Brentford vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
The Blues consolidated their place at the top of the table as the high-flying Bees came close to pulling off another shock
Chelsea held off a late onslaught from Brentford to achieve a narrow away victory on Saturday and consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League table.
Thomas Tuchel’s side had emerged as early frontrunners for the title, with confidence clearly flowing after their Champions League triumph in the spring, but they recently suffered back-to-back defeats against top teams in Man City and Juventus to somewhat lose momentum. The Blues have now responded with two straight wins, however, this victory over a spirited Brentford outfit earning Chelsea three invaluable points.
Left-back Ben Chilwell, making just his second league start of the season, fired the visitors ahead on the cusp of half-time, blasting a superb half-volley past David Raya for his third goal in as many games for club and country. Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was equally important here, however, making a string of superb saves late in the game to help his side survive the swarming Bees. The best of the lot was a stop with his face to deny Pontus Jansson, though the Senegal international then also crucially tipped over a Christian Norgaard overhead kick from close range to secure the win.
Follow all the fallout from the top-flight meeting:
Mane closing in on 100 goals
Sadio Mane needs just one goal to become the third African player to reach 100 in the Premier League, emulating Didier Drogba and team-mate Mo Salah.
Mane would also become just the third player to reach 100 Premier League goals without any of them coming from the penalty spot, after Les Ferdinand and Emile Heskey.
Unbeaten Reds
Liverpool remain the only unbeaten side left in the Premier League this season with four wins and three draws.
Their current run of 17 league games unbeaten spanning two seasons is the longest of any team in England’s top four divisions (12 wins, five draws).
Watford’s star man
Ismaila Sarr has scored four of Watford’s seven Premier League goals this season - including the last three.
The Ranieri touch
Claudio Ranieri is only the second non-British manager to take charge of four different Premier League clubs, emulating Rafael Benitez.
Ranieri has won four of his previous five home league games against Liverpool.
Leaky defence
Watford are currently on a run of 17 games without a clean sheet in the Premier League and they have failed to score a goal in any of their four league defeats this season.
Salah’s form a worry for Watford
Mo Salah makes his 200th start in all competitions for Liverpool and comes into the game in blistering form. He has scored in each of his last five league matches and his last seven games across all competitions for the Reds.
Never before has he scored in six or eight in a row respectively which would be a new record for the Egyptian.
Salah is the only Liverpool player ever to have scored a hat-trick against Watford, hitting four goals during a 5-0 victory at Anfield in March 2018.
Head-to-head - Watford vs Liverpool
This is the first Premier League meeting between Watford and Liverpool since February 2020 when Watford ended Liverpool’s club record 44-game unbeaten run with a 3-0 victory.
The Reds could lose consecutive league games against the Hornets for the first time if they suffer defeat today.
That said Watford’s victory last time the teams met was their first in nine matches against Liverpool. A run that dates back to December 2015 when they also beat the Reds 3-0.
Ranieri on Watford’s managerial rotation
Claudio Ranieri is back in the Premier League as he takes charge of Watford for the first time today. He spoke during the week about his new position and how he is aware of the rotation policy of Watford’s owners if managers do not live up to their standards.
Ranieri is the 14th boss during the Pozzo ownership, which is not even a decade old, and in his programme notes for today’s game he said:
"I have been asked about the club changing its coach a lot. To me, it is normal, if you do a good job you can be with one project a long time. But if you do not, you will not be there.
"I got sacked by Chelsea after finishing second behind Arsenal Invincibles and getting to a Champions League semi-final. This is football. So what."
Team changes - Watford vs Liverpool
Claudio Ranieri makes three changes to his first starting line-up since taking over from Xisco Munoz. Franciso Sierralta and Joshua King are injured and in recovery so in come Craig Cathcart and Cucho Hernandez. Ozan Tufan drops to the bench with Adam Masina slotting into the midfield.
Jurgen Klopp swaps out four players. Alisson Becker is quarantining in Madrid so Caoimhin Kelleher replaces him in goal. James Milner pushes up into midfield to replace the injured Curtis Jones with Trent Alexander-Arnold slotting back in at right-back. Fabinho is replaced with Naby Keita and up top Roberto Firmino is in for Diogo Jota.
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