Brentford vs Chelsea Preview – Prediction, how to watch & potential line-ups

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Football Today

·18 October 2022

Brentford vs Chelsea Preview – Prediction, how to watch & potential line-ups

Brentford will take on Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday night in what is set to be a thrilling west London derby.

The Bees responded well to their thumping 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Tyneside with an impressive 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion courtesy of a brace from the in-form Ivan Toney.

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The Englishman could hardly be doing any more to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans, as he has now scored eight goals in ten games this season.

His coolly taken second-half spot-kick means Toney has now scored all eight of his penalties in the Premier League. Only Dimitar Berbatov (9/9) and Yaya Touré (11/11) have a better 100% record from 12 yards in the competition’s history.

Having snapped a miserable three-game winless streak where they only claimed one point from a possible nine, Thomas Frank’s side remain in the top half of the Premier League table.

Barring their 3-0 loss to Arsenal, Brentford have made their home ground something of a fortress for this season, winning three of their five home games (D1, L1) and averaging over two goals per game.

They will be looking to win a midweek EPL fixture for the first time, but their visitors have been imperious this month.

Graham Potter’s side are looking to continue a perfect October period, having won all five of their fixtures including a Champions League double over Serie A title holders AC Milan.

Chelsea were not at their sparkling best when they took on Aston Villa in Birmingham, but Mason Mount’s brace ensured the Blues returned to Stamford Bridge with all three points.

Mount has been more potent in the final third under Potter. He has been involved in four goals in his last two league games (two goals, two assists), one more than he had in his previous 13 combined (one goal, two assists).

The last time these two sides met saw a Thomas Tuchel-led Chelsea team get stung by the Bees as Brentford ran out 4-1 winners at Stamford Bridge last season.

However, the Blues have become a different side under Potter. They are unbeaten under the English manager and will be keen on keeping their impressive run intact.

Match Preview

Brentford

Brentford will enter Wednesday’s tie in a confident mood, looking to win back-to-back league games against Chelsea for the first time since February 1939.

However, their home form in the London derbies is something they will be looking to correct. They have won just two of their last six league London derbies in front of their own crowd (D2, L2) and have failed to score in four of those six games.

The Bees have also never won a midweek fixture in the Premier League (D1 L5), with their 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace this season their only point in those fixtures.

Brentford have won just two of their last five games (D1, L2), but they are just two points away from a place in Europe. Their impressive displays this season has come down to Toney’s talismanic form thus far.

The former Newcastle man has scored six goals in his last five league games, accounting for 75% of Brentford’s total in these matches.

Overall, Toney has scored 30% of Brentford’s league goals – the highest percentage of any player for a team in the competition.

Toney was not on the scoresheet in last season’s rout at the Bridge, but he grabbed an assist. He will be feeling confident about affecting the game once again, this time in front of the Brentford supporters.

Chelsea

Potter has won all three of his league games in charge so far. He could become only the fifth manager in Chelsea’s history to win his first four after Jose Mourinho, Gus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and Maurizio Sarri.

The Blues have won their last five games in all competitions. Each of the last four came with clean sheets. The last time they enjoyed a longer winning run without conceding was in January/February of the 2007/08 campaign (six).

Chelsea have also won nine of their last ten away London derbies in the Premier League, keeping seven clean sheets in the process. Their only defeat in this run was at West Ham United in December last season.

Chelsea fans will need no reminding of how Brentford tore their side apart just six months ago, but the Blues won both games at the Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League and Carabao Cup last season, keeping a clean sheet on both occasions.

Brentford vs Chelsea Predicted Line-ups

Brentford (4-3-3): David Raya; Kristoffer Ajer, Ethan Pinnock, Ben Mee, Rico Henry; Mathias Jensen, Vitaly Janelt, Frank Onyeka; Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney, Yoane Wissa.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, Trevoh Chalobah, Kalidou Koulibaly; Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Ben Chilwell; Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.