Chelsea vs Brentford verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets

Despite recent form, both Chelsea and Brentford do have an outside shot of qualifying for Europe but they must start winning.

Premier League, Wednesday April 26, Kick-off 7:45pm, live on BT Sport 3

Brentford to win

Ivan Toney to score

Chelsea are winless in their last seven competitive matches, failing to score in five of those.

Chelsea have produced one of the worst goal returns in the club's history at home, scoring just 17 times in 16 matches.

The Bees' form has also taken a turn for the worse as they've failed to win in their previous six matches.

The away team is unbeaten in the last four meetings between the sides, a run which includes a 4-1 win for Brentford at Stamford Bridge last season.

Armando Broja (knee) and Kalidou Koulibaly (thigh) are set to miss out for Chelsea, but Frank Lampard has an otherwise healthy squad to pick from. Wesley Fofana is likely to continue alongside Thiago Silva at the back, while Kai Havertz could be flanked by Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Brentford are a little bit stretched at the back with Pontus Jansson (thigh) and Kristoffer Ajer (calf/shin) both set to miss out. Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) and Christian Norgaard (knock) are also out.

When the 2022/23 Premier League season began, nobody expected Chelsea to be a struggling mid-table side. What's more, no-one would have expected them to spend £280,000,000+ and become what they have.

Chelsea are now winless in seven matches and have lost five of those. They were able to produce some moments when they could have scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League last week, but they were nowhere near their level.

Brentford's season is starting to get away from them. The Bees are winless in six, which will be very disappointing for Thomas Frank. Although they haven't pulled up trees, Europe is still a possibility.

Due to the fact this year's trophy winners are already guaranteed a place in Europe, the qualifying spots for the Europa League and the Europa Conference League will cascade down to the teams in sixth and seventh.

Brentford are currently six points behind Liverpool and seven points behind Aston Villa, the teams that occupy those positions. Chelsea are four points behind Brentford but have played one game fewer.

The Blues' home form this season makes a trip to Stamford Bridge a winnable game for just about anyone. Frank Lampard's arrival has done nothing to fix an expensively assembled mishmash of individual talent that lacks an obvious style and no focal point in attack.

Chelsea's tally of 17 goals in 16 home matches is relegation form, but only Manchester City, Newcastle and Liverpool have conceded fewer goals at home.

Chelsea have been able to exert a level of control over games at home, but they have struggled to create clear-cut chances or finish the ones they do fashion.

Their six home victories this season have all come against sides currently below them in the Premier League.

The blueprint for Brentford will be to replicate the performance they produced at the Etihad. They were able to soak up the pressure from a City side not at their best, striking twice on the break to seal a famous win.

Only four sides have lost fewer games than Brentford on their travels and if Chelsea plan on being their usual wasteful selves, fans could start to turn inside Stamford Bridge and Brentford will be ready to sting on the counter.

Ivan Toney has scored six goals in the last six matches where Brentford have earned at least a point away from home. He'll be key as he provides an outlet, and if he gets the chance, he'll show the Chelsea strikers how to finish.