Friday’s west London derby gives Brentford a chance to leapfrog Chelsea before the three-week international break, with the Bees unbeaten through six competitive matches and coming off a midweek cup win.
Chelsea arrive under pressure after taking just 7 of 12 Premier League points under Xabi Alonso, including a 2-2 home draw with Hull, as defensive flaws continue to undercut an attack that has already scored 10 league goals.
Nine goals conceded in four league games underline the problem: Chelsea have not kept a Premier League clean sheet since beating Brentford 2-0 on Jan. 17, and have not recorded an away shutout in the competition since December 2025.
Brentford also carry injuries at center back, but Chelsea may be without João Pedro after he withdrew from Brazil duty, while Moisés Caicedo is only nearing a return and is unlikely to start.
Recent meetings point to another tight game—Chelsea have won only 2 of the last 9 against Brentford, and their last 4 visits to the Gtech Community Stadium all ended level.