Predicted Chelsea Line-Up vs Brentford: Xabi Alonso To Make Late Decisions Amid Potential Key Injury Absences | OneFootball

Previewing Chelsea's Premier League clash against Brentford.

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Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso will make several late decisions on key personnel for Friday’s Premier League clash with Brentford.

The short trip to Brentford will be Chelsea’s last action before the long international break, so getting a positive result naturally feels more important. Obviously, both sides want to avoid spending the next three weeks sitting in the lower half of the Premier League table.

The international break can be seen as a positive for Chelsea, as several players could use the period to recover. But that would be less true if they fail to overcome the Brentford challenge.

Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Joao Pedro, Marco Palestra, Jordan Henderson, and Emmanuel Emegha are all doubtful for the west London derby.

Alonso said he would decide on these players on matchday. If true, it is even harder to predict the Chelsea line-up when the manager hasn't fully figured it out.

Emiliano Martinez is expected to stay in goal for Chelsea, at the expense of the younger Mike Penders. Martinez has not kept a clean sheet since joining from Aston Villa on the summer window deadline day, but Chelsea’s poor defence deserves more blame than his goalkeeping.

If Alonso opts for a 3-4-2-1 formation, the back three will likely be Levi Colwill, Maxence Lacroix, and Wesley Fofana.

At wing-backs, Pedro Neto and Jorrel Hato are expected to start ahead of Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria, on the right and the left, respectively. If Palestra gets the green light to play, he will likely come in as a substitute later in the game.

Alonso has limited options in central midfield, especially if James and Henderson are out. Romeo Lavia and Valentin Barco are the two natural options, while Malo Gusto will likely have to provide some cover.

The Chelsea manager could also turn to academy options such as Reggie Watson and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who have been training with the first team.

Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are obvious starters in the two number 10 positions. However, uncertainty over Joao Pedro’s fitness means Danny Welbeck could make his first Premier League start in Chelsea blue.

Depending on Joao Pedro and Emegha’s availability, Welbeck may end up the sole striker option. Neto and Rogers have played as a centre-forward, but Chelsea obviously need them in their positions as well.

Martinez, Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill, Neto, Lavia, Barco, Hato, Palmer, Rogers, Welbeck