Chelsea have not won this west London derby since Brentford’s first Premier League season. Each visit since October 2021’s 1-0 win, Ben Chilwell the scorer, has been a draw. This season has continued the divergence between the clubs’ respective approaches, Brentford’s solidity and continuity compared to Chelsea attempting their latest reboot.
Kevin Schade, after two well-taken goals at Bournemouth, will fancy facing a defence not yet attuned to Xabi Alonso’s configurations. Only one team has won a Premier League title with a defensive trio: Chelsea’s last title team, in 2016-17 under Antonio Conte. Alonso’s attack has been rather more successful, presenting another challenge for Jannik Schuster.
Replacing Nathan Collins, the 20-year-old central defender had a tough examination from Bournemouth’s Evanilson on his first Premier League start, emerging with credit. For Chelsea, João Pedro has registered three goals and three assists, but doubts surrounding his fitness could lead to Danny Welbeck’s first league start. John Brewin What happens when a very stoppable force meets an extremely movable object?
We will be tuning into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday to find out as 19th-placed Aston Villa arrive in north London. Both teams have scored just one goal between them in the league and are desperately hoping for a first Premier League win. The return of Pedro Porro is big for Roberto De Zerbi and that should bring the Archie Gray Experiment at right-back to a merciful end.
No Premier League starting XI feels less settled than Spurs – most players look as if they are a mistake or two from being dropped – which has culminated in a side that seems governed by fear and continuously prefers to take the safe option. After coming off the bench against Everton and Liverpool in the past week, the injury-plagued James Maddison will be itching to start and take some sort of initiative for Tottenham. Michael Butler When Fabian Hürzeler spoke about Brighton’s success being founded on them being “well structured” after their stirring comeback against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday, he could have been referring to Malick Yalcouyé.
The 20-year-old Ivorian moved to the south coast in 2024 after spending just a few months with IFK Gothenburg in Sweden but had to wait until this season to make his senior debut for Brighton after being sent on loan to Sturm Graz in Austria and then Swansea last season. With Jack Hinshelwood sidelined due to injury until after the international break, Yalcouyé has taken his chance in the No 10 role and already found the net twice in the Premier League as Brighton have made a brilliant start. Champions Arsenal are up next for the division’s top scorers – who have registered 13 goals from their opening four matches – and Mikel Arteta should be wary of the threat posed by Yalcouyé and co as they prepare for a fourth away game in succession.
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