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Reece James salvages point for Chelsea after Bournemouth expose soft underbelly

kieran crichard
·36-min read
Reece James' celebrates scoring a late equaliser for Chelsea
Chelsea scrambled a draw against Bournemouth thanks to Reece James’ late free-kick - Reuters/Isabel Infantes

Chelsea under Enzo Maresca are a team of moments, it is what happens in between them which is problematic. Their latest emotional release came in the 95th minute, trailing to Bournemouth with only themselves to blame before Reece James scored a wonderful free-kick. It was his first goal since August 2022 and a glorious one, but it should not have been necessary.

You could just about call this a deserved draw for Chelsea on the basis of the late heave which culminated in James’ equaliser and a dominant first half. Perhaps a hard-won point will be a fillip for Maresca’s side, who frequently start games in a manner which makes autumn’s title-challenge talk seem credible.

Equally, often the thread of a match slips away from their grasp and they lose their way. When the euphoria of James’ goal fades there is work to be done on this flakiness. It was never more profound than when Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie passed to Antoine Semenyo in the 68th minute. It felt dangerous immediately, more than it should have done. Semenyo is a gifted forward playing well for one of the Premier League’s most effective teams, but still had a defender to beat and little angle to work with. It was what was happening in Chelsea’s defence that made the moment ominous.

Josh Acheampong, promising but inexperienced centre back, looked too far away from the man in possession. Robert Sanchez, prone to erratic moments, was positioned to invite a near-post shot. He had time to adjust as Acheampong briefly slowed Semenyo but chose not to. Semenyo made space for the shot, targeted the exposed area and Bournemouth had a 2-1 lead.

This was a game which mirrored Chelsea’s season. Bright start, much excitement, then a loss of momentum and confidence. Everything was going wrong after Semenyo’s goal, one dozy miscontrol from Tosin Adarabioyo audibly infuriated Noni Madueke. In the end they averted further disaster, but they are now winless in the league for more than a month and will drop out of the top four if Newcastle beat Wolves on Wednesday.

Chelsea will point to decisions that went against them, especially the lesser-spotted pitch-side monitor check which did not result in the most severe consequences. David Brooks was booked rather than red carded for a hair pull on Marc Cucurella. Southampton’s Jack Stephens was sent off for the same offence on the same player in December. Reckless, not violent, said the Premier League, but Chelsea must look within for reasons why games like these are slipping away.

“Today’s squad’s average age is under 23 years old, build for the future,” said the Stamford Bridge microphone-wielder shortly before kick-off, a line which sounded like it might have been texted down from the director’s box. Faith in youth is laudable but does not help the fragility. You see it on the pitch and hear it from the stands.

There were oohs and aahs for nutmegs from Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho in the first half, but both occurred close to the halfway line. Audible unease, though, when Sanchez is asked to do a sweeper-keeper impression of prime Alisson/Ederson/Franz Beckenbauer. Nothing feels solid until they work up a decent lead.

Improved finishing and luck for Nicolas Jackson would help. He hit the post within seconds of Bournemouth’s excellent substitute Justin Kluivert doing the same, Sanchez giving the ball away on a space walk out of his area. Effervescent wing play from Madueke gave Jackson another chance just outside the six-yard box; he scooped it hopelessly over the bar, although it was a tricky bouncing ball at his time of connection. An excellent close-range save from Mark Travers deprived him after a header towards the end of the first half.

No issues with providing for others though, judging by Jackson’s smartly-angled pass which sent Palmer through one-on-one, sitting Travers down before his inevitable tidy finish. But shortly after half-time Romeo Lavia was unusually weak in a part of the pitch he tends to dominate. That invited a probing run from Kluivert and a pass to Semenyo, who was shoved over by Moises Caicedo. Kluivert went central and hard with the resulting penalty before Semenyo put Bournemouth ahead.

In the end it was one of the few remaining links to the Roman Abramovich era who saved Chelsea. James pulled rank over Palmer for his free-kick and at 25 qualifies as an elder statesman around Cobham. He may need to teach his team-mates a thing or two about resilience.

09:58 PM GMT

Red card or no red card?

