Follow live coverage as Chelsea face Brentford today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Chelsea FC 2 - 1 Brentford FC
Chelsea vs Brentford
21:10Chelsea beat Brentford 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to keep their title hopes alive with a late hold-out. Despite ending the game in scrappy circumstances, the Blues' goals were far removed from the antics that saw Cucurella dismissed after the whistle, and it was actually the Spaniard who opened the scoring. Following numerous unsuccessful crosses, Madueke cut back onto his left and delivered a fine ball from the right for Cucurella to glance into the bottom-left corner in the 43rd minute. The second goal arrived after multiple Sanchez saves kept Brentford at bay as they gradually upped their xG to 1.67. The visitors were dispossessed high with 10 minutes remaining before Fernandez sent Jackson in across halfway to drive at Pinnock and smash into the bottom-right corner. Although Mbeumo slid home a similarly exhausting breakaway goal right before the very end, the hosts held out in ugly fashion to keep themselves two points behind Liverpool although the Reds have a game in hand. Chelsea, albeit scrappy, were good for their goals today - exceeding their 2.17 xG. They now keep their eyes fixed to the top of the table, while Brentford move down to 11th. Thank you for joining us today, we hope you enjoyed the game!
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:56FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 2-1 BRENTFORD
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:56Yellow 2nd/RC Marc Cucurella Saseta
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:56Yellow Card Kevin Schade
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:54Yellow Card Vitaly Janelt
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:53After a number of botched late set-pieces, Brentford send one long with Flekken. Cucurella heads away before Sancho is tackled by Mbuemo.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:52Yellow Card Marc Cucurella Saseta
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:52Palmer has a shot blocked. The home fans shout for a penalty but it wasn't deemed to be handball.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:51There will be seven minutes of added time.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:47A Palmer free-kick delivery from the left comes to nothing. However, it doesn't stop the home fans keep in fine voice.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:47Assist Kevin Schade
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:45Chelsea have a free-kick on the left and the delivery finds Adarabioyo! His header goes just wide!
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:44Sanchez with another save! Janelt carves out a chance for Mbeumo to chase with a lovely deft pass diagonally to the right byline. However, Sanchez is brave to claim at the winger's feet!
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:43Substitution Keane William Lewis-Potter Jayden Ade Trindade Meghoma
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:42Chelsea have scored seven goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half in Premier League contests. Only AFC Bournemouth (nine) and Fulham (eight) have scored more in the league this season.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:40Substitution Nicolas Jackson Christopher Alan Nkunku
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:38Assist Enzo Jeremías Fernández
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:37Lewis-Potter tries to bend one form a central left position outside the box, however, Sanchez has an easy enough claim.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:36Carvalho! Schade! The substitutes nearly make an instant impact! Ajer crosses low from the right and Carvalho fires onto the bar from close range! Schade then attempts a bicycle kick on the rebound but it's just over!
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:34Jackson bends one, but it's just wide of the right post! That was a great effort from outside the box. The Senegalese striker thought there was a nick, yet it's a goal-kick.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:33Substitution Mads Roerslev Rasmussen Kristoffer Vassbakk Köpp Ajer
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:33Substitution Yoane Wissa Bileko Kevin Schade
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:33Substitution Yehor Yarmoliuk Fábio Leandro Freitas Gouveia de Carvalho
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:32Big save Sanchez! Brentford's corner is poorly dealt with by the hosts, and Collins is able to hook it back over from the right to find Norgaard in space. The Danish captain volleys for the top-right corner, yet Sanchez tips it away in agile fashion!
