A West London derby kicks off the Premier League weekend on Friday evening. Chelsea will be looking to avenge a recent defeat against Fulham, and bounce back to winning ways. However, the Cottagers could move to within two points off the top five with a success at Stamford Bridge.
Premier League Preview
January was an extremely busy month for Chelsea, but the Blues will be boosted by a number of new additions as the campaign heats up in the second half of the season. Enzo Fernandez was the big signing that Chelsea was chasing, and they finally got the deal for the midfielder over the line in the final seconds, with the Blues paying a British-record fee. However, he will need to hit the ground running for Graham Potter’s side, if Chelsea is to get anywhere near challenging for a Champions League spot this term.
The Blues currently sit tenth in the Premier League standings, and they have won just once in their previous five league fixtures. That sees them currently sit ten points off the Champions League spots. The Blues were held to a 0-0 draw in their most recent fixture by Liverpool.
Fulham’s survival this term already looks to be nearly assured, as they sit on 31 points after 21 rounds of fixtures. Marco Silva could yet have a fresh aim for his talented side, as they sit just five points off the Europa League spot in the Premier League, while sixth could also mean a venture into the competition next season.
Fulham comes into this game on the road after losses in each of their previous two league fixtures. The most recent of those was a 1-0 home loss against Tottenham Hotspur. However, they could be good value for a bold showing against one of the big six on Friday.
Chelsea vs Fulham Head to Head
Chelsea’s home record in this fixture is exceptionally strong, as they have lost just two of their previous 37 home matches against Fulham. That includes a run of 17 without defeat. However, the Cottagers won the previous meeting between the sides 2-1, and will be looking for a first ever league double over their local rivals.
Chelsea vs Fulham Prediction
Fulham is huge outsiders to claim victory in this fixture, but we could see them putting in a strong display against the Blues on Friday. A draw could be a decent bet, as the home side hasn’t been firing throughout the 2022-23 season.
Make sure to bet on Chelsea vs Fulham with 22Bet!