Should David Brooks have seen red for this?

09:54 PM GMT

Crazy night at Brentford

09:48 PM GMT

Christian Norgaard speaking to TNT

09:42 PM GMT

The thoughts post-match of Reece James

09:40 PM GMT

Reaction from West Ham’s Danny Ings and Lucas Paqueta

09:38 PM GMT

Crazy game at the Gtech

09:30 PM GMT

FT at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea went 1-0 up, Bournemouth then took a 2-1 lead before a late James equaliser means both sides take a point from another enthralling fixture in the Premier League tonight.

09:27 PM GMT

FT at the London Stadium

Graham Potter has three points in his first league game in charge of West Ham as they see out the victory, winning 3-2 at home against Fulham.

09:25 PM GMT

GOAL! James scores late equaliser for Chelsea

It is now 2-2 at Stamford Bridge! James has scored a free-kick from just outside the box off the inside of the post and there are still three added minutes remaining.

09:24 PM GMT

FT at the Gtech Community Stadium

A crazy, end-to-end game ends 2-2. A double from Foden had put Manchester City 2-0 up but goals from Wissa and Norgaard have earned Brentford a point.

09:23 PM GMT

90+4 mins: Brentford 2 Manchester City 2

Brilliant defending from Ake as he denies Mbeumo. The shot may actually have gone wide but he did his job.

09:22 PM GMT

90+1 mins: West Ham 3 Fulham 2

They are into six added minutes at the London Stadium and Fulham come so close to an equaliser as the ball comes across the six-yard box and Traore blazes an effort high and wide.

09:20 PM GMT

GOAL! Norgaard scores late equaliser for Brentford

Manchester City were 2-0 up but now it is back to 2-2. The cross is sent in from the right and Norgaard is on hand to head home from around eight yards out, despite Ortega’s best efforts to claw it away from his goal.

09:19 PM GMT

90 mins: Brentford 1 Manchester City 2

Five added minutes.

09:15 PM GMT

85 mins: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 2

Huge chance for Bournemouth to wrap up the three points. Kluivert has an opportunity from around eight yards out but his effort is blocked.

09:13 PM GMT

84 mins: Brentford 1 Manchester City 2

Savinho comes close to restoring Manchester City’s two-goal advantage but Flekken does well to get down to his right to deny Savinho.

09:11 PM GMT

GOAL! Brentford pull goal back

This game is not done quite yet and Wissa finally takes a chance tonight. Roerslev picks out Wissa in the centre and this time Wissa makes no mistake.

09:10 PM GMT

79 mins: West Ham 3 Fulham 2

Fulham are so nearly level. Iwobi is driving at the West Ham box and plays it into the path of Jimenez on the left-hand side of the box. His effort is saved.

09:09 PM GMT

GOAL! Iwobi gets his second to keep Fulham in the match

West Ham were 2-0 up and 3-1 up but this match is certainly not over. Iwobi nabs his second of the game and it is still all to play for with just over ten minutes of normal time remaining.

09:06 PM GMT

GOAL! Foden adds his second

Manchester City are now 2-0 up. Savinho takes advantage of a Brentford error and he moves forward into the Brentford box. He has space to take on a shot, which is straight at Flekken. The rebound comes to Foden, who slots home his second of the match.

Thomas Frank will be so annoyed that his side are 2-0 down with the chances they have had.

09:04 PM GMT

75 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 1

Schade strikes wide from the right-hand side of the box but the offside flag was up against him anyway.

08:59 PM GMT

70 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 1

Brentford will be wondering how on earth they have not scored tonight. Mbeumo goes around Ortega and cuts it across but Wissa’s shot is heroically blocked.

08:58 PM GMT

GOAL! Semenyo puts Bournemouth ahead

From 1-0 down Bournemouth are 2-1 up and what a finish from Semenyo, rifling his shot into the top of the net.

08:58 PM GMT

GOAL! Paqueta adds West Ham’s third

Fulham pulled a goal back early in the second half but West Ham have restored their two-goal advantage. It really is another goal that Fulham have gifted to West Ham. Leno loses it on the edge of the box and Paqueta smashes home. An absolutely horrendous error from Leno, who dithered on the ball way too long.

