(REUTERS)
Follow live coverage as Brentford face Chelsea in the Premier League today.
Manchester City are reigning champions after beating Liverpool to the finish line in a neck-and-neck 2021/22 title race where a comeback win on the final day of the season against Aston Villa secured a fourth title in five years for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were on course for a quadruple last season but were forced to settle for just an FA Cup and Carabao Cup win and will return trying to win the title again just as they did in 2020.
It was a dramatic season for Chelsea a year ago with Roman Abramovich now replaced by Todd Boehly as owner in west London. He will want an instant return on his hefty investment at Stamford Bridge while Tottenham, back in the Champions League, will want to kick on once more too.
It’s not all about the action at the top though with Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest promoted to the top tier for 2021/22 and hoping to hold their own against the best English football has to offer and avoid the drop.
We will bring you all the action and updates from today’s game in the live blog below:
Brentford vs Chelsea
CHANCE! Chelsea put the pressure on as Broja skews a shot at goal from the inside-left channel. The Blues regain possession and work the ball to the right flank for Azpilicueta to fire at goal. Raya gets down quickly to his right to push the ball away.
Brentford vs Chelsea
SAVE! Kepa produces a brilliant save to deny Toney. The forward latches on to a failed headed clearance from Loftus-Cheek following a free-kick. Toney tries to head the ball over Kepa, but the keeper reacts to turn the ball over the bar.
Brentford vs Chelsea
Kepa makes a calculated gamble to race off his line to punch a cross from Zanka away from Henry. He makes contact with the ball, but wipes out the defender in the process. The referee waves play on.
Brentford vs Chelsea
Jorginho tries to release Loftus-Cheek down the right flank, but the wing-back fails to make the run. Broja tries to keep it alive, but cannot stop the goal-kick.
Brentford vs Chelsea
Onyeka skips past Koulibaly with ease down the right flank and has options in the middle. He looks for Mbeumo, but his cross is cleared by Azpilicueta.
Brentford vs Chelsea
CLOSE! Azpilicueta collects on the right flank and whips a dangerous cross into the middle that just misses Broja’s head by inches. So close for the Blues.