they won’t concede the goals we concede.

“I think they know how to win titles, that’s why they don’t concede, it’s one of the reasons why I say we’re not ready to win titles. If you don’t believe me, I told you, I’d like the pressure to compete.

“But we’re not ready, for many reasons, we cannot concede the goals we concede and open the game for them to take a point.”

Jack Rathborn15 December 2024 22:00

Up next

Chelsea’s next match comes at home to Shamrock Rovers this Thursday in the Conference League, before they face Everton away on 22 December – that’s a 2pm kick-off.

Brentford play Newcastle away in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, 18 December, before they host Nottingham Forest at the Gtech in a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, 21 December.

Chris Wilson15 December 2024 21:50

Chelsea beat Brentford and move to within two points of Premier League summit

Chelsea moved to within two points of the Premier League summit as Marc Cucurella continued his remarkable ascent to score in a 2-1 win against Brentford at Stamford Bridge.

The defender was seemingly a symbol of Chelsea’s botched recruitment for much of his first two seasons after moving from Brighton, but like his team-mates this season he has been rejuvenated as Enzo Marescawatched his side without question insert themselves into the title race.

The head coach has repeatedly insisted his young squad are not ready to challenge but this was their fifth league victory in a row and, despite Fabio Carvalho striking the bar at 1-0 after Cucurella’s opener and Bryan Mbeumo jangling nerves with a goal at the start of seven added minutes, it was as commanding a one-goal win as could be hoped for.

Chelsea beat Brentford and move to within two points of Premier League summit

Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson were on target for Enzo Maresca’s team.

Chris Wilson15 December 2024 21:36

Frank: “We played a very good game"

Brentford boss Thomas Frank says that his side “played a very good game here” and “were unlucky not to get a draw”.

“Some big chances we missed in the end.

“We managed for the 90 minutes to go toe to toe with Chelsea, especially in the second half. A draw would have been fair.

“Chelsea are a very good team, well coached, very good players. They spent a few quid on the squad. They’re playing with confidence. Credit to them for pushing us back in the first half.

“Second half we were more aggressive and played higher. You could see how much trouble we caused them by how much they celebrated 2-0 and at the time.

“They are right up there in the title race. They’re very good.

“It was a very competitive game with two teams who wanted to win. It can get heated.”

(Getty Images)

Chris Wilson15 December 2024 21:27