Chelsea will be eager to return to winning ways when they welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Gameweek 21 of the 2023/24 Premier League season will continue on Saturday, with the West London derby getting us underway. The action on the day will kick-start when neighbours Chelsea and Fulham lock horns at Stamford Bridge in the lunchtime fixture.
Chelsea experienced an upturn in form heading into the action this week. The Blues had won five of their last six matches, progressing in two cup competitions while returning to the top half of the Premier League table. But that run ended in the midweek EFL Cup fixture as Middlesbrough handed Mauricio Pochettino’s men a 1-0 defeat in the semi-final first leg.
As for Fulham, the Cottagers were also in action in the EFL Cup earlier this week and lost their game. While they had taken the lead at Anfield, Liverpool came from a goal down to clinch a 2-1 win. That continued the blow-hot-blow-cold pattern at the West London club, with Marco Silva’s charges winning four and losing three of their last seven games.
The reverse fixture saw Chelsea beating Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage, with Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Fulham on Saturday, the Chelsea manager will be bereft of the services of at least nine first-team players.
Christopher Nkunku is the most notable absentee due to a hip injury. The French international accompanies Robert Sanchez (knee), Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), and Romeo Lavia (thigh) in the treatment room.
In addition, Nicolas Jackson is on international duty with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (knock), and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) are close to returning, although they might not be fit enough to start Saturday’s game.
Djordje Petrovic will continue deputising for Sanchez between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. The backline should throw up no surprises, with Malo Gusto and Levi Colwill being the two full-backs, while Axel Disasi and Thiago Silva will form the central defensive pairing.
As for the midfield unit, Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez should pair up in the double pivot. The duo will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park but will not shy away from charging forward to link up with the attackers.
Speaking of the attack, Armando Broja will lead the line for Chelsea against Fulham, with Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Raheem Sterling supporting him in the final third. So, Noni Madueke will be an option on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gallagher, Fernandez; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Broja
Fulham
Like his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Marco Silva does not have any new issues to deal with ahead of the short trip to Stamford Bridge. The Fulham manager will be without five first-team players on Saturday.
Tim Ream (calf) and Adama Traore (hamstring) remain on the sidelines due to their respective injuries. In addition, Calvin Bassey, Fode Ballo-Toure, and Alex Iwobi are unavailable as they are representing their respective national sides at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Fulham will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Chelsea, with Bernd Leno taking his spot in the goal. Timothy Castagne, Tosin Adarabioyo, Issa Diop, and Antonee Robinson should form the defensive quartet this weekend.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Tom Cairney and the in-demand Joao Palhinha. Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Willian should be the two wide attackers, with Andreas Pereira pulling the strings from the no. 10 berth. Finally, Raul Jimenez will spearhead the Fulham attack against Chelsea.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez
Key Stats
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 18 home league games against Fulham (W11 D7) since a 2-0 loss in the second tier in October 1979. The Cottagers have won just one of their most recent 23 Premier League games against Chelsea (D8 L14), beating them 2-1 at Craven Cottage in January 2023.
- Mauricio Pochettino has won all five of his Premier League meetings with Fulham. He only has a better record in the competition against Hull City (six out of six games).
- Fulham have lost their last four away league games, conceding three or more goals in each. Only two sides have lost five successive matches on the road in the Premier League while letting in three or more goals each time (Ipswich Town in April 1995 and Barnsley in November 1997).
- 40.4% of Fulham’s shots in the Premier League this season have come from outside the box (93/230), the highest share in the division. However, just one of their last 19 league goals has come from long range.
- Cole Palmer has scored eight league goals this season, more than any other player for Chelsea. The only player to score more in a Premier League campaign for the Blues while aged 21 or younger was Christian Pulisic in 2019/20 (nine).
Player to Watch
Cole Palmer
Goals have come at a premium thus far this season for Chelsea. And with joint-top scorer Nicolas Jackson unavailable for the next few weeks, the onus will be on the other player at the top of the goalscoring list for Chelsea. We are talking about Cole Palmer.
Many pundits raised their eyebrows when Palmer joined Chelsea from Manchester City for a deal that cost a sizable sum. But the youngster has proven his naysayers wrong, establishing himself as a pivotal figure for the West London club in no time. The 21-year-old can create history this weekend, as a brace will make him the highest-scoring player aged 21 or lower in a season for Chelsea.
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Fulham
Fulham’s recent run in away games will leave the travelling fans short of confidence ahead of this weekend’s derby. But they can take heart from the Blues’ inconsistencies this season. And with the home side having a suspect defensive unit, Fulham can hurt them.
So, a keenly-contested fixture is on the cards, with the two teams likely taking it down the wire. But Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling should rise to the occasion to continue Fulham’s horrid run on the road. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for Mauricio Pochettino and his charges.