Preview: Chelsea head to Brentford amid backline doubts as Spurs host Villa in desperation derby

The Premier League weekend promises drama at both ends of the table, with a west London derby kicking things off on Friday night and a survival scrap in north London to follow.

Bees sense chance to sting Chelsea's backline

Brentford host Chelsea on Friday night (8pm BST) with a notable record behind them: the Blues have not won this derby since October 2021's 1-0 victory, with every subsequent visit ending in a draw. Chelsea are attempting their latest reboot, with Ben Chilwell's winner from that 2021 game a distant memory.

Kevin Schade, fresh off two well-taken goals at Bournemouth, will fancy facing a defence still adjusting to Xabi Alonso's configurations. Only one team has ever won the Premier League title with a back three — Antonio Conte's Chelsea in 2016-17 — though Alonso's attacking setup has been more successful so far.

For Brentford, 20-year-old Jannik Schuster deputises for Nathan Collins and emerged with credit from a tough examination against Bournemouth's Evanilson on his first Premier League start. Chelsea's João Pedro has three goals and three assists, but fitness doubts could open the door for Danny Welbeck's first league start.

Spurs and Villa meet in desperation derby

When 19th-placed Aston Villa visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (12.30pm BST), the sides have scored one league goal between them and are both desperately chasing a first win. "What happens when a very stoppable force meets an extremely movable object?" is the question being asked ahead of kickoff.

The return of Pedro Porro should bring "the Archie Gray Experiment at right-back to a merciful end" for Roberto De Zerbi. No Premier League starting XI feels less settled than Spurs' — most players appear a mistake or two from being dropped — producing a side governed by fear. The injury-plagued James Maddison, who has come off the bench against Everton and Liverpool, is itching to start and seize the initiative.