08:55 PM GMT

GOAL! Foden gives Manchester City the lead

Moments after Brentford have a goal ruled out, Manchester City are now on the scoresheet. De Bruyne whips in a delightful ball from the right into the path of Foden, who flicks it first time past Flekken and off the inside of the far post. Terrific assist, terrific finish.

We have a goal at last. It really could have gone either way but it’s City who have found it. Fabulous cross by De Bruyne, tucked in on the volley by Foden. Brilliant goal.

08:54 PM GMT

65 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

The ball is in the back of the Manchester City net but immediately the offside flag is up. Damsgaard slotted into the bottom corner but there was a clear offside in the build-up.

08:53 PM GMT

63 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

I have lost count of the number of chances Wissa has had tonight. Brentford counter and Mbeumo feeds it into the path of Wissa on the right-hand side of the area. He probably takes slightly too long on the ball before shooting, which allows Gvardiol to slide in to make a crucial block.

08:49 PM GMT

60 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

How has this game still not had a goal? Akanji is the latest player to have an effort as his header goes wide of the far post.

08:47 PM GMT

GOAL! Fulham pull goal back

Fulham needed an early goal in this second half and that is exactly what they have got. Iwobi is the man to get it and it is game back on at the London Stadium.

08:45 PM GMT

55 mins: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 1

They wanted to check possible foul play from Brooks on Cucurella as the Chelsea left-back ran forward. Plenty of replays are watched and in the end Brooks is shown a yellow card, not a red. That is probably a reaction from Brooks from an incident right at the start of the match were Cucurella took out Brooks.

08:44 PM GMT

53 mins: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 1

Could Brooks be in trouble? We are going to a VAR review...

08:41 PM GMT

52 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

As was the case in the first half, chances aplenty at the Gtech Community Stadium. First Mbeumo blazes a shot off target and then at the other end Haaland heads straight at Flekken from around eight yards out.

08:40 PM GMT

GOAL! Kluivert equalises for Bournemouth

Kluivert goes down the middle and Bournemouth are level.

08:39 PM GMT

PENALTY BOURNEMOUTH!

The visitors have a penalty at Stamford Bridge. Caicedo shoves Semenyo in the back and Bournemouth are awarded a penalty.

08:38 PM GMT

49 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Manchester City hit the post! Savinho drives forward and shoots across goal but his effort comes back off the far post.

We’ve continued where we left off at Brentford, with chances for both teams. Savinho has hit the post for City, while Nathan Collins headed a yard wide for Brentford. Such a fun game. I just can’t see it ending 0-0.

08:36 PM GMT

47 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Early chance at the start of this second half for the hosts. A free-kick is sent in from the left and Collins wins the header but his effort goes just wide of the far post.

08:33 PM GMT

Back under way at the Gtech Community Stadium

The second half in west London has just got going. An end-to-end first half did not yield any goals so what will the second have in store?

08:27 PM GMT

Meanwhile at the City Ground

Nottingham Forest are ahead against the league leaders Liverpool thanks to Chris Wood’s early goal. You can follow all the events from the City Ground with our dedicated live blog.

08:21 PM GMT

HT at Stamford Bridge

Palmer’s 14th league goal of the season is the difference at the break as Chelsea lead Bournemouth 1-0.

08:20 PM GMT

HT at the London Stadium

Pretty much the perfect first half in his first league game in charge of West Ham for Graham Potter. Goals from Soler and Soucek give them a 2-0 lead at the break.

08:17 PM GMT

HT at the Gtech Community Stadium

The half-time whistle goes and it remains goalless between Brentford and Manchester City.

Kevin De Bruyne has just hit a shot so far over the bar that it came within a few feet of leaving the stadium altogether. Incredible that he managed to gain so much elevation, even if it was entirely accidental.

That was the last significant moment of a very entertaining first half, with both Brentford and City generating plenty of chances. Hard to believe it’s still goalless.

08:14 PM GMT

44 mins: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 0

Jackson has another opportunity to extend Chelsea’s lead. He is found at the back post and his header is saved on the line by Travers. His rebound effort misses the target and he will feel he should have scored there.

