Keeping up the pretence that this is no title challenge is becoming harder for Chelsea to maintain. Boosted by Arsenal and Liverpool squandering points on Saturday, Enzo Maresca’s team broke Brentford’s hold over them and delivered in the manner of potential champions by winning a tight game thanks to goals from Marc Cucurella, who was sent off after full time, and Nicolas Jackson.

No doubt Maresca will stay measured, even after seeing Chelsea end a run of three consecutive home defeats to their neighbours. He will note that Robert Sánchez, so often maligned, had to make a huge save from Christian Nørgaard at 1-0. Fábio Carvalho, the Brentford substitute, then hit the bar during a nervy finale. Bryan Mbeumo halved the deficit in the 90th minute.