Brentford vs Chelsea 2026: Danny Welbeck Starts as Unbeaten Brentford Host Chelsea
Welbeck Starts for Chelsea
Danny Welbeck has been named in Chelsea’s starting lineup for their Premier League visit to Brentford on Friday night.
The experienced striker gets his first Premier League start for Chelsea since joining the club during the summer. He had previously appeared from the bench in the league, while his goals so far for the club had come in the Carabao Cup.
Welbeck has already made an impact in cup competition. He scored three goals in four appearances, including a two-goal performance against Leeds United in Chelsea’s 6-3 Carabao Cup victory.
The 35-year-old now has the opportunity to lead Chelsea’s attack in an important London derby.
Brentford Remain Unbeaten
Brentford entered the match with an unbeaten Premier League record and have made a strong start under manager Keith Andrews.
The Bees began the campaign with a 3-0 victory over Tottenham before drawing their next three league matches against Leeds United, Sunderland and Bournemouth.
That run has left Brentford close to Chelsea in the early Premier League table. Only one point separated the two teams heading into Friday’s match.
Brentford have also developed a reputation for attacking football. The club had scored 15 goals across domestic competitions before the Chelsea match, while their direct approach has helped them create chances without needing to dominate possession.
Chelsea Make Several Changes
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso made several changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Hull City in their previous Premier League game.
Welbeck leads the attack, with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers also starting. Pedro Neto, Jordan Henderson, Valentín Barco and Pep Chavarría are among the other players selected.
Henderson makes his first appearance for Chelsea at his former club’s ground, while Welbeck, Barco and Chavarría make their full Premier League debuts for the Blues.
Chelsea’s attack has been one of the main talking points during Alonso’s early spell in charge. The Blues had scored freely but also conceded regularly in their opening league matches.
Chelsea went into the game with seven points from their first four matches, having beaten Fulham and Brighton, lost to Arsenal and drawn with Hull City.
A Major Test for Both Teams
The fixture is an important test for both sides before the upcoming international break.
Brentford are looking to extend their unbeaten start and maintain their strong home form. Chelsea, meanwhile, are seeking a return to winning ways after dropping points against Hull.
The previous meeting at the Gtech Community Stadium ended 2-2 in September 2025, with Fabio Carvalho scoring a late equaliser for Brentford.
Chelsea have also enjoyed a strong recent record against Brentford, although their last Premier League victory at the Gtech Community Stadium came in 2021.
With Welbeck starting for the first time in the league, attention will be on whether the veteran forward can continue his early scoring form and provide Chelsea with another attacking option under Alonso.
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