Nicolas Jackson still looking for his first goal in almost a month, which came in Chelsea’s last win on 15 December. He is getting closer, has hit the post and seen a solid back-post header saved brilliantly by Mark Travers. Five added minutes just announced and Chelsea looking uncertain about whether to press for more or calm things down after a volatile last 10 minutes. Fifteen seconds before Jackson hit the woodwork Kluivert did the same for Bournemouth. It was pretty much their only chance of the half, but a warning of their attacking threat.

08:08 PM GMT

37 mins: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 0

The post is struck at each end at Stamford Bridge. First it is Kluivert for Bournemouth and then Jackson for Chelsea.

08:05 PM GMT

GOAL! Soucek doubles West Ham’s lead

Graham Potter’s side are now two goals to the good. Wan-Bissaka cuts it back to Soucek from the right-hand side of the area and he slots home first time. Will Julen Lopetegui be watching this? I suspect not!

Who needs strikers? Having failed to even touch the ball in the Fulham area, West Ham are now two goals ahead thanks to two goals in quick succession from Soler and Soucek. The Potter master plan is working after all.

08:03 PM GMT

33 mins: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 0

Huge miss from Jackson. Moments after being booked, he blazes over from just six yards out.

Plenty of nice moments for Chelsea who continue to boss this, but there is something slightly fragile about their hold on the game for as long as it stays 1-0. You can see it from the players and hear it in the crowd, a volatility to some of the body language when things do not go as planned and aghast noises when the ballplaying in tight defensive areas becomes risky, or when Jackson scoops a shot over the bar from inside the six yard box as he just has. Great work to make the chance from Madueke and while it looked a gruesome miss it was a tricky delivery, bouncing awkwardly and slightly behind the striker.

08:02 PM GMT

GOAL! Soler takes advantage of huge Fulham error

West Ham are ahead and they have their first league goal under Graham Potter. Pereira plays an inexplicable pass across his own box without looking and it falls straight into the path of Soler, who smashes home first time.

07:59 PM GMT

27 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Nunes is fed through into the Brentford box and cuts back onto his left foot. It looks like he is going to get his shot away but it is intercepted just before he can shoot. He should have done better there.

Such an open game at Brentford. City look vulnerable every time the home side attack, but they have also created two big chances of their own. Matheus Nunes was clean through on goal but messed it up horribly.

07:58 PM GMT

27 mins: West Ham 0 Fulham 0

West Ham have the ball in the back of the net but the offside flag goes up. A free-kick is sent in from the left and Kilman heads in but it is instantly ruled out. VAR is checking and the on-field decision stands. No goal.

07:57 PM GMT

25 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Another big opportunity for Brentford. Lewis-Potter is found with a clever forward pass into the Manchester City box and he opts against shooting. He tries to find a teammate but it is intercepted and goes behind for a corner.

Damsgaard then has a shot from the edge of the box that is crucially blocked by Bernardo.

07:55 PM GMT

24 mins: West Ham 0 Fulham 0

We are halfway through the first half at a very quiet London Stadium and West Ham have had no shots and have not touched the ball in the Fulham box.

07:54 PM GMT

23 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

De Bruyne whips in a cross from the left to the far post and finds the head of Haaland but the Norwegian cannot keep his effort on target.

07:52 PM GMT

22 mins: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 0

Bournemouth have been forced into a fairly early change as Hill has been forced off. He is replaced by Kluivert.

07:51 PM GMT

20 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Brentford have already created a number of chances and here is another. Wissa has it on the right-hand side of the penalty area and flashes a shot across goal but it goes wide of the far post.

07:48 PM GMT

18 mins: Chelsea 1 Bournemouth 0

The usual bright start from Chelsea, it’s been maintaining these levels which has been the problem in their winless streak. They do have a lead to show for their early dominance, Zabarnyi beaten too easily when pushing up from the defensive line, then held off well by Jackson who finds the obvious through ball through the gap in central defence. Palmer surely in the top five players in the world you want on the end of those passes currently, one on one with Travers he duly sat the keeper down with a feint before double-bluffing his shot into the same corner the keeper had dived towards.

