Chelsea’s opponents will not be having to travel too far to watch their side take on the Blues on Boxing Day this year.
It is Fulham who will be making the short trip down the road in West London to take on their rivals, as they look to keep up their strong start to the campaign.
Enzo Maresca’s side will be looking to bounce back from the 0-0 draw with Everton with a win to put the pressure back on Liverpool at the top of the table.
Head Coach Enzo Maresca of Chelsea during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground on December 20, 2024 in Cobham, England.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea fans will be aware that it is familiar opponents visiting Stamford Bridge for the festive fixture, with them taking on Fulham twice before on Boxing Day.
The Blues picked up two wins against this opposition before. The trip to Craven Cottage saw Mykhailo Mudryk score his first goal for the club.
Let’s take a look at the previous examples of Chelsea taking on Fulham on Boxing Day.
Chelsea’s previous Boxing Day results against Fulham
Chelsea 3-2 Fulham (2005)
Hernan Crespo (R) of Chelsea shoots to score and put his team 3-2 up against Fulham during a premiership match at Stamford Bridge in west London, ...
Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea threatened to throw away a two-goal lead when they hosted their London rivals in 2005, after going into the lead thanks to goals from William Gallas and Frank Lampard.
The Blues were by no means at their game on this day, and let their opponents back in after a rare error from Petr Cech in goal.
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It was cult hero Hernan Crespo who was on hand to give Chelsea the winner late on, with Jose Mourinho’s side picking up a big three points in the context of their season.
They went on to win the Premier League that season, and results like this one were typical of the steel and determination of that side.
Chelsea 1-1 Fulham (2011)
Juan Mata of Chelsea scores the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge on December 26,...
Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images
In a season where Chelsea won the Champions League for the first time, things were not so rosy in the Premier League.
The Blues hosted Fulham again in 2011, and things looked to be going to plan after Juan Mata gave them the lead.
However, they let their guard slip as they had so often in that season, and Clint Dempsey equalised in the second half.
The Blues missed a heap of chances, with the best falling to Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba.
The game was one of the last that Andre Villas-Boas served as Chelsea manager, with him soon being replaced by Roberto di Matteo.