Preview: Thiago Silva out of Chelsea’s match against Brentford

The Premier League is back on the bill this weekend featuring an old-fashioned Western shootout between champions of Europe Chelsea and summer arrivals Brentford.

As a top-flight fixture it has had a 74-year break, but across all competitions, the Blues are unbeaten in six against the Bees (five wins, one draw) stretching back to February 1939.

The past two, in the FA Cup in 2013 and 2017, both went the way of the Blues by four goals to nil. The Bees did, though, hold Rafael Benitez’s men to a 2-2 draw at Griffin Park to force a replay in that 2013 tie. Saturday will be Chelsea’s premiere evening at their new stadium.

Thomas Tuchel’s team finished the last round of matches as league leaders.

This has been Chelsea’s 11th best start to a Premier League campaign and the early show of promise was last bettered under Maurizio Sarri in 2018.

Saturday’s hosts have rightly been praised for the way they have sailed through the first part of their maiden voyage, yet up to now their only victory on home soil came on an opening day against an ailing Arsenal.

Tuchel’s men are unbeaten in each of the past nine home and away matches across all competitions in this 5.30 pm broadcast slot.

The Blues and the Bees each have a 100 percent record in three all-capital confrontations so far, so something will have to give in this first west London derby between the two sides in the league since 1947.

Chelsea are looking to win the seventh consecutive away league London derby for the first time in history.

Team News

Chelsea veteran Thiago Silva has been ruled out to play given his late return from international duty, but Reece James and N’Golo Kante are back in training after recovering from an ankle injury and coronavirus respectively.

However, the Blues have been handed an injury scare with Romelu Lukaku withdrawing from international duty due to muscular overload, while Antonio Rudiger may also miss out if he does not recover from back trouble in time.

Werner could act as the focal point of the attack should Lukaku not make the cut, while Kai Havertz and Mason Mount were both named on the bench against the Saints but should be fine to start here.

For Brentford, Shandon Baptiste was taken off in the first half against West Ham after dislocating his shoulder and will play no part here, while Mads Sorensen and Josh Dasilva remain absent for the long-term

Kristoffer Ajer and Vitaly Janelt are not expected to return from thigh problems just yet, with the latter’s absence opening up a spot for Mathias Jensen to start in midfield.

Wissa could hardly have done more in his quest for a starting place, but the ex-Lorient man would likely only be granted it if Frank opts to sacrifice a central midfielder, which seems unlikely against the league leaders.

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Zanka, Jansson, Pinnock; Canos, Norgaard, Onyeka, Jensen, Henry; Toney, Mbeumo

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Christensen; James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell; Mount, Havertz; Werner