07:47 PM GMT

15 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Brentford have another chance. They work it well down the right and Mbeumo is dribbling into the Manchester City penalty area. He cuts onto his favoured left foot and tries to beat Ortega at the near post but the Manchester City keeper does well to get down to his left to make the save. Mbeumo scored from a similar situation at that very end against Arsenal a couple of weeks ago.

07:44 PM GMT

13 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Another opportunity in these early stages for Wissa. Mbeumo hooks in a ball from the right but Wissa makes a mess of his shot and the chance is gone.

Bryan Mbeumo is causing all sorts of problems for the City defence in the opening exchanges here. He’s just gone close to an opener and he also produced a brilliant volleyed cross a few moments ago. Yoane Wissa could not quite reach it.

07:42 PM GMT

GOAL! Palmer puts Chelsea ahead

The hosts are in front at Stamford Bridge and it is Palmer who gets it. Jackson spins on the ball on halfway and drives forward. He lays on a through ball at just the right moment to keep Palmer onside and Palmer makes no mistake, faking his initial shot before rolling it into the net. That is Palmer’s 14th league goal of the season.

07:41 PM GMT

10 mins: West Ham 0 Fulham 0

Rather than Kudus joining Paqueta up front, it’s actually Tomas Soucek with Kudus and Carlos Soler just behind them. Early days but it’s not worked so far as Fulham have hit the bar through Harry Wilson and the home team are yet to threaten.

07:39 PM GMT

9 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Gvardiol has four Premier League goals to his name this season and tries to add a fifth from just outside the box but his effort is fairly tame and not the purest of contacts.

Down the other end Wissa goes down wanting a penalty after a challenge from Akanji but referee Anthony Taylor waves those appeals away and VAR sticks with the on-field decision.

07:37 PM GMT

6 mins: Brentford 0 Manchester City 0

Chance for Brentford. Wissa receives the ball on the left-hand side of the Manchester City box and cuts inside onto his right. He tries to beat Ortega at his near post but drags his effort wide.

07:35 PM GMT

5 mins: Chelsea 0 Bournemouth 0

Bournemouth are extremely unhappy with a challenge off the ball that went unpunished by Cucurella on Brooks and Chelsea then did not kick the ball out of play. Looking at the replays it is staggering Cucurella got away with that body check. Brooks is back up now and fine to continue.

07:33 PM GMT

3 mins: West Ham 0 Fulham 0

Graham Potter is taking charge of his first league game at West Ham having lost his first game at the helm; a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round last Friday.

West Ham manager Graham Potter before their game against Fulham
First league game in charge of West Ham for Graham Potter - Zac Goodwin/PA

07:31 PM GMT

Off we go

We are under way in the three 7.30pm kick-offs on this Tuesday night.

07:26 PM GMT

Kick-offs fast approaching

At the Gtech Community Stadium, Stamford Bridge and the London Stadium we are just under five minutes away from kick-off as the teams make their way out at those respective grounds.

At 8pm league leaders Liverpool take on third-place Nottingham Forest and you can follow all events from the City Ground with our dedicated live blog.

07:22 PM GMT

Getting younger

One of Graham Potter’s long-term aims will be to reduce the average age of his West Ham squad. In the meantime, he’s named the oldest team for a Premier League game in his managerial career with the Hammers team tonight averaging 29 years and 26 days.

07:21 PM GMT

Brentford raising awareness

07:16 PM GMT

Fulham gearing up at the London Stadium

07:13 PM GMT

The thoughts of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola

“The resilience of the players has been key. We have been in a difficult period, particularly injury-wise, and the players have kept performing well.

“We do not have a proper number nine but we do have some players that can start in that position and have some dynamism and can find good spaces. In the end it is not just about who starts up front, and we have some players that can also come off the bench.”

On previous results against big teams this season: 

“Today against Chelsea away is a different story, we have to up our level. We have been doing good things so I hope we can up our level and give them a good game.”

On Chelsea:

“The most difficult thing will be in the second half when they can change four or five players and maintain the quality. We have to make sure we go the full 90 or 100 minutes defending the duels against difficult players.”

