Sport

CHELSEA are up against Brentford in their next Premier League clash TONIGHT at Stamford Bridge – and Raheem Sterling is back in the starting eleven.

The Blues are yet to pick up a victory in four games since Frank Lampard took over as manager, and they haven't won a single game since the start of last month

Chelsea's search for a new manager is intensifying, with Mauricio Pochettino hoping to take over at Stamford Bridge THIS WEEK.

  • Start time: 7.45pm BST
  • TV channel: BT Sport 3
  • Live stream: BT Sport app
  • Chelsea XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Fofana, Silva, Chalobah, Chilwell, Fernandez, Kovacic, Kante, Gallagher, Sterling
  • Brentford XI: Raya, Roerslev, Zanka, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Jensen, Onyeka, Janelt, Wissa, Toney

CHELSEA VS BRENTFORD – BETTING TIPS AND BEST ODDS

Stay up to date with all the action from Stamford Bridge…

  • Kieran Davies

    Brentford chance to cement lead

    Before a ball is kicked this evening, Brentford sit five points clear of Chelsea in the Premier League table.

    Victory in this London derby tonight could ensure that they finish the season above their local rivals.

    That would be seen as a massive achievement for a club who have spent so long outside of the top division.

  • Kieran Davies

    Lamps looking for magnificent seven

    Frank Lampard will be looking to make this seven games to make a statement between now and the end of the season.

    They need to start playing to their potential and winning all of their remaining games would do just that.

    Mathematically, they may not be safe just yet, but a win tonight would be a step in the right direction and a first win for the manager since his return.

  • Kieran Davies

    Frank assessment of team selections

    The Chelsea manager spoke about rotating his side and how he goes about selecting his starting line-ups for the remainder of the season:

    If they deserve it, for sure. There’s the individual work of showing that you deserve it and I’m fully for that. In my first period at the club I came in with a transfer ban and losing big players and everyone said of course the young players would get in the team. They got in the team because of how they trained and those things and that’s a culture you need at a football club and not something that should change just for the moment.

    Frank LampardChelsea

  • Kieran Davies

    Make Stamford Bridge a fortress

    This season many things have gone wrong for The Blues, but in particular, it has been too easy for clubs to come to Stamford Bridge and get something.

    They need to make this a difficult place to come again.

    Nobody can put their finger on what isn't clicking with this squad but the motivation now should be that they are playing for their future with the potential of new manager set to be announced.

    Credit: Getty
  • Kieran Davies

    Brentford subs:

    34. Cox, 2. Hickey, 9. Schade, 10. Dasilva, 14. Ghoddos, 19. Mbuemo, 24. Damsgaard, 26. Baptiste, 33. Stevens

  • Kieran Davies

    Brentford starting XI:

    Thomas Frank makes four changes to the side that drew with Aston Villa with Roerslev, Jorgensen, Onyeka and Wissa coming into the side.

    1. Raya, 30. Roerslev, 13. Jorgensen, 5. Pinnock, 16. Mee, 3. Henry, 8. Jensen, 15. Onyeka, 27. Janelt, 17. Toney, 11. Wissa

    Credit: @BrentfordFC
  • Kieran Davies

    Chelsea subs:

    16. Mendy, 4. Badiashile, 12. Loftus-Cheek, 31. Madueke, 15. Mudryk, 10. Pulisic, 22. Ziyech, 9. Aubameyang, 11. Felix

  • Kieran Davies

    Chelsea starting XI:

    Frank Lampard makes three changes from the side that faced Real Madrid with Azpilicueta, Chilwell and Sterling all coming into the side.

    1. Arrizabalaga, 33. Fofana, 6. Silva, 14. Chalobah, 28. Azpilicueta, 21. Chilwell, 5. Fernandez, 8. Kovacic, 7. Kante, 23. Gallagher, 17. Sterling

    Credit: @ChelseaFC
  • Kieran Davies

    Brentford manager’s Frank assessment

    The Bees boss has spoken about the task ahead in the trip to West London:

    I think we all know that Chelsea have been struggling a little bit this season, but they have some very good players. They have top players who they bought for around £600 million over the last two transfer windows, and they haven't forgotten how to play football – sometimes it just takes one moment or a good week working with them. At Stamford Bridge, they are clear favourites, but we hope and believe we can do something.

    Thomas FrankBrentford

  • Kieran Davies

    Season to forgot for Blues’ fans

    Despite the new ownership and investment into the playing squad, Todd Boehly’s start at Stamford Bridge has been underwhelming to say the least.

