EPL Index
·14 December 2024
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·14 December 2024
Stamford Bridge hosts another chapter in the growing rivalry between Chelsea and Brentford as the two sides prepare for their Premier League clash on Sunday evening. With Chelsea in fine form and Brentford struggling on the road, the stakes are high for both teams in this West London encounter.
Chelsea, under the astute leadership of Enzo Maresca, have emerged as genuine contenders in the Premier League title race. The Blues, currently second in the league, head into the weekend just four points adrift of leaders Liverpool. An unbeaten streak of nine games across all competitions, including a confident 3-1 Conference League win over Astana, has set the stage for a well-rested Chelsea side to assert their dominance.
Photo IMAGO
Crucially, Maresca spared much of his first team from the gruelling eight-hour round trip to Kazakhstan, ensuring key players like Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Jadon Sancho are fresh for this encounter. The absence of Pedro Neto, who is serving a suspension, opens up opportunities for Noni Madueke to shine in a wide role.
Unfortunately for fans in the UK, the match will not be televised live.
For those wanting to catch the highlights, BBC One’s Match of the Day 2 will provide comprehensive coverage at 10.30pm on Sunday evening. This will include all key moments and expert analysis from the weekend’s Premier League fixtures.
For real-time updates and in-depth insights, Standard Sport will run a dedicated live match blog during the game, featuring commentary and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea rested their stars midweek and will welcome back several key players. Palmer and Jackson are expected to spearhead the attack, with Sancho and Madueke providing width.
Photo: IMAGO
Brentford, meanwhile, remain without key defenders Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey, though Vitaly Janelt and Kristoffer Ajer return to bolster the squad. Matias Jensen and Gustavo Nunes are unavailable, but Frank will rely heavily on Mbeumo and Wissa to lead the line.
Chelsea’s depth and recent form make them favourites to extend Brentford’s away-day misery. While the Bees possess attacking quality capable of troubling Chelsea, the Blues’ rested squad and home advantage should see them through comfortably.
Predicted Score: Chelsea 3-1 Brentford