'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Brentford had Chelsea on the ropes for the final 25-30 minutes of the game, but Thomas Tuchel's side held on to their 1-0 lead to pick up another win in the Premier League. Ben Chilwell's first-half strike was enough to see the Champions of Europe stay on top of the league for another week.
Chelsea came into the game with six away wins in London derbies and were looking to make history by becoming the first team ever to win seven consecutive ones. However, Thomas Tuchel was depleted at the back, with Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger missing out.
The German manager opted to hand Malang Sarr a debut, and the Frenchman showed he could be the heir to the left center-back role when Rudiger is done at Chelsea. Tuchel also picked Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku to lead the attack, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic playing in midfield.
Ben Chilwell scored late in the first half to hand Chelsea the lead after the linesman ruled out Romelu Lukaku's goal a few minutes before the left-back found the back of the net. Brentford were unwilling to sit back and went all out for a point – but were kept at bay by Edouard Mendy, who ended up making several saves with different parts of his body.
Here are Chelsea's top 5 players from the 1-0 win over Brentford:
#5 - Timo Werner
It was a close call between Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell for the fifth place today, but the German nicked it as he was the only one giving the Brentford side a tough time. The former RB Leipzig star was running up and down the pitch throughout the game and was trying his best to get back on the scoresheet.
He did have two good chances to find the back of the Brentford net, but the resilient defenders blocked the shots. Werner managed to put in a delicious ball for Romelu Lukaku to tap in, but the Belgian was offside when the ball was played and the goal did not count.
#4 - Malang Sarr
After a shaky start in the EFL Cup against a second-string Aston Villa, it was a big call by Thomas Tuchel to hand Malang Sarr a debut against Brentford – a side who press high. The Frenchman slotted into the left center-back role today as Antonio Rudiger was out injured.
The former Nice defender finished the game with 10 clearances, 6 interceptions, 3 tackles and was giving Bryan Mbeumo a tough time when he tried to get into the Chelsea box.
#3 - Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was not a part of Thomas Tuchel's plans, but he is now slowly becoming the first midfielder on the team sheet. The Englishman has made the most of his opportunities so far and yet against showed he could be the #6 Thomas Tuchel needs in his side.
Thomas Tuchel needed someone in midfield to be physical and keep hold of the ball, and that is precisely what Loftus-Cheek did. He carried the ball forward when needed and was stealing it from the Brentford players as and when they came close to him.
If he keeps this level of performance going, Jorginho might find it hard to get back into this Chelsea starting XI unless Thomas Tuchel opts to bench Mateo Kovacic instead for the Italian.
#2 - Trevoh Chalobah
Trevoh Chalobah started the season as someone who would get chances here and there in cup games. But now, when he has been given a chance, the youngster has shown he deserves to be in the starting XI.
Playing as the right-center-back today, Trevoh Chalobah had the toughest role in the Chelsea defence. He was up against Ivan Toney, the Brentford striker who is known for his pace and strength. The young Chelsea man had to ensure he nullified all of the striker's efforts and did that to perfection.
Thomas Tuchel's side were not at their best and needed their defense to put in an extra effort to ensure Brentford were not getting back into the game. Towards the very end, Trevoh Chalobah even made a goal-line clearance when everyone else was caught off-guard.
#1 - Edouard Mendy
Edouard Mendy was not among the 30 players named in the Ballon d'Or nominees list and he did not like that one bit. The Senegal star did not speak to the media about it, but he showed why he deserved a place with a top-notch performance tonight.
Chelsea needed Mendy to be on his toes for the final 30 minutes of the game as Brentford were launching the ball into the box and getting half-chances out of nowhere. The goalkeeper stood tall and saved shots every shot with different parts of the body, including his face, but did not let that affect his performance one bit.
