Palmer on the bench, starting lineup, confirmed team news for Premier League today

Cole Palmer is on the bench as Chelsea travel to face Brentford in the Premier League today.

Palmer pulled up during the warm-up ahead of Chelsea’s 5-1 win at West Ham last month, with manager Enzo Maresca revealing soon after that his player had been nursing a groin injury since before the season started.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW BRENTFORD VS CHELSEA LIVE!

The midfielder was subsequently ruled out of the 2-0 win over Fulham a week later, but seems to have passed a late fitness test and could be involved tonight.

Speaking pre-match, Maresca revealed that Palmer’s first training session was on Thursday but that he did not take part in the whole thing. Maresca added that Palmer’s availability at Brentford would hinge on how he comes through Friday afternoon’s session.

Chelsea already know they will be without a host of players, including Levi Colwill, who will miss most of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Also sidelined is Liam Delap, who suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Fulham. The striker will not require surgery but remains out for “10 to 12 weeks”.

Moises Caicedo starts alongside Joao Pedro despite returning late from international duty, while Andrey Santos is on the bench and Estevao misses out altogether.

Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile have been nursing injuries of their own — Lavia’s being a muscle problem — but both are approaching returns.

Dario Essugo recently suffered a thigh injury in training with Portugal’s Under-21s, which required surgery. The youngster now begins a period of recovery.

Reece James starts on the bench, rested given that the defender’s workload is a perennial concern and he started both of England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

Joao Pedro leads the line in Delap’s absence, with Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens either side of him. Loanee Facundo Buonanotte will make his debut in the No10 position.

Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Chalobah, Tosin, Hato; Caicedo, Enzo, Buonanotte; Neto, Joao Pedro, Gittens

Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, James, Gusto, Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Palmer, Garnacho, George

Injured: Colwill, Delap, Lavia, Essugo, Badiashile

Unavailable: Mudryk

Time and date: 8pm BST on Saturday September 13, 2025

Venue: Gtech Community Stadium

TV channel: Sky Sports