**Date:** Wednesday 7th January 2026
**Venue**: Craven Cottage
**Kick-off:** 19:30 GMT
Whilst the masterminds masquerading as football club executives are busy congratulating themselves on appointing yet another manager (who probably had to check Google Maps for “Stamford Bridge” on his way), us long-suffering supporters must focus on what really matters: surviving another episode of Premier League drama. Tonight, it’s the glamorous away day to Craven Cottage—practically a home game if you fancy a brisk stroll and a Greggs on the way.
Both teams managed to escape their last games with a point—Chelsea, through some heroic improvisation (and a late Enzo rescue act), and Fulham, thanks to Harrison Reed’s audition for “Goal of the Season” that left Liverpool looking like they’d just sat on a wasp.
Let’s not sugar-coat it—four games without a win, holding onto 5th place like it’s the last pint at The Butcher’s Hook. Fulham, meanwhile, are strutting into this unbeaten in five and probably fancy their chances of frustrating us, especially since our away form lately couldn’t win a raffle.
Under-21 coach on the touchline, Rosenior peering over his specs in the stands, and the haunting possibility of Fulham catching us on points if things go south… what could possibly go wrong?
Bring your sense of humour!
**MANAGER’S VIEWS**
Going into today’s game, Fulham manager, Marco Silva, says _“_ _It’s special, because we know what’s happened. We look for last season, how we won away, how we lost at home, both games with late goals. It really hurt ourselves, our fans, this football club, the way we were not able to win the game at Stamford Bridge \[this season\]._
_The way the team performed almost perfectly first half, in a really tough game against a top, top side, the way the team performed, and everything that happened in that game, really hurt this football club. I’m not talking about one or two persons, or just the players – us, the football club, the way that things happened that Saturday morning. It is what it is – now it’s another opportunity for us to enjoy, to embrace a big challenge with our fans to play a derby like a derby should be played. Simple as that_.
_It’s a new game, a new story. I don’t want anyone to think about the past, we have to look for the future, and what’s going to be most important is the next one. It’s a special game. We have our plan. I prefer for us to express it on the field not talk about it now. The last few games we played against them our performances showed that we have things we can explore against them.”_
Calum McFarlane, meanwhile, says _“I spoke to Liam (Rosenior) briefly last night and he’s really excited to take the role. It was a brief conversation and I understand he will be at Cobham later today, so I’m sure I will catch up with him more on that. I’ve been told I am leading the game tomorrow, and we will try to do the best job, as we have done, and give him the three points to take and then build on.”_
**SQUAD NEWS**
For Fulham, Rodrigo Muniz (thigh), Kenny Tete (hamstring) and Joshua King (knee) are injured, but Ryan Sessegnon has recovered from a hamstring problem and is available. Chukwueze, Bassey and Iwobi are on AFCON duty with Nigeria.
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (knee), and Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo (both thigh) remain out injured. Marc Cucurella (thigh), Robert Sanchez (muscle) and Wesley Fofana (illness) remain doubts, Mykhaylo Mudryk is still suspended, whilst Moises Caicedo has served his one-game ban and is available again.
**TEAMS**
FULHAM (Possible line-up): Leno; Cuenca, Andersen, Diop; Castagne, Berge, Lukic, Robinson; Wilson, Kevin; Jimenez
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Jorgensen; James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Neto; Delap
**LAST SEASON**
Fulham 1-2 Chelsea (20th April 2025)
**CURRENT FORM (PL)**
FULHAM: LWWWDD
CHELSEA: DWDLDD
**OTHER STUFF**
* Chelsea have won just one of their last six on the road in all tournaments
* Fulham are unbeaten in their last five games
* Chelsea have not won any of their last four away in the Premier League.
* Fulham have lost four of their last five games against us
* Fulham have managed just three wins against Chelsea during the Premier League era.
**PREDICTION**
[Sportsmole](Preview: Fulham vs Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole): Fulham 1-1 Chelsea