Chelsea make the short trip to Brentford on Saturday as Enzo Maresca’s side continue a run of London fixtures to open the 2025/26 Premier League season. The visitors arrive with encouraging results while Cole Palmer works his way back from a groin injury. Maresca has said that a decision will be made on Palmer after Friday’s training session, but the playmaker may not start anyway, even if he’s deemed fit. The Chelsea boss has to consider the upcoming Champions League fixture away at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Brentford will hope Chelsea are still without Palmer. Keith Andrews’ side look to recover from the 2–1 defeat at Sunderland on 30/08/25 and build on the narrow 1–0 victory over Aston Villa on 23/08/25. Andrews registered his first Premier League win since succeeding Thomas Frank, despite summer departures that left many projecting a difficult campaign. Brentford also registered earlier results including Bournemouth 0–2 Brentford on 26/08/25, Nottingham Forest 3–1 Brentford on 17/08/25 and a 2–2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach on 08/08/25.

Chelsea’s recent results include Chelsea 2–0 Fulham (30/08/25), West Ham 1–5 Chelsea (22/08/25), Chelsea 0–0 Crystal Palace (17/08/25), Chelsea 4–1 AC Milan (10/08/25) and wins over Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach in pre-season fixtures listed on 08/08/25.

Team news for Brentford is broadly positive. Vitaly Janelt is available again after a heel injury, Michael Kayode, who had been taken ill while on Italy Under-21 duty, is fit, and Deadline Day arrival Reiss Nelson “will play a part,” Andrews has confirmed. Paris Maghoma and Gustavo Gomes remain sidelined.

Maresca faces selection choices. Liam Delap could be out until December with a hamstring injury and Levi Colwill remains a long-term absentee. Andrey Santos, João Pedro and Estêvão returned late from international duty and injuries may force Santos and Pedro into the starting XI. Dário Essugo has joined the treatment table and Roméo Lavia is unlikely to be available this weekend.

Predicted Brentford XI (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henry; Henderson, Jensen; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Cucurella; Caicedo, Sandro; Neto, Fernández, Gittens; Pedro.

Chelsea possess clear quality on paper but several members of Maresca’s squad travelled long distances during the international break, which may affect preparation. Brentford have lost key components over the summer yet early signs indicate they remain a resilient Premier League side capable of surprises.

The Premier League resumes after the September international break with Arsenal hosting Nottingham Forest at the Emirates in Gameweek 4. Forest arrive under new management after a breakdown in relations between Nuno and the club’s hierarchy that cost the Portuguese his job. Evangelos Marinakis has been linked with Ange Postecoglou since he was ruthlessly sacked by Tottenham Hotspur, and Postecoglou is still chasing his first victory over Mikel Arteta.

Recent form is mixed. Arsenal were narrowly beaten by Liverpool before the break and will be keen to return to winning ways after an earlier run that included a 5–0 win over Leeds and a 3–0 victory over Athletic Club in pre-season. Nottingham Forest’s results since the start of August include a 3–1 win at Brentford and a 0–3 defeat to West Ham. Recent scorelines: Liverpool 1–0 Arsenal (31/08/25); Nottingham Forest 0–3 West Ham (31/08/25); Arsenal 5–0 Leeds (23/08/25); Crystal Palace 1–1 Nottingham Forest (24/08/25); Man Utd 0–1 Arsenal (17/08/25); Nottingham Forest 3–1 Brentford (17/08/25); Arsenal 3–0 Athletic Club (09/08/25); Nottingham Forest 0–0 Al Qadsiah (09/08/25); Arsenal 2–3 Villarreal (06/08/25); Nottingham Forest 0–0 Fiorentina (05/08/25).

Arsenal have seen Christian Nørgaard and Ben White return to training but neither is expected to start. Piero Hincapié, a Deadline Day signing, has been in action and could make his debut off the bench. The Gunners remain without Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, while William Saliba is set to miss the game with an ankle injury. Cristhian Mosquera is expected to fill in alongside Gabriel and there could be a first Arsenal start for Eberechi Eze on the left, with Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres either side.

Forest face their own absences. Right-back Ola Aina will undergo hamstring surgery after his issue on international duty, which opens the door for summer arrival Nicolò Savano to get minutes. Nicolás Dominguez, added to Forest’s Europa League squad by Nuno before his departure, is not expected back until later in the autumn. Oleksandr Zinchenko is ineligible to face his parent club.

Predicted lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Madueke, Gyökeres, Eze.
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Savona, Milenković, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Luiz; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

Postecoglou has indicated continuity in approach but a pragmatic plan could suit Forest against an Arsenal side desperate to assert themselves at home. Given the transition at Forest, it would not be a surprise if the Gunners claimed the three points with some comfort.

The Premier League returns on Saturday, Sept. 13 after the September international break, and Gameweek 4 could bring a series of first appearances for players who arrived on deadline day. With many newcomers away for World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies immediately after signing, this weekend offers fans an early chance to see them in club colours.

At Liverpool, Alexander Isak is the most high-profile candidate for a league debut. Isak came on for Sweden during the international break in an upset loss to Kosovo. His preseason was disrupted by a standoff with his former club, but manager Arne Slot has suggested the striker is part of a long-term plan and that Liverpool will manage his introduction. Hugo Ekitiké and Cody Gakpo are also in the squad and could influence selection.

Aston Villa completed two deadline arrivals and Unai Emery will be keen to get both Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott on the pitch quickly. Sancho left Manchester United after being peripheral to Ruben Amorim’s plans at United this summer and now has an opportunity to impress his new manager. Elliott departs Liverpool as a Premier League champion and could have extra motivation to prove himself.

Manchester City reshaped the goalkeeper department with the arrivals of Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford and Marcus Bettinelli after Éderson moved to Fenerbahçe. Trafford’s difficult outing against Tottenham Hotspur during the window may have influenced City’s business. Donnarumma could be in line to stake a claim for the number one role, with the Manchester derby a possible debut stage.

Newcastle lost Alexander Isak and brought in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa late in the window. Wissa scored 19 goals for Brentford last season while Woltemade netted 12 in the Bundesliga for VfB Stuttgart. Eddie Howe also added Anthony Elanga earlier in the summer, giving the club multiple attacking options.

Tottenham Hotspur reshaped their attack with Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons. Kolo Muani can provide cover amid Dominic Solanke’s injury concerns and Simons is expected to play a creative role while James Maddison is set to miss a considerable period.

Below is a brief club-player list mentioned in this piece:
Arsenal: Piero Hincapié
Bournemouth: Veljko Milosavljević
Brentford: Reiss Nelson
Brighton & Hove Albion: Charalampos Kostoulas
Burnley: Florentino Luís
Chelsea: Alejandro Garnacho
Crystal Palace: Christantus Uche
Everton: Tyler Dibling
Fulham: Kevin
Manchester United: Senne Lammens
Nottingham Forest: Oleksandr Zinchenko
Sunderland: Lutsharel Geertruida
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Tolu Arokodare