Date: Wednesday 7th January 2026
Venue: Craven Cottage
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT
Whilst the masterminds masquerading as
football club executives are busy congratulating themselves on appointing yet
another manager (who probably had to check Google Maps for “Stamford Bridge” on
his way), us long-suffering supporters must focus on what really matters:
surviving another episode of Premier League drama. Tonight, it’s the glamorous
away day to Craven Cottage—practically a home game if you fancy a brisk stroll
and a Greggs on the way.
Both teams managed to escape their last games
with a point—Chelsea, through some heroic improvisation (and a late Enzo rescue
act), and Fulham, thanks to Harrison Reed’s audition for “Goal of the Season”
that left Liverpool looking like they’d just sat on a wasp.
Let’s not sugar-coat it—four games without a
win, holding onto 5th place like it’s the last pint at The Butcher’s Hook. Fulham,
meanwhile, are strutting into this unbeaten in five and probably fancy their
chances of frustrating us, especially since our away form lately couldn’t win a
raffle.
Under-21 coach on the touchline, Rosenior
peering over his specs in the stands, and the haunting possibility of Fulham
catching us on points if things go south… what could possibly go wrong?
Bring your sense of humour!
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Fulham manager, Marco Silva, says “ It’s special, because we know what’s happened. We look for last season, how we won away, how we lost at home, both games with late goals. It really hurt ourselves, our fans, this football club, the way we were not able to win the game at Stamford Bridge [this season].
The way the team performed almost perfectly first half, in a really tough game against a top, top side, the way the team performed, and everything that happened in that game, really hurt this football club. I’m not talking about one or two persons, or just the players – us, the football club, the way that things happened that Saturday morning. It is what it is – now it’s another opportunity for us to enjoy, to embrace a big challenge with our fans to play a derby like a derby should be played. Simple as that.
It’s a new game, a new story. I don’t want
anyone to think about the past, we have to look for the future, and what’s
going to be most important is the next one. It’s a special game. We have our
plan. I prefer for us to express it on the field not talk about it now. The
last few games we played against them our performances showed that we have
things we can explore against them.”
Calum McFarlane, meanwhile, says “I spoke
to Liam (Rosenior) briefly last night and he’s really excited to take the role.
It was a brief conversation and I understand he will be at Cobham later today,
so I’m sure I will catch up with him more on that. I’ve been told I am leading
the game tomorrow, and we will try to do the best job, as we have done, and
give him the three points to take and then build on.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Fulham, Rodrigo Muniz (thigh), Kenny Tete (hamstring) and Joshua King (knee) are injured, but Ryan Sessegnon has recovered from a hamstring problem and is available. Chukwueze, Bassey and Iwobi are on AFCON duty with Nigeria.
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (knee), and Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo (both
thigh) remain out injured. Marc Cucurella (thigh), Robert Sanchez (muscle) and
Wesley Fofana (illness) remain doubts, Mykhaylo Mudryk is still suspended, whilst
Moises Caicedo has served his one-game ban and is available again.
TEAMS
FULHAM (Possible
line-up): Leno;
Cuenca, Andersen, Diop; Castagne, Berge, Lukic, Robinson; Wilson, Kevin;
Jimenez
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Jorgensen;
James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Neto;
Delap
LAST SEASON
Fulham 1-2 Chelsea (20th April 2025)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
FULHAM: LWWWDD
CHELSEA: DWDLDD
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea have won just one of their last six
on the road in all tournaments
- Fulham are unbeaten in their last five games
- Chelsea have not won any of their last four away
in the Premier League.
- Fulham have lost four of their last five games
against us
- Fulham have managed just three wins against Chelsea
during the Premier League era.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Fulham 1-1 Chelsea
