STAR PREVIEW Sat: Brentford v Chelsea

Chelsea will be looking to keep hold of top-spot when they make the short trip to the Brentford Community Stadium to take on Thomas Frank Bees, who could well represent a banana skin fixture for the Blues.

Brentford have taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water. They stunned Arsenal 2-0 on the opening day, held Liverpool to a thrilling 3-3 draw and secured a dramatic victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium in their last outing.

Bryan Mbeumo gave Frank’s men an early lead in the 20th-minute after rebounding in Sergi Canos’ parried strike before Jarrod Bowen scored an equaliser ten minutes from time. However, in one of the last kicks of the game, Yoane Wissa popped up with a winner for Brentford to send their travelling support wild.

This leaves Brentford in 7th-place in the Premier League – just two points off the top-four – and this match against title-chasing Chelsea will be a very good test of just how good the Bees could be in their debut Premier League season.

Brentford v Chelsea
Premier League
17:30 Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Ultra HD

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
JAN 2017 FA CUP Chelsea 4-0 Brentford
FEB 2013 FA CUP Chelsea 4-0 Brentford
JAN 2012 FA CUP Brentford 2-2 Chelsea
JAN 1950 FA CUP Brentford 0-1 Chelsea
MAR 1947 DIVISION ONE Brentford 0-2 Chelsea
NOV 1946 DIVISION ONE Chelsea 3-2 Brentford
FEB 1939 DIVISION ONE Chelsea 1-3 Brentford
OCT 1938 DIVISION ONE Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
MAR 1938 DIVISION ONE Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
OCT 1937 DIVISION ONE Chelsea 2-1 Brentford

Chelsea, seemingly invincible a few weeks ago, recently suffered a small blip in form by losing to title rivals Manchester City in the Premier League and then having that misery compounded in the Champions League with a loss to Juventus.

They were able to bounce back – just – against Southampton, though. Although they were helped by a sending off for James Ward-Prowse, Chelsea ended up 3-1 winners in their last outing against Southampton – lifting them back to the top of the Premier League table.

They will be without Romelu Lukaku for their trip to Brentford, though. Chelsea’s main striker was forced to withdraw from the Belgium squad last week due to a muscular injury and is unlikely to feature. Thiago Silva is also not likely to be involved following his late return from international duty with Brazil.

As Liverpool and Arsenal have discovered this season, Brentford are not to be underestimated. They won’t be sitting back, setting up in a low block and praying for a point, they’ll be going for Chelsea’s jugular.

Of course, that may cost them at the other end, but I expect this to be an entertaining clash. We’re backing Chelsea to take all three points with both teams finding the back of the net.

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