Chelsea predicted lineup vs Brentford - Premier League

League leaders Chelsea make the short and unfamiliar trip to the Brentford Community Stadium for their Premier League clash on Saturday evening.

Chelsea could become the first team in the history of English professional football to win seven consecutive London derbies away from home with victory at Thomas Frank's bus stop in Hounslow. However, the Blues stumbled into the international break, briefly buoyed by a hard-fought victory over ten-man Southampton after back-to-back defeats to end September.

Here's the lineup Thomas Tuchel may call upon in Chelsea's first league game against Brentford for 74 years.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Brentford - Premier League

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Edouard Mendy (GK) - If his national team captain Kalidou Koulibaly had his way, Chelsea's supreme shot stopper would have been nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or. For now, he'll have to settle for status as the Blues' number one.

Trevoh Chalobah (CB) - A supposed Brentford target in the summer, Chalobah opted to return to his parent club from his third different loan spell and has already been rewarded with three Premier League starts.

Andreas Christensen (CB) - With Thiago Silva scheduled to touch down in London the day of Chelsea's visit to Brentford, Christensen is set to anchor the back three in the Brazilian's absence.

Cesar Azpilicueta (CB) - The ever-versatile Chelsea skipper could fulfil what may loosely be termed his tenth different positional role for the club if he slots in on the left-hand side of the back three in place of the doubtful Antonio Rudiger.

2. Midfielders & wing-backs

Callum Hudson-Odoi (RWB) - Reece James, who only recently returned to training, may not be risked from the off against a physical Brentford, with his fully fit compatriot perhaps taking his place.

Jorginho (CM) - One of five Chelsea players to be nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or (sorry Edouard - and Kalidou), only the club captain has made more appearances since Tuchel's arrival.

Mateo Kovacic (CM) - With a team-high number of progressive passes, completed passes into the final third and the penalty area, Kovacic's incision is scarcely overlooked.

Ben Chilwell (LWB) - On a rare run of consecutive goalscoring appearances for club and country, Chilwell could well be given the chance to make it three in three on Saturday.

3. Forwards

Hakim Ziyech (RF) - Having been left out of the Morocco squad for the international break amid a spat with the head coach, Ziyech will be fresh and that could go in his favour here. A big chance to impress.

Romelu Lukaku (ST) - This could well change depending on what Tuchel says in his pre-match press conference on Friday, but if he is fit, Romelu Lukaku will start.

Timo Werner (LF) - Werner finally looks as though he might have hit some form, playing well against Man City and Southampton before the international break and scoring two fine goals for Germany against North Macedonia on Monday night.