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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso ambles out of the tunnel and has a pitchside word with Sky Sports. “We always try to assess the whole squad … we have a tough game for sure … the goal is always to have the most competitive team to play and I think we have one … we are prepared for tonight … we have not had enough continuity and stability in [central midfield] … having [Jordan Henderson] back is so important … he helps a lot of the players around … [defence] is fundamental … we need to improve in that part … to be solid … more efficient … that will come … still early days to work on some things … we are confident that we will get there.”
He also reports that his missing captain Reece James has “a little injury in the hamstring”.
Brentford make two changes to the side sent out to face Bournemouth last weekend. Mikkel Damsgaard and Michael Kayode take the places of Aaron Hickery and Mamadou Sangaré, who are on the bench tonight.
Chelsea make five changes following the draw with Hull City. Jordan Henderson makes his first appearance for the Blues on his old stomping ground, while Danny Welbeck, Valentín Barco and Pep Chavarría make their full Premier League debuts. Maxence Lacroix is also in. Roméo Lavia and Malo Gusto drop to the bench, while João Pedro, Jorrel Hato and Reece James sit this one out altogether.
Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Schuster, Ajer, Lewis-Potter, Yarmolyuk, Janelt, Anthony, Damsgaard, Schade, Thiago. Subs: Balcombe, Hickey, Henry, Ouattara, Wilson, Carvalho, Sangare, Diouf, Fredrick.
Chelsea: Martinez, Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill, Pedro Neto, Henderson, Barco, Chavarria, Palmer, Rogers, Welbeck. Subs: Penders, Bynoe-Gittens, Hato, Quenda, Gusto, Nicoll-Jazuli, Acheampong, Estevao, Lavia.
Referee: Andy Madley VAR: Jarred Gillett
Brentford drew their last Premier League game 2-2; Chelsea’s last match ended 2-2; the last staging of this particular fixture finished 2-2. So … well … I mean, come on! Meanwhile Brentford’s six games up to this point of the season have generated 21 goals, while Chelsea’s six have given up 30. So this can’t be anything other than a wild and goalfest. Can’t it? Don’t let us down, gentlemen. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!