Chelsea Team News: Cole Palmer Doubtful for Brentford Clash, Delap Out Injured
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has provided an update on the team's fitness ahead of their Premier League match against Brentford. The availability of star player Cole Palmer remains uncertain, while Liam Delap is confirmed to be sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Cole Palmer's Fitness in the Balance
Palmer, who missed Chelsea's wins against West Ham United and Fulham due to an injury sustained during the warm-up against West Ham, faces a late fitness test. Maresca stated that a decision on Palmer's participation will be made after the team's afternoon training session at Cobham. The 23-year-old spent the international break at Cobham undergoing recovery work.
Maresca explained, ‘Cole took part in a session yesterday for the first time – but not the entire session. Today in the afternoon, we have one more session, and we are going to try with him and see if he is ok. Otherwise, he will be out tomorrow again.’ He further clarified that Palmer's absence was solely due to the injury and that his management will be considered once he returns to full fitness due to the upcoming fixture congestion.
Liam Delap Ruled Out with Hamstring Injury
Liam Delap, unfortunately, suffered a hamstring injury during Chelsea's victory over Fulham. The 22-year-old striker was forced off early in the match, and Maresca has confirmed a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The injury occurred when Delap pulled up while chasing a pass in the 14th minute of the 2-0 victory.
‘Liam is around 10-12 weeks, so a long way to go,’ Maresca confirmed, indicating a significant setback for the young striker.
Brazilian Players' Return from International Duty
Maresca also addressed the return of Chelsea's Brazilian contingent following their World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz. The match, played at a high altitude of 13,412 feet above sea level, presents recovery challenges for the players. Moises Caicedo who was away with Ecuador also arrived late.
‘The three Brazilian players arrived yesterday but didn’t train; they did a recovery session. Moises Caicedo [who was away with Ecuador] arrived last night. I didn’t see him, but I will see him today. So, for all of them, it’s a question mark for tomorrow, but when they play in Bolivia, it’s so difficult to be back [at full fitness] very soon,’ Maresca explained.
Brentford vs. Chelsea: Where to Watch
Chelsea aims to continue their strong start to the 2024-25 season as they face Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday. After drawing against Crystal Palace, they secured convincing wins against West Ham and Fulham. Along with Liverpool, Chelsea is one of only two unbeaten teams after the first three matches.
Brentford, on the other hand, has had a mixed start, losing to Nottingham Forest, beating Aston Villa, and then losing to Sunderland. Chelsea holds a 11-5-6 record against Brentford, including a win and a draw last season.
| Streaming Option | Price/month | Free Trial? | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | $84.99 | No | $20 off first month |
| DirecTV Stream | $69.99 | Yes | 5 days |
| Sling | $35.00 | No | $10 off first month |
| Peacock | $7.99 | No | None |
English Premier League
Brentford FC (1-0-2) vs. Chelsea FC (2-1-0)
When: Saturday, September 13
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Where: Gtech Community Stadium (Brentford, U.K.)
Channel: USA Network