07:10 PM GMT

West Ham out to warm up ahead of Potter’s first game in charge

07:09 PM GMT

Josko Gvardiol talking to TNT

07:06 PM GMT

Home comforts

Brentford have won 22 of their 27 points at home this season, so this has been a difficult place for opposition teams to visit. The issue, though, is that they have lost their last three games here (in all competitions), and they are facing a City team that appears to be returning to their usual form. Guardiola’s team are looking for their third league victory in a row.

07:04 PM GMT

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talking to TNT

On Brentford:

“They do everything. Good in transition, really good in set-pieces, make different decisions to previous seasons. They have pace and they are a very good team. They know the club, they know the players and Thomas Frank is a top guy.

“For the public opinion, if you win you have turned the corner. It is not just about that. Sometimes you lose games and you feel that the team is alive and sometimes you win them and you feel it is not there.”

07:01 PM GMT

Brentford manager Thomas Frank speaking to TNT Sports

On his team selection: 

“I think it fitted a little better in terms of the team we are facing tonight. It is a different opponent and we are at home and we have a big confidence at home but I think we need another midfielder in this game.”

On Manchester City: 

“It is natural that any team in the world will have a dip in form and they basically have not had a dip for the last four years. They always find solutions and we are ready for their solutions. It is about us. Can we hit top form?”

06:58 PM GMT

Brentford arriving for their tussle with Manchester City

06:53 PM GMT

At the City Ground

Nottingham Forest host league leaders Liverpool in an 8pm kick-off. You can follow our dedicated live blog for that match right here.

06:46 PM GMT

Manchester City arrive in west London

06:44 PM GMT

Full team news from the London Stadium

Graham Potter, in his first league in charge of West Ham, makes five changes from the side that lost 4-1 at Manchester City 10 days ago, which was Julen Lopetegui’s last game in charge at the club. Lukasz Fabianski, Emerson, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Guido Rodriguez and Carlos Soler come into the starting XI. Alphonse Areola, Jean-Clair Todibo, Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug are all out, joining the likes of Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen on the sidelines.

West Ham: Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriquez, Alvarez, Soucek, Soler, Paqueta, Kudus.

Substitutes: Foderingham, Cresswell, Coufal, Guilherme, Ings, Irving, Case, Scarles, Orford.

Marco Silva makes two changes to the Fulham team that drew 2-2 with Ipswich. Andreas Pereira and Emile Smith Rowe come in for Issa Diop and Tom Cairney.

Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira, Wilson, Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Jimenez.

Substitutes: Benda, Reed, Muniz, Cairney, Traore, Cuenca, King, Sessegnon, Diop.

06:38 PM GMT

Full team news from Stamford Bridge

Chelsea make two changes from their last league game, which was a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. Romeo Lavia and Noni Madueke come into the starting XI.

Chelsea: Sanchez; Caicedo, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.

Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin, Veiga, Gusto, James, Neto, Joao Felix, Nkunku, Guiu.

Bournemouth make two changes from their 1-0 win over Everton in their last Premier League game. Tyler Adams and David Brooks come in. They have been hit by a couple of striker injuries in the last few weeks with Evanilson and Enes Unal ruled out.

Bournemouth: Travers; Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Adams; Brooks, Christie, Semenyo; Ouattara.

Substitutes: Dennis, Kluivert, Jebbison, Adu-Adjei, Akinmboni, Winterburn, Kinsey, Sadi, Rees-Dottin.

06:33 PM GMT

Full team news from the Gtech Community Stadium

Brentford make one change from their 5-0 victory at Southampton in their last Premier League match. Vitaly Janelt comes in for Kevin Schade. Brentford have Rico Henry back on the bench and he is involved in a Premier League squad for the first time since September 2023. He featured in Brentford’s FA Cup defeat to Plymouth on the weekend.

Brentford: Flekken, Roerslev, Van den Berg, Collins, Norgaard, Damsgaard, Janelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Wissa, Mbeumo.

Substitutes: Valdimarsson, Yarmoliuk, Henry, Mee, Konak, Maghoma, Kim, Carvalho, Schade.

