Brentford vs Chelsea: Predicted Lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Published at :February 29, 2024 at 5:48 PM

Modified at :February 29, 2024 at 5:48 PM

Matchday 27 of the Premier League is set to be underway

Since the beginning of the year, Brentford have experienced a significant decline in the Premier League standings. In the league, they have managed only two victories since January. Despite a comfortable mid-table position for most of the season, they currently find themselves in 16th place, just 5 points above the relegation zone.

With Everton securing crucial points and teams like Luton Town and Forest aiming to climb out of the relegation zone, Brentford must rediscover their form to avoid a potential unceremonious exit from the Premier League.

Chelsea enter the upcoming match in a considerably stronger position in the table, although their recent form mirrors that of their opponents. The Blues suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup final against an inexperienced Liverpool over the weekend.

However, in their last league match, Chelsea managed to secure a commendable 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Given the current circumstances within Brentford’s dressing room, the away team can get all three points as they will have a psychological advantage.

Kick-Off:

Saturday, 2nd Mar 2024, 08:30 PM (IST), 03:00 PM (GMT), 10:00 PM (EST)

Stadium: GTech Community Stadium

Form

Brentford Form (All Competitions): L-L-L-W-L

Chelsea Form (All Competitions): L-D-W-W-L

Players to Watch

Ivan Toney (Brentford)

His primary asset lies in his commanding presence during aerial duels. With remarkable upper body strength, coupled with impeccable timing and the capacity to achieve significant height when leaping, he becomes a formidable threat, particularly during offensive set pieces. He is a key asset for his team and is a threat inside the box as his finishing is really good.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Utilizing a repertoire of feints and adept ball manipulation, he adeptly retains possession and confronts defenders, skillfully eluding them through a combination of agility and acceleration. Palmer, functioning as a right-winger, demonstrates a keen awareness of when to invert, strategically opening up the broadest channel. Whether cutting inside to challenge the defense or creating space on the wing, he showcases technical finesse, effectively navigating tight central areas.

Match Facts

Last season’s matches: 0-0 (Brentford FC at home) and 0-2 (Chelsea FC at home).
Chelsea FC haven’t scored in 2 of their 13 away matches in the Premier League this season.
Both teams haven’t won their last match in the Premier League.

Injury and Team News

Until mid-February, Jamaican centre-back Ethan Pinnock effectively spearheaded the Brentford backline this season. However, a debilitating ankle injury has sidelined the 30-year-old, and his return appears unlikely until at least late March.

The absence of Pinnock’s leadership has noticeably impacted communication within the squad. Adding to their defensive woes, Pinnock’s partner in the back, Ben Mee, suffered a painful ankle injury on February 26, making his participation against Chelsea uncertain.

Long-term absences further hamper Brentford, as Rico Henry and Joshua Dasilva have been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Aaron Hickey, who sustained a hamstring injury in November, continues his recovery. Additionally, the Bees will miss the contributions of Bryan Mbeumo, a key figure in their attacking efforts this season.

Following an injury sustained against Liverpool in the final, Christopher Nkunku has become the latest casualty, sidelining him for at least a month. Chelsea faces additional setbacks with Wesley Fofana and Lesley Ugochukwu still recuperating from long-term injuries.

On a positive note, Thiago Silva has returned to training. Although Romeo Lavia is set to rejoin the squad, he may not be in the starting lineup immediately. Defenders Benoit Badiashile and Marc Cucurella are progressing well in their recovery.

Head-to-Head

Matches: 20

Brentford: 7

Chelsea: 10

Draws: 3

Predicted Lineup for Brentford vs Chelsea

Brentford Predicted Lineup (3-5-2):

Flekken(GK); Jorgensen, Ajer, Zanka; Potter, Onyek, Norgaard, Jensen; Reguilon; Toney, Maupay

Chelsea Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):

Petrovic(GK); Gusto, Disasi, Colwill, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson

Match Prediction for Brentford vs Chelsea

Brentford have showcased a commendable record against Chelsea in recent encounters, hinting at the possibility of another upset in what has been a challenging season for the Blues. Nevertheless, Chelsea appear significantly stronger when considering the teams on paper and is expected to translate that superiority onto the pitch, likely securing a victory.

Prediction: Brentford 0-1 Chelsea

Telecast

India: Star Sports Network, Disney+Hotstar

UK: Sky Sports

USA: fubo TV, NBC Sports

Nigeria: DSTV, Gotv

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