Fulham (home)
- With Chelsea in 5th place on around 30 points and Fulham 11th on around 27, the mid-table congestion in the 2025-2026 Premier League means this derby has some real stakes attached to it.
- Fulham have won three and drawn one of their last five games across all competitions, showing improved away resilience.
- Fulham will want to kick on towards top-half respectability and build some momentum with a result in this game.
- Marco Silva’s 4-2-3-1 system is flexible and offers Fulham the chance to keep it tight and play on the counter-attack when needed, but with enough players who can play through the thirds when they have the ball.
Chelsea (away)
- Chelsea will want to steady the ship under interim manager Calum McFarlane, who has had to deal with tactical transitions and potential player morale issues in the wake of Enzo Maresca’s departure.
- Chelsea’s high-pressing approach is very different as they look to dominate the middle third and create overloads in the center of the pitch.
- They push their full-backs forward and use inverted full-backs and quick passing combinations to try and control the tempo and attack between the lines.
Key Players
- Fulham
- Harry Wilson - Fulham’s leading scorer in the Premier League this term, using his pace and skill to create from wide areas and delivering from set-pieces.
- Raúl Jiménez - still a key focal point and has scored recently.
- Chelsea
- Enzo Fernández - has been the heart of Chelsea’s midfield, controlling the tempo and contributing to goals as a goalscorer and playmaker.
- Joao Pedro - the club’s top-scorer in the Premier League with his clever movement and cool finish.
- Cole Palmer - return to action has added even more sparkle to the Blues’ creative department.
Betting Insights
- Chelsea come into this one as slight favorites at 2.08, with Fulham priced at 3.35 and the draw at 3.45.
- Both teams to score looks a solid play at 2.2.
Prediction
Expect the game to be nervy and tense with late drama just like the last two meetings.