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:31Brentford get a corner as Lewis-Potter is denied by a key block on the left. It almost diverts goalwards, yet Sanchez watches it wide.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:29Sanchez saves! Norgaard lifts the ball over to Wissa and he pokes it goalwards only to be denied by the thigh of Sanchez! The acclaim doesn't last long though, as the flag goes up.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:27A Palmer cross from the left finds its way to Madueke at the back right post. However, the winger is blocked off instantly by Lewis-Potter.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:25Chelsea go through Brentford like a hot knife through butter yet can't find that second goal! Palmer slides in Sancho on the left and he drives to the left byline, rounding Flekken twice before dinking over a cross that Pinnock nods away.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:24Chelsea counter as Jackson dispossesses Collins. The move ends with Madueke firing from the edge of the box tamely. It goes straight to Flekken.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:22Another stoppage in play arrives. Gusto is down after clashing with Janelt as Brentford cross from the right.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:21Flekken has received some brief treatment after that effort and resumes play with the goal-kick.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:20Substitution Mikkel Krogh Damsgaard Vitaly Janelt
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:20Jackson has now attempted five shots in this game, more than any other player (ahead of Madueke - four shots).
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:19Jackson... what a miss! Palmer is forced wide by the Brentford backline and he plays in Sancho who drives to the byline. The former Dortmund and Manchester United man pulls a cross back with Flekken at his near post and it looks like the Senegalese has the whole goal to aim at. Over it goes!
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:18Damsgaard and Wissa link up well on the right with the latter crossing for Mbeumo. However, Sanchez is wise to the danger and collects the high ball calmly. He then catches another in the next phase before starting a break that culminates with Fernandez having an effort blocked.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:15The Palmer corner from the right comes in and there's bodies everywhere! Colwill, Cucurella and Yarmolyuk are all down. Instead of a foul, the referee orders for the set-piece to be re-taken. It does, and Flekken comes out to flap the ball away at the second time of asking. Sancho then can't find Palmer with a ball from the left and it's a goal-kick.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:13Chelsea around the Bees' box with intent, yet Sancho and then Madueke opt not to cross before finding Gusto. The Frenchman's ball searches for Sancho on the left byline, and while he knocks it back, it falls into Brentford possession and it can be cleared. In the next phase, Madueke sees a cross put behind by Pinnock.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:11Wissa gets brought down by Cucurella on the left. Again, it's a great position for Mbeumo to cross. However, the floating ball is claimed easily by Sanchez yet again.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:10Jackson is penalised for an accidental handball before Mbeumo is then away chasing a long ball. Sanchez deals with it easily.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:08Adarabioyo can't get onto Palmer's left-sided corner delivery, and after Madueke's effort is blocked from the edge of the area, the winger is tackled well by Collins on the right of the box.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:06Lewis-Potter is brought down by a lunging Gusto. Brentford might be able to cross from this position on the left here. Mbeumo sends it in, Sanchez claims and Chelsea try to break. Roerslev is back though, and it's behind for a corner.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:03Palmer's pass from the centre circle gets us back under way at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Brentford
20:01After a busy first half for Brentford's goalkeeper, it's no surprise that Flekken arrives as the player that has seen the most touches for his side. However, he has been key in keeping Chelsea at bay. The hosts have exceeded their xG of 0.79, while the visiting Bees have struggled to get going in attack with an xG of 0.12. Further evidence, if required, arrives with Mbeumo being limited to attempting just four passes in the opening 45 minutes. It's of vital importance that Frank's side can usher one of their star men into the action.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:56Chelsea lead Brentford 1-0 at the break in this West London face-off thanks to Marc Cucurella's fine header just before the whistle. Initially, the hosts were quick out of the blocks as Jackson glanced a header wide in the first minute. However, the first effort that troubled Flekken arrived 10 minutes later, as Jackson was alive again to slam one at the Dutchman at the left post. Flekken was by far the busier of the two stoppers - with Maresca's side forcing saves with efforts from Fernandez, Palmer, and Madueke, respectively. While Brentford could only really respond with a Damsgaard strike blocked well by Colwill, the Blues punished their lack of threat to snatch the lead in the 43rd minute. After a slew of unsuccessful crosses, Madueke cut back onto his left on the right and delivered a fine ball into the box. With a run a striker would be proud of, Cucurella raced forward and flicked a deft header into the bottom-left corner to give the hosts the upper hand heading into the interval.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:48HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 BRENTFORD
