‘Expect an exciting and open contest’: Brentford v Chelsea insight with Bobby Vincent, Mirror Sport

Brentford and Chelsea are set to face off at Gtech Community Stadium on Friday night in a Premier League match, kicking off at 8pm. Bobby Vincent, the senior Chelsea correspondent for Mirror Sport and football.london, provided insights into Chelsea's start under their new manager, Xabi Alonso, as well as what Brentford can expect in this encounter.

Chelsea began the 2026/27 season with a strong showing, winning two of their first three Premier League games. However, their defeat against Arsenal showcased the team's vulnerability in certain aspects. Despite this setback, Xabi Alonso's Chelsea remains an exciting team to watch, but some supporters might prefer a more controlled and less chaotic style of play.

The absence of Chelsea in European competition for the second time in four seasons could be seen as a positive for the team, as manager Xabi Alonso will have more time to work with his squad. This could potentially lead to improved results, as seen with Antonio Conte's title-winning team in the 2016/17 season.

Chelsea supporters are likely hoping for a top-four finish this season, which would be their best result since two seasons ago. The club's board also hopes to see the return of Champions League football at Stamford Bridge. Alonso, in his first season in charge, is expected to focus on winning the Premier League title, but a top-four finish might be more realistic at this stage.

For Brentford, one player to keep an eye on is Morgan Rogers, the England international who made a significant impact after joining Chelsea from Aston Villa for £117 million last summer. Rogers' link-up play with João Pedro and Cole Palmer has been particularly noteworthy, and Brentford will need to find a way to counteract his threat.

Chelsea's preferred formation appears to be a 3-4-3, but they have also experimented with a 4-2-3-1. Brentford should expect a team capable of both attacking and counter-attacking, with options to change their shape and style as needed. As for the scoreline, Bobby Vincent predicts a thrilling 2-2 draw, a common outcome when these two teams face each other.