Date: Saturday 30th
August 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 12:30 BST
Today’s early kick-off sees another London
derby as we play host to Fulham.
We had a frustrating start to the season
against Palace but despite losing Cole Palmer to injury against West Ham last weekend,
and going a goal down, the players got their act together with a much better
attacking display to finish 5-1. West Ham were woeful though, so I don’t think
we can take too much from that.
Fulham, who took 3 points off us in this
fixture last season, with a rare win at Stamford Bridge, have started the season
with a couple of draws, scoring a late, deserved equaliser against United last
time out.
Whilst Chelsea have shown glimpses of
what they might be capable of, we couldn’t find it against a stubborn Crystal
Palace, which is likely to be a problem for us again today against a
disciplined Fulham defence. They will frustrate us and aim to catch us out on
the counter – and if we leave Sanchez exposed, we’ll regret it.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Enzo Maresca says, “They [Fulham] are solid, they are well
organised, play nice football, are very strong, and it’s not random that they
are doing well. Last year was a record for points in the Premier League for
Fulham. It shows how good Marco is and the players are. It’s a game, like
always, where we have to be careful.”
Fulham
manager, Marco Silva meanwhile, says, “It’s a special derby. It is a special
moment for our fans, and when you feel it, it gives the players that extra
motivation as well. In every Premier League game, you can make a
statement. This is another game, there are three points there, nothing more,
but you know there’s always something special.
Since
I joined, we changed the record against Chelsea. We are really competitive, and
we can match them. They have spent billions to strengthen their squad so they
are in a completely different world to us off the pitch, they can do things we
can’t! They are capable to do things off the pitch which we are not – our aim
is to balance everything inside the pitch, to balance everything during the 95
or 100 minutes that we are going to play against them, like we did last season
both games.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL), Romeo
Lavia, Benoit Badiashille, and Omari Kellyman remain out. Cole Palmer (groin) will
also be unavailable.
For Fulham, Harry Wilson (foot) is a doubt, but they
otherwise have a fully fit squad to choose from.
TEAMS
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Sanchez;
Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro,
Neto; Delap
FULHAM (Possible
line-up): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Iwobi, King,
Smith Rowe; Muniz
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham (26th
December 2024)
CURRENT FORM
CHELSEA: DW
FULHAM: DD
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea
have lost just three of 36 Premier League meetings, home and away against
Fulham
- Fulham
won this fixture last season for their first victory at Stamford Bridge since
1979
- Fulham
have never won consecutive visits to Stamford Bridge in their history.
- Chelsea
drew 0-0 at home in the first game of the 2025/26 campaign
- Chelsea
failed to win their opening two home games last season
- Fulham
have won four of their last eight away Premier League London derbies
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
