Leaky Chelsea Thrashed In London Derby

Chelsea’s stuttering start to the Premier League season continued after losing 3-0 to Brentford on Friday night.

Premier League
Teams: Brentford v Chelsea
Result: 3-0
Scorers: Anthony (61′), Thiago (83′), Carvalho (90+4′)

Joao Pedro missed out through injury, as coach Xabi Alonso handed a start to Danny Welbeck up-front while veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson made his league debut for the Blues against his former side.

The trio of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Pedro had been key for the Blues in the early stages, with Alonso’s charges not having the same fluidity in the attack against a Brentford side who were not keen to sit back.

Both sides were finding the back of the net quite easily in previous encounters, but neither were able to carve out a serious opening in the first period, with both goalkeepers barely needing to make a save in the opening 30 minutes.

The situation didn’t get any better in the latter stages of the first half, with Brentford providing the only threat on goal with an effort from distance by Yegor Yarmolyuk, although goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was able to get down and make the save.

However, the West London derby finally came to life in the 60th minute when new signing Jaidon Anthony bagged his first goal for the club by getting on the end of Kristoffer Ajer’s knock-on to head into an empty net, meaning the Blues remain without a clean sheet this season.

Alonso responded with a double change with 20 minutes to play as Welbeck and Wesley Fofana made way for Geovany Quenda and Josh Acheampong in an attempt to freshen up the side.

However, it was Brentford who got the second goal with eight minutes left on the clock when Kevin Schade raced through on goal and unleashed a strike that forced Martinez to parry into the path of Igor Thiago, who fired into the back of the net.

The Bees were not done there as substitute Fabio Carvalho rounded off the scoring in second-half stoppage time by turning home a cross from Schade.

Next Fixtures:

Brentford: Aston Villa (A), Liverpool (H), Hull City (A), Sunderland (A), Nottingham Forest (H)

Chelsea: Everton (A), Tottenham Hotspur (H), Liverpool (A), Manchester United (H), Sunderland (A)

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