Stamford Bridge has been a weird place lately. If you’ve been following the mess that was early January—the sudden exit of Enzo Maresca and the somewhat eyebrow-raising appointment of Liam Rosenior—you know the vibe was, well, tense. But the results of Chelsea today against Brentford might actually give people a reason to stop doom-scrolling for five minutes.
Chelsea walked away with a 2-0 win on Saturday. It wasn't just the three points, though. It was how they looked doing it. After a month of looking like eleven strangers who met in a parking lot, there was actual chemistry.
Breaking down the results of Chelsea today
Let’s get into the weeds of the match. João Pedro opened the scoring in the 26th minute. It was a chaotic sequence involving a deflected clearance from Michael Kayode that landed perfectly for Pedro. He didn't hesitate. He absolutely lashed it past Caoimhín Kelleher.
VAR made everyone hold their breath for a minute, checking for offside, but the goal stood.
The second half was more of the "Cole Palmer Show" we’ve become used to. Liam Delap, who came on for João Pedro, drew a foul in the box around the 74th minute. Palmer stepped up. Bottom right corner. Ice cold. 2-0.
Robert Sanchez: The redemption arc?
If you talk to most Chelsea fans, Robert Sanchez is a polarizing figure. After those two nightmare mistakes against Arsenal, plenty of people wanted him benched. Rosenior stuck by him.
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Honestly? It paid off.
Sanchez made a massive save against Kevin Schade in the second half that kept the scoreline clean. His distribution was also back to being a weapon, specifically one long ball to Pedro Neto that completely bypassed the Bees' midfield. Rosenior called him "outstanding" and "resilient" in the post-match presser. He wasn't wrong.
What this means for the table
This win pushes Chelsea up to 6th place.
They’ve got 34 points from 22 games. While Arsenal is sitting pretty at the top with 50 points, the race for the top four is suddenly looking very crowded. Chelsea is only two points behind Manchester United and five behind Liverpool (who are currently 4th).
It’s a massive swing from where the club was two weeks ago, sitting in 8th and looking like they were drifting toward a mid-table finish.
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The Rosenior effect or just luck?
It’s early. Very early. This was Liam Rosenior’s first league game in charge at the Bridge, and while the 5-1 FA Cup win over Charlton was fun, Brentford is a different beast.
The most noticeable change? The defensive structure. Chelsea didn't look as vulnerable to the counter-attack as they did under Maresca’s hyper-inverted system. They looked more... normal? And in the Premier League, sometimes "normal" is exactly what a high-talent squad needs to actually win games.
Injury updates and squad depth
- Andrey Santos: Had a bit of an injury scare in the 67th minute, but he seems okay.
- Levi Colwill: Still the big miss in the center of defense.
- Liam Delap: Proved he can be a nuisance off the bench, which is exactly what he did to earn that penalty.
Looking ahead to the transfer window
With the January window reaching its midpoint, the rumors are flying. The big one right now is Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes.
Word is Chelsea has already agreed on personal terms with the 20-year-old French center-back. Rennes wants about €65 million, which is a lot for a kid, but after seeing the defensive lapses earlier this month, the board seems ready to spend.
They also have an open slot in their Champions League squad list, which suggests they are definitely planning to bring someone in before the deadline.
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Sam Kerr is actually back
Switching gears to the women's side for a second because it’s impossible to ignore: Sam Kerr.
While the men were handling Brentford, Kerr was busy reminding everyone why she’s a legend. She bagged a brace in a 5-0 demolition of Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. After that brutal ACL injury in 2024 and the setbacks that followed, seeing her head home a cross and coolly slot a finish like it was 2022 again is huge for the club’s momentum across the board.
Practical steps for Chelsea fans right now
If you’re trying to keep up with this rollercoaster of a season, here is what you should actually be watching:
- Monitor the Jacquet Negotiations: If this deal goes through, expect a shift in how Rosenior sets up his back four.
- Watch the Palace Fixture: Chelsea travels to Selhurst Park on January 25th. This is a classic "trap game" where old Chelsea would have dropped points.
- Check the Champions League List: Keep an eye on who gets registered for the knockout stages. It'll tell you everything you need to know about the club's priorities for the rest of 2026.
The results of Chelsea today aren't just a blip on the radar. They represent a much-needed reset. The team finally looks like it has a clear direction under Rosenior, and with the "Cold" Palmer still firing and Sam Kerr back in form, the second half of the season might actually be worth watching.
Keep an eye on the upcoming West Ham game on the 31st to see if this defensive solidity is here to stay or just a one-off performance against a wasteful Brentford side.