Match preview for Fulham v Chelsea
Chelsea face an enormous west London derby on Sunday as they intention to finish a disappointing week on a excessive and enhance their hopes of Champions League qualification with a win at neighbours Fulham.
Although the Blues progressed to the semi-finals of the Europa Convention League, a contest they’re extensively anticipated to win, a 2-1 loss at residence to Legia Warsaw within the second leg led to Enzo Maresca’s crew being booed off by the Stamford Bridge crowd.
Extra regarding for Chelsea is their place within the hotly contested race for Champions League soccer.
Chelsea are sixth and are solely a degree behind fifth-placed Manchester Metropolis, with the highest 5 within the Premier League qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League.
Nonetheless, Maresca’s males have let factors slip in every of their final two league video games, following up a 0-0 draw at Brentford with a 2-2 draw at residence with third-bottom Ipswich City, with Chelsea pressured to return from 2-0 down to say a share of the spoils.
Their performances in these video games are extraordinarily worrying given Chelsea now face a troublesome run-in throughout the ultimate six video games, which begins with a testing journey to Craven Cottage.
Fulham are in a European hunt of their very own as they search a highest Premier League end of their historical past.
Marco Silva’s males are solely six factors behind Chelsea and might nonetheless afford to harbour at the least slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League themselves.
Consistency has been a difficulty for Fulham, having adopted up a shocking win over champions-elect Liverpool with defeat at Bournemouth.
However, with residence victories over Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham together with the defeat of Liverpool and 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Craven Cottage on their report this season, Fulham may have no concern about internet hosting Chelsea in arguably probably the most important west London derby of the Premier League period.
Workforce information for Fulham v Chelsea
Fulham might welcome again winger Harry Wilson from a foot damage that has stored him out since January.
Chelsea can name on Romeo Lavia following his restoration from a muscle damage, whereas the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill might return after being rested towards Legia.
Anticipated line-ups for Fulham v Chelsea
Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Anderson, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Sessegnon, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz
Chelsea: Sanchez, James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
The stats
Fulham are aiming to do a league double over Chelsea for the primary time.Chelsea have received 5 of their final six away video games towards Fulham.The Blues have received solely 5 of their 16 Premier League matches since December 22.
The best way to watch Fulham v Chelsea
The sport won’t be broadcast on UK TV.
Prediction
Chelsea will in all probability finish the season with a trophy, however their Champions League hopes are wanting more and more fragile, and they’re ripe for a European hangover towards a harmful Fulham crew.
Prediction: Fulham 2-1 Chelsea
