Fulham v CHELSEA: Preview

Date: Sunday 20^th April 2025

Venue: Craven Cottage

Kick-off: 14:00 BST

The pain of watching Chelsea continues in another Sunday lunchtime game today as we make the short trip to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham.

We start the day 7^th in the table after a poor run of results continued last weekend with an equally poor performance in a 2-2 draw against relegation battlers Ipswich. We followed that up with an appalling performance against Legia Warsaw Thursday night, so we’re at least consistent in our inadequacies on the pitch.

Fulham, sitting 6 points and 2 places below us coming into today’s game, lost 1-0 to Bournemouth in their last game, but unlike us will probably be putting some effort into fighting for a European spot. Marco Silva is certainly on the hunt for a league double over us after beating us in the reverse fixture in December.

We haven’t won away this calendar year and have an embarrassing 3% shot conversion rate. Fulham meanwhile, have alternately won or lost their last eight games and a superstitious type like me has them down for a win today. Not necessarily because of their recent pattern, but more because we are just woeful and Maresca hasn’t got a clue.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into today’s game, Fulham manager, Marco Silva, says “Final for us, too. Like it is for them, it is for us. They have clear, clear goals and targets in the table. We have our main goals as well to fight for, and of course when you arrive in this final stages of the season, every game is going to be even more important, because it’s coming to an end, and we have to get as many points as we can, to fight for what we want.

It’s going to be a special derby for the fans, being able to play at home is very good. Boxing Day’s victory over the Blues was our first win at Stamford Bridge for 45 years, and this weekend presents an opportunity to claim a first ever double over our neighbours in the Club’s history. The last three years we have been breaking some important, not records, but some important results in the history of this club against Chelsea. I think the way we’re doing that has been very, very good for the football club, and let’s hope we can do the same against a very, very good side. All of us recognise the quality that they have, [from a] collective point of view and individual point of view. They have been able to play most of the season with almost two teams, one in the Premier League, one in the Conference League – just shows the quality they have around the place. They have a lot of young but very good players, and it’s going to be a very difficult game for us, [but] with our fans, with our quality, with our ambition and our passion to play this type of game, and the will and the desire to bounce back from the last game, is going to be crucial for us to get a good result.”

Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, says “We have six Premier League games, plus the two Conference League semi-final games. So at the moment, we have eight official games to play, and all of them, it’s a good time to play. It’s all important. We cannot decide in which moment. Now is the moment to go if we want to reach something.

Chelsea is a big club, a huge club, one of the biggest clubs in the world. So, it’s normal that you have pressure. When you decide to sign for Chelsea, you have to think you are under pressure because it’s Chelsea. It’s the same for the manager, no doubt. ‘So if we have a game away and there is worry [about that], we are in the wrong way.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Fulham, Reiss Nelson is a doubt but Harry Wilson (foot) could be involved.

For Chelsea, Marc Guiu (hamstring), Omari Kellyman (hamstring) and Wesley Fofana (hamstring) are injured. Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended) also remains out, whilst Romeo Lavia is expected to play a part. Reece James will likely sit this one out to manage his fitness (and the fact he spoke out about the lack of progress evident on Thursday night).

TEAMS

FULHAM (Possible line-up): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, Pereira, Sessegnon; Jimenez

CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson

LAST SEASON

Fulham 0-2 Chelsea (2^nd October 2023)

CURRENT FORM (PL)

Fulham: WLWLWL

Chelsea: WWLWDD

OTHER STUFF

• Fulham could do the league double over Chelsea for the first time
• Chelsea have won five of their last six Premier League away games against Fulham.
• Fulham have alternately won or lost their last eight matches
• Fulham have won their last 2 at Craven Cottage.
• Chelsea have lost just one of their last six league games.
• Chelsea have won just five of 16 top-flight games since 22 December.
• Chelsea have not won away in the league since 8 December.
• Chelsea have scored just three goals in eight Premier League away games.

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Fulham 2-1 Chelsea