Monday night’s Premier League clash will witness an intense West London derby as Fulham hosts fellow strugglers Chelsea at Craven Cottage.
Both teams secured narrow victories in their recent EFL Cup matches, with Fulham defeating Norwich City 2-1 and Chelsea triumphing over Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0.
Match Preview
Fulham, who have been building a solid run of results lately, welcomed Norwich back to Premier League territory for their EFL Cup showdown.
Carlos Vinicius and Alex Iwobi played pivotal roles in securing a place in the last 16 for the Cottagers.
Despite Borja Sainz’s late consolation goal for Norwich, Fulham extended their unbeaten streak to three matches in all competitions and will now face Championship side Ipswich Town in the next round.
Following a goalless draw against Crystal Palace, Fulham currently sits 11th in the Premier League table.
With just one loss in their last six matches, including a commendable performance against Manchester City, the Cottagers will aim to maintain their defensive solidity and secure a third consecutive clean sheet in the league.
After a disappointing start to the season, Chelsea found a glimmer of hope in the EFL Cup, keeping a clean sheet against Brighton and registering their first win in September.
Nicolas Jackson’s composed finish ended their three-game goal drought and set up a fourth-round tie against Blackburn Rovers.
Despite their favorable expected goals (xG) statistics, Chelsea’s Premier League form has been lackluster, with no wins or goals in their last three fixtures.
A 3-0 victory over Luton Town remains their only highlight from the previous 10 league games.
Sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone in 15th place, Chelsea faces a crucial challenge against Fulham to revive their league campaign.
Prior to last season, Fulham had endured a 21-match winless streak against Chelsea.
However, they managed to break that record with a 2-1 victory at home followed by a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
This Monday’s encounter could witness a similar outcome, as the previous three meetings between these rivals on a Monday have all ended in draws.
Team News:
Fulham suffered a setback in their cup triumph over Norwich, as Calvin Bassey aggravated a previous back injury.
The availability of Tosin Adarabioyo (groin), Adama Traore (thigh), and Kenny Tete (groin) remains uncertain.
On a positive note, Sasa Lukic has returned to team training after recovering from a knee concern.
Andreas Pereira, who will make his 200th career league appearance, is expected to return to the starting lineup alongside Bernd Leno, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, and Harrison Reed.
Chelsea, on the other hand, is dealing with multiple injuries. Ben Chilwell is set for a lengthy absence due to a hamstring injury.
Several players, including Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana, Marcus Bettinelli, and Trevoh Chalobah, are receiving medical attention.
Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke might have the chance to feature in some capacity.
Raheem Sterling could lead the attack if Armando Broja isn’t ready to start after his knee injury.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Fulham:
Leno;
Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson;
Palhinha, Reed;
Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Iwobi;
Jimenez
Chelsea:
Sanchez;
Cucurella, Disasi, Silva, Colwill;
Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher;
Palmer, Sterling, Mudryk
Prediction:
Given the mounting suspensions and injuries within Chelsea’s squad, it may be challenging for them to secure a victory.
Fulham has shown defensive resilience in recent matches, although clean sheets against Luton and Palace should be considered with caution.
With both teams likely to create scoring opportunities, a draw seems the most probable outcome.
