There’s a battle at Stamford Bridge when west London rivals Chelsea and Fulham clash in the Premier League at 12:30 on Saturday.
The Blues will be looking to recover from their shock 1-0 EFL Cup defeat at Middlesbrough in midweek, while Fulham also have a cup hangover after losing at Liverpool.
- Fulham/draw double chance
- Both teams to score
- Over 5.5 bookings
Fulham Value To Avoid Defeat
Chelsea were shocked by Middlesbrough in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Tuesday and the Blues may be upset again when west London rivals Fulham come to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea have looked a dangerous side at times this season, but they have also been wasteful in front of goal and lacking defensively for much of the campaign.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men have won only five of their last 12 matches (inside 90 minutes) and the former Paris Saint-Germain manager has major selection issues this weekend.
Nicolas Jackson, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James and Romeo Lavia are all out injured and there are concerns over the fitness of Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell and Christopher Nkunku too.
That isn’t going to help Chelsea’s cause and Fulham have shown enough to suggest they can avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge.
The Cottagers have taken four points off a top-level Arsenal side this season, hammered West Ham 5-0 and beaten Nottingham Forest by the same scoreline, and at the prices, Chelsea can be opposed.
Goals Could Flow At The Bridge
There have been 41 goals in Chelsea’s last 10 Premier League matches, and even with a long list of absentees, there is still bags of attacking potential at Pochettino’s disposal.
Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk are expected to be in the Blues’ starting line-up, and while it may not be enough to win the game, Chelsea can get on the scoresheet.
Fulham have hit 18 goals in their last eight Premier League matches and the Cottagers have found the net against Man City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and in two top-flight games against Arsenal this term.
That indicates that Silva’s side can punish the Premier League’s top teams and backing both teams to score looks like the play on Saturday.
Feisty Affair On The Cards
There have been 17 yellow cards and one sending off in the last three west London derbies between Chelsea and Fulham and another tough battle could be on the cards.
Fulham have been handed 10 cautions and one dismissal in their last four Premier League games and the Cottagers are a pretty feisty side under Silva.
Chelsea will have a home crowd whipping them up and it would be no surprise if referee Tim Robinson was kept busy.
