Here is your Pride of London betting guide and tips for Chelsea’s Premier League match at Brentford, courtesy of Mike Malley.
The Blues captured another three points in the Premier League over the weekend to bring their winning streak to five, this time with a 2-0 victory at Villa Park. This result was more difficult to come by than others have been during this impressive run, as Kepa Arrizabalaga was forced into seven saves to secure the clean sheet.
The Spanish shot-stopper’s tremendous performance was boosted offensively by a Mason Mount brace that was capped with a lovely free kick in the 65’. CFC currently sits fourth in the EPL table with a game in hand over the three teams ahead, but there is still so much football to be played this season. Especially considering the World Cup is only a month away as well, who knows what will happen?
The Blues’ upcoming fixture list, beginning with Wednesday’s trip across the capital to Brentford, should be a solid barometer of the team’s true quality. Most supporters will have tried to put the most recent clash between these two sides, a humiliating 4-1 Chelsea defeat at Stamford Bridge last April, out of their minds, but it surely festers in the memories of the players who took part.
The Bees will be well-disciplined and frustrating to break down against under Thomas Frank, but I don’t expect the Danish tactician to mastermind another upset. I do admire Brentford, specifically for the club’s ability to solidify itself as a competent Premier League outfit both on the field and off it only a year after being promoted. However, it has benefited greatly from an easy start to the season and racked up points against some of the worst teams in the English top flight.
The Bees’ only real tests so far have been Arsenal, Manchester United, and Newcastle, and two of these matches ended in multi-goal defeats. I’m leaning towards taking Chelsea on the moneyline at -140 odds. My only concern is that Graham Potter’s new manager bounce has to end at some point, and the Gtech Community Stadium feels like an appropriate place for it to do so.
I also think over 2.5 total goals scored at -122 odds is a strong play for Wednesday’s match. Three of the Blues’ previous five games have eclipsed this mark, while the same can be said for the Bees. The aforementioned Brentford victory in west London last season obviously surpassed 2.5 goals as well, so I like the fact that recent history is on my side.
Ivan Toney’s eight goals account for nearly half of his team’s tally, so pocketing the in-form hitman will no doubt be a difficult task for Chelsea’s defensive line. His combination of pace and physicality provides a different challenge to each defender, and his understanding of Frank’s system allows him to find dangerous pockets of space in the opponent’s penalty area. I wouldn’t be shocked if Toney scores, or is at least involved in the buildup to a goal, at some point during the contest.
Official Chelsea odds (via FanDuel as of October 18)
Chelsea ML: -140
Brentford ML: +380
Draw: +280
Over/Under: 2.5 (-122/+100)
My picks:
There weren’t a ton of great value plays for the Blues’ trip across London, so I had to stick with a few of the classics this time out. I’ve ridden both Chelsea moneyline and over 2.5 goals to relative success many times throughout the 2022/23 campaign already, so I feel pretty comfortable betting them again at -140 odds and -122 odds, respectively. Give me both of those, as well as CFC to score over 1.5 goals in the match at -130 for my final pick. I have a feeling the away side will need to find the back of the net at least twice to ensure the win. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.