How will Chelsea react to the change of coach?
A minor Londonderby takes place at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Fulham, promoted to the Premier League, have a lot in mind and want to not only pose problems for Chelsea FC, but also defeat them if possible. But that won’t be easy.
Because ahead of the Fulham vs Chelsea game, the odds are indicating favouritism for the Blues. That doesn’t seem surprising given the individual quality in the squad. It’s just that the visitors have to bring this onto the pitch and that’s where the problem has been up to this point.
Chelsea did not get off to a good start and have already made personnel changes. Fulham are a different story altogether. The Cottagers have a broad chest and show it. Kick-off is on Saturday at 13:30.
Fulham – Statistics & current form
Fulham FC were promoted to the Premier League with more than 100 goals scored. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 43 of them alone. That’s why the Cottagers were eyed with great interest when the new season began. In the first few weeks, Fulham have shown that they have quality in their squad and that they can keep up very well without the big transfer offensive that Nottingham, for example, has launched. The team is solid and plays decent football.
Already on the last matchday, Fulham were in action in a Londonderby, against Tottenham there was a 1:2 defeat, in which there were some very decent moments. The pace of games against top opponents at the start of the season is immense, Fulham had to face runners-up Liverpool (2-2) right from the start. In any case, eight points from six games is a record the promoted team can live with.
Especially because seven of those eight points were taken at home. The Cottagers have worked very well in home games so far. The two home wins in a row in the Premier League were as many as they had previously won in 21 games at Craven Cottage in England’s top division.
Fulham are dangerous at every stage of the game
Essential to Fulham so far this season is that this team can score goals in many ways. The force off stationary balls is there, but the team has also made extreme strides football-wise thanks to players like new signing Palhinha. A multi-faceted attacking game helps every team, including the hosts. Nine goals are a solid figure, as are nine goals conceded for a promoted team.
But now, stupidly, comes an opponent against whom Fulham have looked anything but good to this point. The hosts have only managed to win seven of 74 games against the Blues in the league. With all due respect, that is very little. But statistics from past games don’t have much more bearing than on the head, of course. Squads, and therefore conditions, change every season.
Because Fulham have played a very decent season so far and also have their qualities offensively, our prediction before the Fulham vs Chelsea game is that both teams will score.
Predicted Fulham line-up:
Leno – Mbabu, Adarabioyo, Diop, Kurzawa – Palhinha, Cairney, Onomah, Pereira, James – Mitrovic
Last matches played by Fulham:
Premier League
03/09/2022 – Tottenham 2 – 1 Fulham
31/08/2022 – Fulham 2 – 1 Brighton
27/08/2022 – Arsenal FC 2 – 1 Fulham
Carabao Cup
24/08/2022 – Crawley 2 – 0 Fulham
Premier League
20/08/2022 – Fulham 3 – 2 Brentford
Chelsea – Statistics & current form
Following a very turbulent transfer summer, there has been a very turbulent start to the season at Chelsea. The results were not really right, there were two defeats at Leeds and Southampton, the only top match against Tottenham ended 2:2. In addition, coach Tuchel had problems because his wishes on the transfer market were not fulfilled or only late. Chelsea were already reeling before the week’s game in Zagreb.
And in Zagreb, Chelsea not only lost 1-0, the Blues played poorly. That was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Thomas Tuchel was sacked, the rifts between the owners and him were too big. Media from England report that this dismissal had already been in the offing, regardless of the result from the Zagreb game.
Now Chelsea are facing a new start. Which is bitter, because in the end one or two of Tuchel’s desired players were signed. After only two wins from the last six competitive games, however, new momentum is perhaps also quite sensible.
Chelsea must generate more control
In recent weeks, Chelsea have lacked the game control that is often so strong under Tuchel. The Blues have already conceded nine goals in the Premier League, which is not a good value after six games. In three away games so far, only three points have been earned and two games have been lost.
Opponents Fulham are actually often very popular with Chelsea. In the last 15 league games against the Cottagers, Chelsea have conceded only six goals. Overall, the Blues often look very good in Londonderbys against the underdogs. That gives us hope. Moreover, that’s why our value tip before the Fulham vs Chelsea match is that the visitors will win.
Predicted Chelsea line-up:
Mendy – Azpilicueta, Fofana, Thiago Silva – James, Kovacic, Zakaria, Cucurella – Pulisic, Havertz, Sterling
Last matches played by Chelsea:
Champions League Grp. E
06/09/2022 – Dinamo Zagreb 1 – 0 FC Chelsea
Premier League
03/09/2022 – Chelsea FC 2 – 1 West Ham
31/08/2022 – Southampton 2 – 1 Chelsea FC
27/08/2022 – Chelsea FC 2 – 1 Leicester
21/08/2022 – Leeds 3 – 0 Chelsea FC
Fulham – Chelsea Direct comparison / H2H record
In total, the two clubs have met 84 times in all competitions. Chelsea have a clear lead with 49 victories, while Fulham have won nine duels. The two sides have drawn 26 times. In the last season in which the two met, i.e. 2020/21, Chelsea won twice to nil.
Fulham – Chelsea Tip
Somewhat surprisingly, hosts Fulham are the team going into this clash with more confidence. Chelsea have many to improve and must try to perform better football-wise, but not lose sight of their compactness.
Because the hosts’ attack has been working well early in the season and Chelsea like to offer something, ahead of the Fulham vs Chelsea game our tip, at fair odds, is that both teams will score.
