Chelsea will aim to continue their brilliant start to the season when they welcome Brentford on Sunday evening. West London rivals Chelsea and Brentford face off at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in what promises to be an intriguing Premier League encounter. While Chelsea have been revitalised under Enzo Maresca, Brentford aim to maintain their historic dominance at the Bridge, having won on each of their last three visits.

Both sides come into the game on the back of thrilling victories, with Chelsea edging Tottenham in a seven-goal thriller and Brentford putting four past Newcastle United. However, the contrasting fortunes of these teams at home and on the road add an extra layer of complexity to this much-anticipated clash.

Despite sitting second in the league table, Chelsea's home form has been underwhelming. They have managed only three wins from their seven Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge this season, scoring just 12 of their 35 goals in front of their home fans. This highlights a puzzling inability to translate their dominance into points on home soil.

However, the Blues have been in fine form of late, winning their last four league games, a streak matched only by Liverpool this season. Their last outing at the Bridge saw them dismantle Aston Villa 3-0, and Enzo Maresca's side have scored three or more goals in each of their last three victories. This resurgence has been led by the impressive form of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, who have added flair and efficiency to Chelsea's attack.

Chelsea head into the match fresh from a 3-1 Conference League victory over Astana in Kazakhstan. While the midweek travel could impact preparation, Maresca rotated heavily, meaning his first-choice XI will be well-rested as they seek to end a five-match winless streak against Brentford.

Brentford, in contrast, have enjoyed their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign, sitting comfortably in the top half with 23 points after 15 games. However, their impressive form has largely been built on their performances at home, with the Bees securing just one point away from home this season - a draw against Everton.

Thomas Frank's men head into this game buoyed by a thrilling 4-2 win over Newcastle United, but their away form is a glaring weakness. Having won just three league games on the road in the last 13 months, Brentford must rediscover their scoring touch away from home to build on their remarkable record at Stamford Bridge.

The Bees have defeated Chelsea in all three of their Premier League visits to the Bridge, including back-to-back 2-0 wins in the last two seasons. A fourth consecutive away win here would make them the first side since Leeds United in the 1970s to achieve such a feat. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics Chelsea Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is expected to revert to a near-full-strength lineup after taking a heavily rotated squad to Kazakhstan for their UEFA Europa Conference League fixture on Thursday. None of the players who featured in the 3-1 win over Astana are expected to start on Sunday.

Pedro Neto is suspended for this clash following a yellow card picked up against Tottenham last weekend, paving the way for Noni Madueke to slot into the starting lineup on the wing. Reece James and Wesley Fofana remain sidelined with hamstring injuries, though Mykhailo Mudryk is expected to return after recovering from illness. At right-back, Malo Gusto, who was introduced at halftime against Spurs, could replace Romeo Lavia in the starting XI.

Maresca is likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Chelsea looking to dominate possession and stretch Brentford's defence. Robert Sanchez will retain his spot between the posts, commanding the backline. In defence, Malo Gusto is expected to start at right-back, with Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill forming the central defensive pairing. Marc Cucurella will likely occupy the left-back position, offering defensive cover and attacking width.

In midfield, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will operate as a double pivot, providing a blend of defensive solidity and progressive passing to link defence and attack.

The attacking trio behind the striker will consist of Noni Madueke on the right wing, Cole Palmer in the central playmaking role, and Jadon Sancho on the left wing. These three will be tasked with creating opportunities and breaking down Brentford's compact defensive structure. Up front, Nicolas Jackson will lead the line, bringing energy, movement, and finishing ability to Chelsea's attack.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Badiashile, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Brentford Thomas Frank is unlikely to field the ultra-attacking lineup he used against Newcastle United, which saw Bryan Mbeumo and Keane Lewis-Potter operate as wing-backs, with Yoane Wissa, Igor Thiago, and Fabio Carvalho forming a front three.

This week, the latter two are expected to drop to the bench in favor of more defensive stability, with Mads Roerslev likely to come into the side and Mikkel Damsgaard returning to the starting XI after being rested last weekend.

Vitaly Janelt, who missed the Newcastle United game due to a minor issue, should be fit to feature, adding depth to the midfield. However, Mathias Jensen is set to miss out once again due to a hamstring injury, limiting Frank's options in central midfield.

Frank is expected to adopt a balanced 4-2-3-1 formation to improve defensive solidity while maintaining attacking potential. Mark Flekken will start in goal, commanding the defence. The back four will likely consist of Mads Roerslev at right-back, Nathan Collins and Ethan Pinnock as the central defensive pairing, and Sepp van den Berg at left-back, offering defensive solidity and width.

In the midfield double pivot, Christian Norgaard and Vitaly Janelt will be tasked with shielding the defence and distributing the ball effectively to the forward line. The attacking midfield trio is expected to feature Bryan Mbeumo on the right wing, Mikkel Damsgaard in the central creative role, and Keane Lewis-Potter on the left wing.

This trio will aim to provide service to the lone striker and pose a threat on the counterattack. Leading the line will be Yoane Wissa, who will be responsible for stretching Chelsea's defence and converting chances in the final third.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, van den Berg; Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Wissa

Palmer has quickly established himself as a key figure in Chelsea's resurgence under Enzo Maresca. The young Englishman has been in scintillating form recently, orchestrating Chelsea's attack with creativity, composure, and a knack for delivering in crucial moments.

Palmer's ability to operate between the lines, link-up play, and execute decisive passes has made him the focal point of Chelsea's offence. His vision and technical ability allow him to unlock stubborn defences, while his set-piece prowess provides an additional weapon in Chelsea's arsenal. With three assists and a goal in his last four Premier League outings, Palmer has been instrumental in the Blues' four-game winning streak.

Against Brentford's compact and well-drilled defence, Palmer's flair and decision-making in the final third will be crucial. Whether it is threading a pass to Nicolas Jackson, combining with Jadon Sancho, or testing the goalkeeper himself, Palmer's influence could be the difference-maker for Chelsea as they seek to end their Stamford Bridge curse against the Bees.

Expect Palmer to play a pivotal role, pulling the strings in midfield and setting the tempo for Chelsea's attack. If he is at his best, Brentford will struggle to contain his creativity and incisiveness.

Prediction Chelsea 2-1 Brentford Chelsea's attacking firepower, combined with Brentford's defensive resilience and history in this fixture, sets up an intriguing battle. While the Blues have the momentum, Brentford's ability to frustrate them at Stamford Bridge cannot be overlooked.

The home side's recent form and fresher squad should be enough to overcome their Stamford Bridge woes and halt Brentford's remarkable streak. Expect Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson to be instrumental as the Blues aim to maintain pressure on league leaders Liverpool.