A new chapter begins at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon as Liam Rosenior takes charge of his first Premier League match as Chelsea head coach.
He welcomes a soaring Brentford side for a high-stakes West London derby. Rosenior made history with a 5-1 FA Cup debut win over Charlton. Now, he faces a daunting league introduction against a Brentford team occupying fifth place. The hosts must bounce back from a narrow 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday. That loss came in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. Despite an Alejandro Garnacho brace, the Gunners took a slender advantage.
The Bees have defied expectations this season under Keith Andrews. They arrive on the back of a clinical 3-0 victory over Sunderland. Chelsea are seeking to snap a winless league run dating back to mid-December. Meanwhile, the visitors aim to continue an impressive six-match unbeaten streak. This run has put them within touching distance of the Champions League spots.
Chelsea vs Brentford – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Saturday, 17 January 2026
- Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
- Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
- Referee: John Brooks
- VAR: Stuart Attwell
- Last Meeting: Brentford 2–2 Chelsea, September 13, 2025, Premier League
Team News
Chelsea
Liam Rosenior is sweating on the fitness of key duo Cole Palmer and captain Reece James. Both face late fitness tests after missing the midweek cup loss to Arsenal. Moises Caicedo is available to return from suspension and is expected to anchor the midfield. However, the Blues remain without Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, and Mykhailo Mudryk. Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens are also sidelined with illness.
Brentford
The Bees are bolstered by the return of Dango Ouattara, who is back from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Burkina Faso. Igor Thiago, who has netted 16 league goals this term, is fit to lead the line after concerns over a minor knock. However, long-term absentees Josh Dasilva, Fábio Carvalho, and Antoni Milambo all remain out with knee injuries, while Frank Onyeka is still away at AFCON. A late call will be made on midfielder Jordan Henderson (ankle).
Form
Chelsea
The Blues enter this clash having won only one of their previous nine Premier League games (D5 L3), a run that has seen them slip to eighth in the table. While they secured an emphatic 5-1 win over Charlton in the FA Cup, they followed that with a narrow 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Notably, Chelsea have conceded the opening goal in each of their last three league games, a habit Liam Rosenior will be desperate to break in his first top-flight outing.
Brentford
Brentford are currently enjoying an impressive six-match unbeaten run in the Premier League (W4 D2), a streak that has propelled them into the top five. The Bees have hit their stride lately, beating Sunderland 3-0 after putting four goals past both Everton and Bournemouth. Furthermore, Keith Andrews’s side has proven clinical late in games, leading the competition for both goals (13) and expected goals (10.6) in the final 15 minutes of matches this season.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea predicted XI: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
Brentford predicted XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry; Yarmolyuk, Janelt; Ouattara, Jensen, Schade; Thiago
How to watch Chelsea vs Brentford?
The match will not be broadcast live in the UK due to the traditional Saturday 3:00 PM blackout. Fans can follow live audio commentary via BBC Radio 5 Live and TalkSport, with highlights available on Match of the Day on BBC One at 22:30 GMT.
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