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:47There will be just one minute of added time here.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:47Palmer has an effort blocked as the Chelsea fans scream for him to shoot. Shortly after, as the ball bounces up nicely, Jackson goes for a floaty bicycle kick to no avail.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:44Goal Marc Cucurella Saseta
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:44The ball comes in, yet Adarabioyo is offside in the mix. Up goes the flag, before Palmer rather comically lashes a frustrated effort off the crossbar.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:43After their set-piece efforts come to nothing, Madueke is fouled by Lewis-Potter out on the right. Chelsea now have Palmer ready to deliver from a dangerous area.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:41Flekken denies Madueke as Brentford live dangerously! After the goalkeeper's loose pass out for Norgaard is intercepted by Madueke, the England winger surges down the right before firing a powerful drive back across. Flekken saves well, before being called into action again by Palmer on the other side.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:39Flekken pounces on a Caicedo ball from the left with great athleticism after the Ecuadorian drives down the left byline. Fortunately for the Dutchman, there was no one in blue particularly close.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:37Chelsea are looking to up the ante as we reach ten minutes before the break. Fernandez tries to slip in Madueke from the edge of the box after Sancho plays the ball in-field. Brentford do well to poke it away. Mbeumo is then set off on a run in behind, yet as Sanchez hoofs away, the flag is up anyway.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:34After some near-comical head tennis, Chelsea pressure ends with Madueke's low ball from the right being blocked and going behind for a corner. That corner is punched out before Palmer's next cross finds Sancho at the back post. He blasts into the side netting with a powerful volley.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:31Damsgaard is blocked off by Colwill excellently in the area! Brentford worked that move so well, with Mbuemo being found on the right before slotting Roerslev in on the overlap. The two Dane's then combined to see the England defender throw his body between the ball and his goal bravely. The resulting corner is cleared.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:29Palmer gets the ball from Caicedo and drives at the Brentford defence before poking through Jackson on the left. He can't get his feet right before side-footing an effort that Pinnock can block behind for a corner on that side. The subsequent delivery comes in and Madueke rises. His glancing header flies right of the goal.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:27Pinnock's long throw from the left is cleared out and Chelsea break with an abundance of Blue shirts flying forward. Fernandez picks out Madueke, yet the ball is just scooped away desperately by the Bees.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:26Chelsea go from back to front very quickly down the right before the ball is worked over to the left. Sancho plays Cucurella with an overlap to the byline, yet Lewis-Potter nods the Spaniard's cross out of trouble.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:23With the referee stopping a pushing match, Chelsea have two goes at the corner. Brentford clear consummately with a Flekken punch.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:22Palmer finds Madueke over on the right with a brilliant sweeping ball. The winger finds Fernandez at the right byline and he shoots from a tight angle. Flekken gets down low to block it behind!
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:21After Brentford earn a corner on the left as Wissa gets blocked off by Colwill, the delivery doesn't beat Palmer at the front post before the second cross is straight into the gloves of Sanchez. What a waste.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:20After a botched long throw that is easily headed out of the Chelsea box, Pinnock continues to try and make progress down the left flank. However, Jackson tracks back to direct him out of play for a goal-kick to Sanchez.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:18Chelsea have a corner on the left now after Van den Berg ushers Cucurella away from trouble at the back post. Fernandez then slams the set-piece straight into the side netting. It barely came on!
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:17Palmer! It's another strong palm away from Flekken! Gusto sees a shot blocked before the rebound falls to Palmer on the edge of the area. It's high but relatively straightforward for Flekken to push away. The resulting phase sees Madueke struggle to link onto a cross from the left.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:15Chelsea pressure ends briefly as Cucurella fouls Mbeumo as Brentford try to break away. The resulting free-kick floats over from the back and Flekken, giving Sanchez an easy enough claim.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:13Big save from Flekken! A ball is floated over the Brentford backline by Caicedo and Jackson races down the left channel before slamming one straight at the Dutchman at his left post! Strong hands!
