Chelsea vs Fulham LIVE: Premier League group information and line-ups as Blues look to maintain strain on Liverpool
Chelsea host Fulham at Stamford Bridge in a London derby today, with the Blues looking to keep up the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
Enzo Maresca’s side missed the chance to briefly go top when they drew 0-0 to Everton last week, and they are now six points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Though they insist they are not in a title race, Chelsea will know that three points today is vital to any hopes they may have, while it would also give them a huge advantage in the race for top four.
And they face a Fulham side who have quietly creeped up the table in recent weeks, with four draws and a win from their last five matches. Marco Silva’s men sit in ninth, and could climb as high as sixth with a win.
Follow all the latest action from Stamford Bridge below:
Chelsea v Fulham – live
The Cottagers have had a relatively settled side for much of this term, though Joachim Andersen has missed matches through injury.
Perhaps the one member of the team today who wouldn’t generally be considered a first-choice is right wing-back Timothy Castagne – he’s making just a third league start of 24/25 and he’s played only 268 league minutes all season.
Quite the task then to be facing up to an in-form Jadon Sancho. That head to head battle could turn out key.
Chelsea v Fulham – live
Chelsea will of course be trying to close the gap at the top, with Liverpool sat four points clear at the start of play – and having had one fewer fixture so far due to a postponement.
The Blues can only hope to keep winning their own fixtures and keep tabs on the Reds of course, but victory in this derby clash will at least mean Arne Slot’s side have little margin for error later on against Leicester.
Match facts
Fulham are unbeaten in each of their last five Premier League games (W1 D4), with each of the last three finishing level. They last had more consecutive top-flight draws in December/January in 2020-21 (5).
They are unbeaten in each of their last nine Premier League London derby matches (W4 D5), since a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in January this year.
Emile Smith Rowe has either scored (2 goals) or assisted (1) in three of his four Premier League starts against Chelsea (all for Arsenal), with both goals against the Blues coming at Stamford Bridge.
Match facts
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League games (W6 D3), last having a longer run without defeat in Thomas Tuchel’s first 10 in charge of the club between January and March 2021. The Blues’ only two defeats this season have come against reigning champions Manchester City, and current league leaders Liverpool.
Nicolas Jackson has a combined 15 goals (11) and assists (4) in his last 19 Premier League starts at Stamford Bridge. Jackson also has 13 goal involvements in his last 12 London derby appearances in the league (11 goals, 2 assists).
Chelsea v Fulham team news
Two goalkeepers on Chelsea’s bench today, but the starting XI is still looking formidable. Neto and Sancho are for many the wide pair who may establish themselves as the first choice, though Madueke – absent today – has been excellent this term.
For Fulham, they’ll hope the back three on show today can keep out the No9 and No10 pairing of the hosts.
Maresca: “We are ahead of our expectations”
In his pre-match conference, Enzo Maresca said that Chelsea “are ahead of our expectations in terms of the way we are playing and in terms of points. Our main focus is to see how we can improve the players.
“It’s not about the pressure. I would like to have that kind or pressure and hopefully we can have that pressure. The reality for me is we are not there [as title challengers],” he added.
“I think, for sure, the reality is we are second. It’s almost halfway so probably the table reflect the teams where they are. Liverpool are doing fantastic since the first day.
“Probably the squad, they have already lived that kind of moment [to win a trophy]. You need to live that kind of moment to raise and be close. I think Manchester City at the end will be there [too],” he added when asked about the teams at the top.
Match facts
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 19 home league games against Fulham (W12 D7) since a 2-0 loss in the second tier in October 1979.
Fulham have won just two of their 34 Premier League games against Chelsea (D11 L21), with their 6% win rate against the Blues the lowest any side has another in the competition’s history (min. 20 meetings).
How the table looks
Both sides have arguably exceeded expectations so far this season, with Chelsea experiencing a resurgence under new manager Enzo Maresca.
The Blues sit in second at the start of Boxing Day, just four points behind Liverpool (who have a game in hand) and two above Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Fulham begin the day in ninth, on 25 points, but they could go as high as sixth (however briefly) if they were to pick up three points.
Head-to-head
These two sides first met as long ago as 1910, and there have been around 60 official meetings since. Overall, Chelsea have won 38, Fulham have won four, and 18 have ended as draws.
Last season, Chelsea took three points from both meetings, winning 1-0 at home and 2-0 away.
Boxing Day fixtures in full
As well as City’s match with Everton earlier, there are six more games to keep track of in the Premier League today.
This match kicks off at 3pm, along with:
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Southampton v West Ham
In addition, Wolves host Manchester United at 5.30pm, while Liverpool take on Leicester at Anfield at 8pm.
