Date: Sunday twentieth
April 2025
Venue: Craven Cottage
Kick-off: 14:00 BST
The ache of watching Chelsea continues in
one other Sunday lunchtime sport at present as we make the quick journey to Craven Cottage
to tackle Fulham.
We begin the day seventh within the
desk after a poor run of outcomes continued final weekend with an equally poor
efficiency in a 2-2 draw in opposition to relegation battlers Ipswich. We adopted that
up with an appalling efficiency in opposition to Legia Warsaw Thursday night time, so we’re
no less than constant in our inadequacies on the pitch.
Fulham, sitting 6 factors and a couple of locations
beneath us coming into at present’s sport, misplaced 1-0 to Bournemouth of their final sport,
however in contrast to us will in all probability be placing some effort into combating for a European
spot. Marco Silva is definitely on the hunt for a league double over us after
beating us within the reverse fixture in December.
We haven’t received away this calendar 12 months and have an embarrassing
3% shot conversion price. Fulham in the meantime, have alternately received or misplaced their
final eight video games and a superstitious kind like me has them down for a win
at present. Not essentially due to their latest sample, however extra as a result of we’re
simply woeful and Maresca hasn’t received a clue.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
at present’s sport, Fulham supervisor, Marco Silva, says “Last for us, too. Prefer it
is for them, it’s for us. They’ve clear, clear targets and targets within the
desk. We have now our essential targets as properly to struggle for, and naturally if you
arrive on this remaining phases of the season, each sport goes to be much more
essential, as a result of it’s coming to an finish, and we have now to get as many factors as
we are able to, to struggle for what we wish.
It’s going
to be a particular derby for the followers, with the ability to play at dwelling is superb. Boxing
Day’s victory over the Blues was our first win at Stamford Bridge for 45 years,
and this weekend presents a chance to assert a primary ever double over our
neighbours within the Membership’s historical past. The final three years we have now been breaking
some essential, not information, however some essential ends in the historical past of this
membership in opposition to Chelsea. I believe the way in which we’re doing that has been very, excellent
for the soccer membership, and let’s hope we are able to do the identical in opposition to a really, very
good facet. All of us recognise the standard that they’ve, [from a] collective
viewpoint and particular person viewpoint. They’ve been capable of play most of
the season with virtually two groups, one within the Premier League, one within the
Convention League – simply exhibits the standard they’ve across the place. They
have plenty of younger however excellent gamers, and it’s going to be a really
troublesome sport for us, [but] with our followers, with our high quality, with our ambition
and our ardour to play one of these sport, and the need and the will to
bounce again from the final sport, goes to be essential for us to get an excellent
consequence.”
Enzo
Maresca, in the meantime, says “We have now six Premier League video games, plus the 2
Convention League semi-final video games. So in the intervening time, we have now eight official
video games to play, and all of them, it’s an excellent time to play. It’s all essential.
We can not determine wherein second. Now’s the second to go if we need to attain
one thing.
Chelsea
is an enormous membership, an enormous membership, one of many greatest golf equipment on this planet. So, it’s
regular that you’ve got stress. Once you determine to signal for Chelsea, you must
assume you’re underneath stress as a result of it’s Chelsea. It’s the identical for the
supervisor, little question. ‘So if we have now a sport away and there may be fear [about that],
we’re within the unsuitable method.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Fulham, Reiss Nelson is a doubt however Harry
Wilson (foot) may very well be concerned.
For Chelsea, Marc Guiu (hamstring), Omari
Kellyman (hamstring) and Wesley Fofana (hamstring) are injured. Mykhaylo Mudryk
(suspended) additionally stays out, while Romeo Lavia is predicted to play an element.
Reece James will possible sit this one out to handle his health (and the actual fact he
spoke out in regards to the lack of progress evident on Thursday night time).
TEAMS
FULHAM (Potential
line-up): Leno;
Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, Pereira, Sessegnon;
Jimenez
Chelsea (Potential Line-Up): Sanchez; Style, Chabah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Internet; Jackson
LAST SEASON
Fulham 0-2 Chelsea (2nd
October 2023)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
Fulham: WLWLWL
Chelsea: WWLWDD
OTHER STUFF
Fulham might do the league double over Chelsea for the primary time Chelsea have received 5 of their final six Premier League away video games
in opposition to Fulham.Fulham have alternately received or misplaced their final eight matchesFulham have received their final 2 at Craven Cottage.Chelsea have misplaced simply one in all their final six league video games.Chelsea have received simply 5 of 16 top-flight video games since 22 December.Chelsea haven’t received away within the league since 8 December.Chelsea have scored simply three targets in eight Premier League away
video games.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Fulham 2-1 Chelsea