Flying high under the wing of Enzo Maresca, Chelsea seek a sixth straight win in all competitions when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge in Sunday's Premier League battle.

Match preview

After Cole Palmer hogged the spotlight and the match ball in Chelsea's Premier League beating of Brighton, becoming the first-ever player to score four in one half in the competition, Maresca's men shared the goals around when Gent visited for a Europa Conference League tie on Thursday.

Indeed, Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were all on target as Chelsea made a perfect start to the league phase of this year's competition, but even Blues fans could afford a slight smile at Gent's first goal, which was set up by the son of former striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Sentimentality was otherwise pushed to one side on Thursday evening as the goal-happy hosts made it five wins on the spin, a sequence that includes three Premier League triumphs over Bournemouth, West Ham United and Brighton, propelling them firmly into Champions League contention.

The top four has been unchartered territory for Chelsea for the past couple of years, but the Blues have only been out-performed by Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea on the points before gameweek seven kicks off, and 15 goals represents the best attacking record in this year's Premier League.

A staggering 16 goals have flown into the back of the opposition's net during Chelsea's last four matches, and whatever shooting drills Maresca and co have employed are working wonders; the Blues' shot conversion rate of 20.3% is also the best in the Premier League.

While Chelsea have been making nets ripple for fun over the past few weeks, Nottingham Forest have been happier grinding out one-goal wins and playing out tightly-contested draws, but Nuno Espirito Santo's side finally lost their unbeaten record when Fulham came to town.

Unable to find that cutting edge in front of goal, the Tricky Trees succumbed to a second-half penalty from Raul Jimenez en route to their first Premier League loss of the season, albeit one that arrived much later than many anticipated.

Despite failing to fire against the Cottagers on home soil, Santo's side are still in a very healthy mid-table position, lying smack-bang in the middle of the rankings in 10th spot with an equal six-point gap to both 18th-placed Crystal Palace and league leaders Liverpool.

The Garibaldi faithful should welcome another away day on Sunday, though, as their side have taken an eye-catching 13 points from the last 15 on offer on the road, winning four on the spin before their fiery 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion two weekends ago.

The Stamford Bridge factor did not faze Forest last season either, as a solitary Anthony Elanga effort was enough for the Tricky Trees to earn a shock 1-0 win, but Chelsea atoned for that defeat with a 3-2 City Ground success and have not lost back-to-back home league games against Forest for 116 years.

Player injuries:

chelsea

24 (Defender) Reece James

17 (Midfielder) Chukwumeka

37 (AM) Omari Kellyman

nottingham forest

6 (Center) Sangare

28 (midfielder) Oliveira

possible starting lineup: