Chelsea will hope to exploit Brentford’s significant list of injury absentees when the two sides meet at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.
While the Blues have some significant players missing themselves, Mauricio Pochettino’s still found a moment of quality late on in midweek to beat Leeds 3-2 and book their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
In the Premier League, however, a consistent run is needed to ensure they don’t drop below 12th place, where they finished in 2022/23.
Here’s the starting XI Pochettino could pick on Saturday afternoon.
GK: Djordje Petrovic – Robert Sanchez offered little assurance between the sticks against Leeds without making a significant howler, so Serbia international Petrovic should return to the starting XI.
RB: Malo Gusto – Has impressed in recent weeks, though Reece James has claimed “the comeback is coming” as the England right-back works his way back to full fitness.
CB: Axel Disasi – Was somewhat disastrous in the Leeds game, handing the visitors the opening goal with a sloppy pass not aided by Caicedo’s statuesque movement, so will want a performance more akin to his recent display at Manchester City this weekend.
CB: Levi Colwill – Helped Chelsea over the line in midweek as a 74th-minute substitute and will resume his partnership with Disasi.
LB: Ben Chilwell – Lost possession a whopping 27 times in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool but is likely to replace Alfie Gilchrist at left-back.
CM: Moises Caicedo – Picked up his ninth yellow card of the season in all competitions against Leeds and is yet to bring much composure to the Blues midfield.
CM: Enzo Fernandez – Is suspended for the FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester, having received bookings in the wins over Aston Villa and Leeds.
RW: Cole Palmer – Couldn’t start in midweek due to illness but should be able to blow off the cobwebs as he looks to add to his ten goals and six assists in his debut league season with Chelsea.
AM: Conor Gallagher – Came off the bench to provide Blues fans with a true hometown hero moment as he scored the winner on Wednesday night.
LW: Raheem Sterling – Mykhailo Mudryk may hope he did enough to earn a start, but Pochettino may elect once again for the experience of Sterling on the left flank.
ST: Nicolas Jackson – Hit the double-digit mark for goals this season on Wednesday, seven of which have arrived in the Premier League.
