Chelsea host Fulham in the West London derby in their third Premier League game of the season.
The Blues have had an interesting start to the new campaign. They were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace weren’t great at all in that fixture.
However, in their second game, the Blues smashed West Ham United at the London Stadium and have climbed up to fourth in the Premier League table.
Up next is the derby against Fulham, and that will be a very interesting game.
Paul Merson and Chris Sutton predict the Chelsea vs Fulham result
Chelsea will definitely go into the game against Fulham as the favourites.
The Blues have the superior squad, and the fact that they will be playing at home on Saturday should give them the edge.
Fulham, however, are a very good side too thanks to Marco Silva, and they have shown over the years that they can cause problems for the bigger sides.
Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have revealed their predictions for the game.
In his column on Sportskeeda, Merson wrote: “Even though people don’t treat it that way, this is still a massive London derby. Chelsea and Fulham have been miles apart in terms of their stature in the Premier League, but they will always be neighbours that live just down the road.
“Chelsea had a great result against West Ham last weekend. I still think this will be a difficult game for them, though. Fulham were unlucky not to win against Manchester United and are solid at the back. Marco Silva’s men are also tough to break down when they want it to be that way.
“Chelsea have to start doing better without Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro was excellent in that number 10 role last time out. But let’s be honest, Fulham will be a bigger challenge than West Ham. If Chelsea win this game, it’s a good result. I’d even take a 1-0 win any day, but I think the actual scoreline would be slightly different.”
Merson’s prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham
Paul Merson attending Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Sutton wrote on BBC Sport: “Chelsea looked lacklustre in their opener against Crystal Palace but then thrashed West Ham 5-1. The thing is, how can you properly judge anybody who has played West Ham?
“My gut feeling is Chelsea will have got a great deal of confidence from the manner in which they beat the Hammers last week.
“I like Fulham under Marco Silva, and the way they play could cause Chelsea one or two problems. But I still think the Blues will come out on top in this West London derby.”
Sutton’s prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham
Fulham have a dreadful record against Chelsea
Chelsea and Fulham are geographically neighbours, but the two sides are worlds apart in terms of quality.
The Blues are always the favourites going into games against the Cottagers, and that will not change when the two sides meet on Saturday.
Fulham have beaten Chelsea just three times since 1980 in all competitions. Two of them have come in the last three years in the Premier League – the latest of which was in the same fixture in the 2024/25 season.
Silva’s men will be hoping to do it again, but neither Merson nor Sutton thinks that will happen at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.