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:11After a spell of defending, Brentford try to build out as Yarmolyuk looks to send Mbeumo on his way down the right. However, Sanchez races out of his box to intercept the Cameroonian international's run. Chelsea react well with further pressure, yet Sancho sees a cross blocked before Colwill overhits a ball from the left.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:08Chelsea are just comfortable in possession right now. Brentford are sat quite deep, yet like a coiled spring, we should know they're able to break forward quickly when given the chance.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:07Goals on the menu? Chelsea have won each of their last four Premier League games, and the last three while scoring three or more goals in each. Only once before in the Blues’ history have they scored over three goals in four successive top-flight matches, doing so in November and December 1954 under Ted Drake en route to winning the title that season.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:05After some formative strides and a looping cross from Lewis-Potter on the left for Brentford, Chelsea come forward. Gusto crosses for Jackson, yet his header is just wide of the top-left corner!
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:03And we're off in the latest instalment of this West London rivalry.
Chelsea vs Brentford
19:03The players emerge to a typically warm reception and we see all the usual formalities before kick-off. Referee Bankes meets with the captains Fernandez and Norgaard, and it seems that the visitors will get us into action as Damsgaard and Wissa stand over the ball.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:54Well, what'll it be tonight? Chelsea initially won their first Premier League meeting against Brentford, but are since winless in their last five against them (D2 L3). Despite the Bees' awful away form this term, they'll draw comfort from the fact that those three defeats inflicted on the Blues arrived in their own backyard. If they win today, Brentford will be the first team to win four consecutive top-flight away games against the Blues since Leeds United amassed six victories between 1973 and 1991. Today's chief official as history beckons, is Peter Bankes. The last Premier League game he was in charge of was Fulham's 3-1 win over Brighton.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:44Thomas Frank makes two changes from their 4-2 win against Newcastle last weekend, with Mikkel Damsgaard and Mads Roeslev coming in for Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho. Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbuemo will of course be the major threats for Brentford this evening. The dynamic duo have scored a combined 18 goals so far in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:44Chelsea make three changes from the 4-3 win at Tottenham last week, including Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo and Noni Madueke. Pedro Neto is suspended and among seven absentees for the home side. Chelsea's bench is a little thinner than usual with three academy players - Josh Acheampong, Samuel Rak-Sakyi and Tyrique George - among the substitutes. They all received minutes away in Kazakhstan in the 3-1 win against Astana on Thursday.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:44SUBS: Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson, Ben Mee, Jayden Meghoma, Kristoffer Ajer, Ryan Trevitt, Vitaly Janelt, Yunus Emre Konak, Fabio Carvalho, Kevin Schade.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:44BRENTFORD (4-2-3-1): Mark Flekken; Mads Roerslev, Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, Sepp van den Berg; Christian Norgaard, Yehor Yarmolyuk; Bryan Mbeumo, Mikkel Damsgaard,Keane Lewis-Potter; Yoane Wissa.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:38SUBS: Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi, Josh Acheampong, Renato Veiga, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Christopher Nkunku, Marc Guiu, Tyrique George.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:38CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez; Malo Gusto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella; Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo; Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho; Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:33In-form Chelsea can make it eight straight Premier League games unbeaten when they host Brentford tonight. The Blues are on a roll under Enzo Maresca, with their victory at Tottenham last weekend lifting them up to second in the Premier League table - just five points adrift of Liverpool. Comparing form from Brentford’s home and away games is almost like looking at two different teams. The Bees have collected an impressive 22 league points from the 24 available at the Gtech Community Stadium, but have picked up just a single point from the 21 offered on their travels. Will Thomas Frank’s 10th-placed side up the ante against a Chelsea group nipping at the heels of Arne Slot’s Liverpool? Brentford have in fact got the better of Chelsea of late, being unbeaten in the last five Premier League matches between them. Chelsea are looking for their first league win in games between the two sides since October 2021.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:33Good evening everyone, and welcome to live text action from the Premier League's 16th game week. Tonight Chelsea welcome Brentford to Stamford Bridge in yet another instalment of an entertaining West London clash.
Chelsea vs Brentford
18:30Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Chelsea vs Brentford
17:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
