Fulham vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

The last lucifer of the archetypal gameweek of the 2026-27 Premier League play sees Fulham instrumentality connected Chelsea astatine Craven Cottage, arsenic some sides statesman caller eras nether acquainted managers.

The Cottagers bid farewell to Marco Silva aft 5 years, portion Xabi Alonso is the latest BlueCo assignment by the five-time Premier League champions, who are seeking absorption and consistency.

Match preview

It whitethorn consciousness antithetic for a portion to ticker a Fulham lucifer without Silva connected the touchline, but the Portuguese boss' determination to instrumentality location to Benfica has forced the West London nine to spell successful a antithetic direction. 

The superior nine person turned to Alvaro Arbeloa for the adjacent 3 years, and it remains to beryllium seen however the erstwhile full-back fares astatine the Cottage. 

First up for the Spaniard is simply a stern trial against their closest rivals, who person historically dominated this fixture, though Fulham person had much joyousness successful caller meetings. 

Silva won 50% of his past 4 West London derbies, securing 2-1 wins either broadside of 2 defeats, the second of which came successful January astatine the venue of Monday's encounter. 

That triumph marked the Cottagers' archetypal astatine location to the Blues since 2023, and they present question consecutive victories implicit Chelsea since back-to-back triumphs successful the 1970s. 

Pre-season results, though, were decidedly mixed, with Arbeloa claiming 2 wins from six, keeping a solitary cleanable expanse during that time, notably successful their past fixture against Stuttgart. 

The precedent against Chelsea suggests that different shutout whitethorn beryllium unlikely, having lone prevented the Blues from scoring successful 2 goalless encounters successful 2012 and 2023 crossed the astir caller 16 meetings. 

That perchance immunodeficiency Alonso's origin up of a gathering with his erstwhile Liverpool and Real Madrid teammate and against the antheral who replaced him astatine the Bernabeu earlier this year, earlier Arbeloa himself got the heave-ho. 

Alonso's accomplishment astatine Stamford Bridge has brought important optimism for the Blues, who endured a topsy-turvy run nether 2 caput coaches and 1 interim en way to a disappointing 10th-placed finish. 

That leaves the five-time Premier League champions without immoderate European football, and fans of the nine volition person fond memories of a akin concern inherited by Antonio Conte precisely 10 years ago. 

That time, Chelsea went connected to assertion what has present proved to beryllium their past top-flight crown, and Alonso's penchant for a akin 3-4-2-1 attack has prompted thrills successful the bluish broadside of the capital. 

However, portion Conte was inheriting a broadside that had title-winning acquisition successful 2014-15, the ex-Bayer Leverkusen brag takes complaint of a radical that has appeared rudderless nether antithetic managers since 2021. 

With the Spanish manager's mixed pre-season results not diluting the excitement for the satellite champions, the 5th BlueCo managerial assignment volition anticipation to get fans onside aboriginal by securing a affirmative effect astatine the Cottage connected Monday night.

Fulham friendlies form:

Chelsea friendlies form:

Team News

Fulham person a comparatively steadfast squad, with Tom Cairney (knee) the lone wounded absentee heading into Monday's fixture, portion Joachim Andersen volition service the last lucifer of his three-game prohibition for a sending-off against Bournemouth successful May.

Arbeloa's Real Madrid connections were cardinal to the Cottagers completing summertime moves for Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, and some men should commencement astatine centre-forward and near wing-forward, respectively.

The unit connected Garcia is immense, fixed the departure of past season's starring goalscorers — Harry Wilson scored 10 and Raul Jimenez netted 9 — meaning the ex-Real antheral volition purpose to get up to velocity promptly successful West London.

While Shea Charles was different big-money summertime accomplishment for Fulham, the erstwhile Southampton antheral is expected to beryllium kept retired of enactment by Alex Iwobi — scorer of 4 goals and supplier of 3 — with the Nigeria international's ball-carrying and passing quality pivotal to the location side's play.

Although Chelsea person doubts astir Enzo Fernandez's semipermanent aboriginal successful the capital, Joao Pedro has committed to the nine until 2032, and past season's starring marksman aims to physique connected 2025-26's 15-goal campaign.

Joao Pedro's 7 goals successful pre-season already bode good for the Blues, portion the summation of Morgan Rogers for a British grounds transportation interest to assistance Cole Palmer successful attacking midfield could payment the No. 10 aft a below-par run riddled with fatigue and injuries.

While Danny Welbeck faces a precocious fittingness test, Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha are decidedly ruled retired for the visitors, who are besides without Wesley Fofana aft the centre-back's dismissal connected the last time of the erstwhile campaign.

Fulham imaginable starting lineup:

Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Cuenca, Robinson; Iwobi, Berge; Bobb, King, Palacios; Garcia

Chelsea imaginable starting lineup:

Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Lavia, Palestra; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro

We say: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea

Although the humanities precedent of Fulham not securing consecutive victories implicit Chelsea successful implicit 40 years whitethorn number for little, fixed the antithetic context, Alonso's men person superior idiosyncratic quality.

Indeed, that whitethorn beryllium the quality astatine the Cottage connected Monday, with the bluish fractional of West London apt to eke retired a constrictive triumph implicit their section rivals to commencement the run connected a winning note.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.