Date: Sunday 2nd December 2018
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 12:00 GMT
After a decent win in the Europa League midweek, today’s early kick-off sees us back at home, this time facing Premier League opposition in the form of Fulham.
After a winless run stretching back to September, the arrival of our former boss Claudio Ranieri means Fulham come into this game off the back of a win against Southampton. Whilst for us, we embarrassed ourselves in the league last weekend against Spurs and won’t read too much into the game against PAOK because we put a side out who needed/wanted to prove themselves.
Whether those who sat out the game midweek took the time to reflect on the nature of our first defeat of the season or not, will be evident soon enough.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri suggests there won’t be changes from the team battered by Spurs, saying “In the last match the problem was the team, not one or two players.”
Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri, meanwhile, says “Whenever I play my former teams, it’s always special. When you play against Chelsea, you have to be very attentive, but we’re working hard and I’m confident it’ll be a very good derby.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Olivier Giroud (ankle) may not start despite his brace in the Europa League midweek. Hudson-Odoi and Loftus-Cheek both had stand-out games midweek, whilst Christensen looked a lot more alert than Luiz has this season and even for the time he got on the pitch, Ampadu impressed. I suspect none of that will have made a blind bit of different though and Sarri will start with the usual suspects.
For Fulham, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (thigh) and Kevin McDonald (hamstring) remain out.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Morata, Hazard
FULHAM (Possible line-up): Rico; Christie, Odoi, Mawson, Bryan; Chambers, Seri; Schurrle, Cairney, Sessegnon; Mitrovic
LAST SEASON
N/A
CURRENT FORM
CHELSEA: WDWWDL
FULHAM: LLLLLW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea are unbeaten the last 16 times they have faced Fulham in the league
- Chelsea have lost only one of their 26 Premier League matches against Fulham.
- Fulham last beat Chelsea in March 2006.
- Chelsea have picked up just one point from the last six available
- Chelsea haven’t gone three Premier League games without a win since September 2016.
- Chelsea are unbeaten at Stamford Bridge since April
- Chelsea have won both of their home London derbies this season
- Fulham ended a run of seven consecutive defeats in all competitions with a win last weekend.
- Fulham have picked up just one point from a possible 21 in away games this season.
- Fulham have conceded 18 away goals
- Fulham have lost all three of their London derbies in the Premier League this season.
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
Sky Sports: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
Sportsmole: Chelsea 3-0 Fulham