Blues hope Argentines can shine
In the form of Enzo Fernandez and Facundo Buonanotte, tonight is the first time since November 2003 that Chelsea have started a Premier League game with two Argentinean outfielders in the side.
On that occasion, it was Hernan Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron versus Newcastle United.
Martin Lipton reporting from the Gtech
More about who isn’t playing than who is for Chelsea at the Gtech.
No Cole Palmer, Reece James, Estevao Willian or new recruit Alejandro Garnacho – while we won’t see Liam Delap until long after the clocks have gone back.
Willian isn’t even on the bench – he’s apparently picked up a bug between the altitude of La Paz and London.
It means first Blues starts for Hato and Buononotte – a club debut for the on-loan Argentine – and a first start since MARCH for injury-plagued Wesley Fofana among four changes from the side that found a way to beat Fulham before the break.
Bees boss Keith Andrews is able to include Ethan Pinnock for the first time this season but Chelsea will be looking for the win to go top of the table – at least until tomorrow afternoon.
Marc Guiu recalled for… this?
Many thought Marc Guiu would be getting minutes for the Blues’ tonight after his last-ditch recall on deadline day.
Instead, he is the ‘extra man’ with the squad in case someone needs to pull out, as Cole Palmer did at West Ham.
Estevao absent for Chelsea
ESTEVAO has been left out of Chelsea’s squad to face Brentford tonight.
The Brazilian winger played in gruelling conditions in Bolivia in the early hours of Wednesday morning, at the highest international stadium on the planet, before a 14-hour flight back to London.
He’s been declared ill for this one.
Hot-headed Hammers see red
Tomas Soucek’s sending off was West Ham’s ninth Premier League red card against Spurs.
It’s two more than they’ve received against any other opponent.
Match stats from the London Stadium
West Ham’s three defeats in the Premier League this season have all been by a 3+ goal margin – 3-0 at Sunderland, 5-1 at home to Chelsea, 3-0 against Spurs.
Matchday Four is the joint earliest a side has lost three games by a 3+ goal margin in a season in the competition along with Bournemouth in 2022-23.
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