Manchester City also make one change from their last league match; a 4-1 home victory over West Ham. Matheus Nunes comes in for Rico Lewis. There is no place in the squad for Kyle Walker, after he said he wanted to leave the club this month.

Manchester City: Ortega, Ake, Gvardiol, Akanji, Nunes, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Savinho, Foden, Haaland.

Substitutes: Ederson, Lewis, O’Reilly, Gundogan, Simpson-Pusey, McAtee, Grealish, Doku, Mubama.

06:30 PM GMT

Chelsea want £65m for Bayern Munich target Nkunku

Chelsea currently value Bayern Munich target Christopher Nkunku at around £65 million and are intent on signing a replacement if they let the forward move to Germany this month.

As reported on Monday evening, Chelsea are ready to bid for 19-year-old forward Mathys Tel should they receive any encouragement from Bayern and have other similar targets lined up.

Chelsea paid an initial fee of £52 million to sign Nkunku from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023, although it is understood that various add-ons took the final fee closer to £60 million. The Blues now value him slightly higher than that.

Matt Law has the full story.

06:27 PM GMT

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06:22 PM GMT

Potter looking to work his magic?

Graham Potter has named his first Premier League team as West Ham United head coach. With injuries up front, it looks like Potter has decided to be creative and start with a 4-2-2-2, with Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus up front.

06:18 PM GMT

Fulham team news

06:17 PM GMT

West Ham team news

06:16 PM GMT

Bournemouth team news

06:16 PM GMT

Chelsea team news

06:15 PM GMT

Brentford team news

06:15 PM GMT

Manchester City team news

06:12 PM GMT

Premier League action under the lights

We have four Premier League fixtures to enjoy on this Tuesday night in the middle of January. Brentford host Manchester City at the Gtech Stadium. Brentford start the night just outside the top half of the table in 11th whilst Pep Guardiola’s side are in sixth place, two points off the top four. Despite Brentford taking the lead inside the first minute through Yoane Wissa in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium, a double from Erling Haaland saw Manchester City come from behind to win 2-1.

These sides had very contrasting fortunes in the FA Cup third round on the weekend. Whilst Manchester City destroyed Salford 8-0, Brentford fell to a surprising 1-0 defeat at home to Championship side Plymouth. One man who is very unlikely to be involved for Manchester City tonight is Kyle Walker, who has expressed a desire to leave the club and move abroad, which Guardiola confirmed after their FA Cup victory over Salford.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola waves as he arrives at the Gtech Stadium
Manchester City start the night two points and two places off the top four - Matthew Childs/Reuters

In west London Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Maresca’s side sit in fourth place and take on a Bournemouth side just three points behind them in seventh. In the reverse fixture back in September, Chelsea won 1-0 thanks to Christopher Nkunku’s late winner. Both sides cruised into the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, with Chelsea beating Morecambe 5-0 and Bournemouth winning 5-1 at home against West Brom.

A view of the fixtures board at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea go into their game against Bournemouth in fourth place - Steven Paston/PA

At the London Stadium West Ham are taking on Fulham in Graham Potter’s first Premier League game in charge of the hosts. Potter’s first game as the West Ham manager ended in defeat in the FA Cup third round at Aston Villa last Friday and he inherits a side in 14th, seven points above the relegation zone. Tonight marks his first league game in charge of West Ham and his first experience in the home dugout at the London Stadium. Fulham are ninth, seven points ahead of the hosts, and cruised into the FA Cup fourth round with a 4-1 home win over Watford last Thursday. The reverse fixture at Craven Cottage ended in a 1-1 draw.

League leaders Liverpool travel to the City Ground to take on third-place Nottingham Forest and we will have a dedicated live blog for that game, which kicks off at 8pm. Nottingham Forest are the only side to beat Liverpool in the league this season after a 1-0 win at Anfield earlier in the season. Liverpool go into tonight’s match at the City Ground with a six-point lead at the summit and a game in hand. Both sides were victorious in the FA Cup on Saturday; Liverpool beat Accrington Stanley 4-0 at Anfield whilst Nottingham Forest won 2-0 at home against Luton.

Stay with us for all the action.