Date: Thursday 27th
December 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
The festive period is upon us and now we’ve opened the presents, stuffed ourselves silly, spent time with the relatives, watched the TV, played the games and topped it all off with our tipple of choice, it’s time for the Boxing Day fixture as we welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge.
Both sides come into today’s game off the back of scoreless
draws at the weekend. Chelsea’s draw with Everton on Sunday ended a run of
eight wins in all competitions and was the first time in 16 league games we
failed to score. It was a frustrating game, as they usually are at Goodison,
but we had to be satisfied with a point in the end, leaving us second in the
table, four points off Liverpool but with Arsenal now just 2 points behind us.
Fulham’s 0-0 against Southampton left them 9th in
the table, on 25 points, which matches their best tally at this stage of a
season, but they don’t have the best record against us. We’re unbeaten in 19
games against them but they do seem to be battling out draws, with 4 from their
last 5 games.
Like the Everton game, we shouldn’t go into this with any
complacency. We’ve lost two of our last three Boxing Day fixtures and all six
of our Boxing Day defeats in the Premier League have come in London.
.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Enzo Maresca, says “[Fulham] have been fantastic. They’ve been
together for many years now, coming up from the Championship and they know each
other very well. They have a clear identity and know what they are doing both
on and off the ball. They may have a few injury issues to deal with, we are not
sure yet, but they have many options to change things up and we will have to
see. Sometimes they play with a line of four, sometimes they play with five at
the back. They can do different things and we will prepare different options
and try to prepare for that.
We
know it will be a tough game but I just try to be focused on how we can beat
them and how we can be good both on and off the ball. The result is not
something we can always control, but we can control the way we want to play.”
Fulham
manager, Marco Silva, meanwhile, says “We are well aware of the individual
quality [Chelsea] possess. A football club that has spent so much money in such
a short time frame means that the quality is there. In terms of young players,
it’s not easy to find a club with so many young talents performing. They are
very good and very confident playing in this system. They have dominated the
majority of their games. This is yet another great challenge for us.
The
month of December has been good for us, with many challenges. We have embraced
these challenges and want to do the same on Boxing Day.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Reece James and Wesley Fofana
(hamstring) Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia are all injured. Mykhaylo Mudryk also
remains unavailable, whilst Marc Cucurella returns from suspension.
For Fulham, Kenny
Tete and Reiss Nelson remain out, whilst the fitness of Emile Smith Rowe, Sasa
Lukic and Sander Berge will be assessed. Andreas Pereira meanwhile, returns
from suspension
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Enzo, Caicedo; Joao
Felix, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson
FULHAM (Possible line-up): Leno; Castagne,
Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Cairney, Pereira, Iwobi; Wilson, Jimenez, Adama
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (13th
January 2024)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
Chelsea: WWWWWD
Fulham: LDWDDD
OTHER STUFF
- Fulham have 1 win from the last 25.
- Fulham have not won at Stamford Bridge since 1979.
- Chelsea have lost just two of the 34 Premier League encounters
overall.
- Chelsea have only won two from their last 11 London derbies on Boxing
Day.
- Chelsea have lost just three of their last 32 Premier League games.
- Fulham are on a 5-game unbeaten run. have equalled their longest
Premier League unbeaten run of five games under Marco
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 3-1 Fulham
