Chelsea play host to Fulham at Stamford Bridge as the Premier League returns this Saturday lunchtime.
Both sides were in action midweek in their respective Carabao Cup semi-finals, Chelsea and Fulham falling to disappointing first-leg defeats against Middlesbrough and Liverpool respectively. It was a particularly underwhelming outcome for the Blues against Championship Boro as Mauricio Pochettino’s side lost 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium.
Chelsea have already faced Fulham earlier this season, a game the Blues won 2-0. Quick-fire goals from Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja proved decisive on that night at Craven Cottage, a result that ensured Fulham’s woeful record against their west London rivals continued – the Cottagers have won just once in their last 24 meetings with Chelsea.
Here is everything you need to know about Chelsea vs Fulham this Saturday.
Chelsea vs Fulham H2H record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
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Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
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United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ App |
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United States |
nbcsports.com, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO, UNIVERSO NOW, USA Network |
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Canada |
fuboTV Canada |
Pochettino has a few players nearing a return to action, but the clash with Fulham may come to soon for some of his key personnel.
Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana remain sidelined with long-term injuries, while Reece James, Marc Cucurella and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez are also missing. Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu have incredibly slim chances of making the matchday squad, but are unlikely to feature.
Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell could return for the weekend, although they likely won’t start given their lack of match fitness. Christopher Nkunku has suffered another injury setback in training, with Pochettino hesitant to commit to a timeframe for his return.
Nicolas Jackson is the only Chelsea player currently away on international duty, the forward at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Broja.
Marco Silva welcomed defender Tim Ream back to the bench against Liverpool, with the United States international perhaps making his way back into the starting lineup against Chelsea. However, the Cottagers will still be without Adama Traore for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Fode Ballo-Toure, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey are all away on international duty at AFCON.
Fulham predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez.
Chelsea boast a phenomenal record in past meetings with Fulham, seldom coming unstuck against the Cottagers. In fact, the Blues haven’t been beaten by their west London neighbours at Stamford Bridge since 1979.
While it’s incredibly difficult to predict which Chelsea side will show up on Saturday, they’re unbeaten at home since late October, winning their previous five in all competitions – if you include their penalty shootout victory over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.
While Fulham are capable of causing Chelsea plenty of problems, as they did to Liverpool midweek, the Cottagers may not have enough in the tank to topple the Blues on the road.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham
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