By Alex Roberts
Thomas Frank’s side have 12 wins, five draws, and 13 defeats in their 30 Premier League games. They’ve been hot and cold all season, particularly away from home – as evidenced by the 2-1 defeat in the earlier fixture between these two this season.
Champions League qualification is the ultimate goal for Enzo Maresca’s side, and they appear to be on track to achieve just that. Still, inconsistency and defeats to ‘lesser’ sides have frustrated fans. The Italian is in need of a statement win.
Cole Palmer is back baby
It took ten games, but Palmer finally bagged a goal contribution, providing the assist for Enzo Fernández’s winner against Spurs in midweek. That’s not for the want of trying, however, he remains top of the charts for Premier League chance creation.
Brentford have been somewhat of a bogey team for Palmer, he’s provided one assist in his four games against them. Only champions elect Liverpool have managed to keep him quieter since he joined the Blues.
Chelsea will need him at his best for their last few games and Palmer will doubtless be desperate to challenge himself against the best of the best next season.
One of the best duos in the league
Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo have been electric all season, scoring 30 of Brentford’s 51 Premier League goals so far this campaign between them. Integral isn’t a strong enough word to describe how important they are to Franks’s side.
It’s the type of strike partnership that Chelsea would dream of at the moment, only Palmer has similar numbers for Maresca’s side, and they’ve only scored three Premier League goals more than Brentford across their 30 games.
The issue for Brentford is the other end, conceding 47 goals. There is still an outside chance of European qualification but they’ll have to sort that defence out for what’s left of the season.
Poor Wesley Fofana
It’s been another season to forget for the French centre back. He was ruled out for the game against Tottenham due to yet another injury, and it remains to be seen exactly when he’ll be back.
Thankfully for Chelsea, Trevoh Chalobah has been arguably their best player since making the return from his loan at Crystal Palace, stepping in like he never even left in the first place.
Chelsea spent a lot of money to bring Fofana to the club and when he’s played, he’s impressed. That injury record is starting to become a worry, however, and the club may be forced to cash in should it not improve in the near future.
Prediction
This is exactly the kind of game Chelsea have struggled in this season. Brentford are no pushovers, that’s for sure, so we’re going to go with a hard-fought 2-0 win for the home side.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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