    Sitting in eleventh place, some five points behind tonight’s opponents, there is nothing to salvage from this season for Chelsea.

    All they can hope to do is to find some form to suggest that this campaign was a mere blip.

  • Kieran Davies

    Bees ready to swarm Lampard's side

    Brentford fans could be forgiven for having a double-take when looking at the Premier League table.

    It is not often they can go into a game like this, against a side who have spent more than most countries this year, finding themselves five points clear of their opponents.

    Thomas Frank will be hoping they can open a greater gap with a win in West London this evening.

    Credit: Getty
  • Kieran Davies

    Lampard dead-man walking from day one

    Brought in as an interim replacement at Chelsea, talk was only ever about who would be the man brought in to change the club’s fortunes long term.

    There may have been a part of him that wondered if he turned things around himself, there was a remote chance of him being appointed to the position.

    Sadly for the Chelsea legend, things have continued as they did for him at Everton before the Merseyside club decided to relieve him of his duties.

  • Connor Greaves

    Chelsea's last three in the Premier League

    Here are the Blues' last three results in the league:

    • Chelsea 1-2 Brighton
    • Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
    • Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool

    London derby to savour

    Chelsea welcome London rivals Brentford to Stamford Bridge this evening with manager Frank Lampard still looking for his first win in his second stint at the helm of the West London club.

    The Blues have had a major injury blow in the build up to tonight’s game as Reece James and Mason Mount have been ruled out for the rest of the season.

    They join Kai Havertz, Armando Broja and Kalidou Koulibaly in the Stamford Bridge treatment room.

    Lampard is able to welcome back Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and David Fofana into the matchday squad.

    With Reece James out injured, it is likely that Cesar Azpilicueta or Trevor Chalaboh will slot in at right-back.

    Joao Felix is expected to be recalled replacing Havertz, while Raheem Sterling, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech will all be battling for a place in the attacking third of the pitch.

    Brentford will be without Christian Norgaard, Pontus Jansson, Kristoffer Ajer, Thomas Strakosha and Keane Lewis-Potter who are all out injured.

    Thomas Frank has been known to switch to a back three against the so-called bigger clubs but with the injuries piling up he could stick with a back four this evening.

    Josh Dasilva is expected to start in centre midfield to replace Norgaard, alongside Mathias Jensen and Vitaly Janelt who scored a brace at Stamford Bridge last season.

    Poch to become Blues boss

    Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to become the next Chelsea manager.

    The former Tottenham boss has been locked in talks with Todd Boehly and Co after emerging as frontrunner for the job.

    And TalkSport claims a verbal agreement has now been struck, with Chelsea hoping to confirm a deal for Pochettino by the end of the week.

    It's believed the Argentine tactician held fresh talks with Chelsea in Spain on Monday.

    A plan outlining details for the club's long-term vision was discussed.

    Both parties left satisfied after a "very positive" meeting.

    • Connor Greaves

      Team news

      Kalidou Koulibaly is still out of action for the Blues with a thigh injury, while Armando Broja remains side-lined with an ACL tear.

      Lampard may decide to bring Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling back into the starting XI after they made bench appearances against Real Madrid.

      N'Golo Kante should also see his run in the side continue, alongside Mateo Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez in midfield.

      Pontus Jansson will miss the rest of the season for Brentford with a hamstring injury.

    • Connor Greaves

      Odds

      Match result:

      • Chelsea – 8/11
      • Draw – 13/5
      • Brentford – 19/5

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication.

      Good afternoon and welcome to Stamford Bridge

      A home clash against London rivals Brentford may be the perfect opportunity for Lampard's Blues to finally pick up some much-needed form.

      But before that happens, the Blues just need a win, and it won't be easy against a Bees side who are also desperate to pick up a victory.

      Ivan Toney and Co are winless in six but they sit a place above Chelsea in the table, and they'll be hoping they can extend that gap on Wednesday night.

      Chelsea's search for a new manager is intensifying, with Mauricio Pochettino hoping to take over at Stamford Bridge THIS WEEK.

      Kalidou Koulibaly is still out of action for the Blues with a thigh injury, while Armando Broja remains side-lined with an ACL tear.

      Lampard may decide to bring Joao Felix and Raheem Sterling back into the starting XI after they made bench appearances against Real Madrid.

      Source: Read Full Article