Preview: Chelsea vs. Fulham – prediction, team news, lineups

After a busy ending to the January switch window for Chelsea, they welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge within the Premier League on Friday night time.

The Blues spent in extra of £300 million through the month, however want a mammoth turnaround to make the highest 4 this season.

Match preview

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After the high-profile signings of Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk earlier in January, Chelsea blew these transfers out of the water with a record-breaking fee to convey World Cup Golden Boy Enzo Fernandez to the Bridge on deadline day.

The £106.8m spent on the Argentine means it’s an all-time English document switch payment, and having performed 5 video games for Benfica post-World Cup, Fernandez will probably be able to make a direct impression within the facet.

With that signing taking their spending for the season to over £600 million, the Chelsea hierarchy are actually placing plenty of religion in Graham Potter to show their fortunes round after a woeful season on the league entrance particularly.

This fixture will probably be a rematch from the thrilling encounter at Craven Cottage three weeks in the past, which noticed Fulham win 2-1 as Felix was despatched off on debut for Chelsea.

That end result left Potter in large hassle because it meant that they had gone on a run of only one win in 11 home matches.

A win over Crystal Palace and a goalless draw at Anfield adopted to ease the stress on the supervisor, however that is yet one more should win match for a membership within the media highlight given their current spending, who’re inexplicably down in 10th.

Regardless that solely three sides have conceded fewer goals, Chelsea’s issues lie primarily in assault, and never signing an elite-level, out-and-out striker, regardless of the astronomical figures they’ve paid out, may backfire.

Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic are amongst a protracted checklist of Chelsea attacking choices who’ve carried out under expectations this season, as that quintet of gamers have notched simply 14 targets between them within the league.

The crimson card to Felix was a rare welcome for him to the Premier League, however the transient glimpses seen of the Portuguese worldwide, and that of Mudryk at Anfield, means that the duo may make the distinction for Chelsea within the second half of the season.

They fairly often have the sting over Fulham on this West London derby at Stamford Bridge too, as Fulham’s solely wins right here got here in 1964 and 1979, neither of which have been within the high flight.

Since beating Chelsea within the reverse fixture, Fulham have misplaced each league matches and been pressured into an FA Cup replay by lower-league opposition.

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Nevertheless, it will be unfair to counsel they’ve performed poorly, as they have been very unfortunate to lose at St. James’ Park as Aleksandar Mitrovic had his penalty dominated out for an unlucky double kick, earlier than Newcastle United netted a really late winner.

One other slender defeat to Tottenham Hotspur noticed them play barely under their very excessive ranges of current weeks, however an Antonio Conte facet could be tough to interrupt down.

Supervisor Marco Silva made just a few adjustments for his or her cup tie versus Sunderland and produced a unbelievable spectacle during which either side may have gained.

Having 22 photographs on objective, 12 on course and 69% possession reveals that regardless of failing to win the sport, Fulham are nonetheless able to dominating the play even with some fringe gamers within the facet in opposition to an in-form Championship outfit.

If they’ll pull off a well-known win right here at Stamford Bridge, they’d transfer into sixth earlier than the remainder of the league play.

It might even be the primary time within the membership’s historical past that they’ve accomplished a league double over Chelsea, and it will actually have their followers dreaming of a primary European journey since 2011.

Chelsea Premier League kind:

Chelsea kind (all competitions):

Fulham Premier League kind:

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Staff Information

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With the signing of Fernandez going via across the deadline on Tuesday night time, he will probably be eligible to play right here, however whether or not Potter will decide to throw him straight into the facet is debatable.

Felix remains to be suspended after his crimson card within the reverse fixture, with this being the third and closing sport of that ban he has to serve.

After an thrilling cameo in opposition to Liverpool, Mudryk may come into the facet probably to take the place of both Hakim Ziyech or Conor Gallagher, who each noticed late transfers fall via on deadline day.

One participant who did depart although was Jorginho, because the Italian midfielder joined London rivals and league leaders Arsenal, and with N’Golo Kante and Denis Zakaria each injured, Potter will hope to welcome again Mateo Kovacic for this one.

The Croatian midfielder missed the journey to Anfield with a calf downside, however the supervisor expects him to be tremendous to return to the facet.

Quite the opposite, Fulham have just about no harm worries coming into the sport, with Neeskens Kebano the one present absentee.

Fulham have been additionally busy on deadline day, as they have been able to bring in Serbian worldwide Sasa Lukic from Torino, who will hyperlink up together with his compatriot Mitrovic within the squad.

Cedric Soares additionally got here in on loan from Arsenal to supply extra cowl at right-back, with Kevin Mbabu seemingly not in Silva’s plans as again up.

Chelsea attainable beginning lineup:
Arrizabalaga; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Badiashile; Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Corridor, Cucurella; Mount, Mudryk, Havertz

Fulham attainable beginning lineup:
Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed, Andreas Pereira; Decordova-Reid, Mitrovic, Willian

We are saying: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham

It will likely be an evening combined with rigidity and pleasure for Chelsea followers as they might see a few of their new faces for the primary time, however will probably be a tough task dealing with a really helpful Fulham facet.

It was evident from the reverse fixture, and from loads of different matches in opposition to larger sides this season, that Fulham don’t concern anyone, and there may be scope to counsel they might make it one other irritating night time for Potter and Chelsea.

For knowledge evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.

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