**Date:** Saturday 30th August 2025
**Venue**: Stamford Bridge
**Kick-off:** 12:30 BST
Today’s early kick-off sees another London derby as we play host to Fulham.
We had a frustrating start to the season against Palace but despite losing Cole Palmer to injury against West Ham last weekend, and going a goal down, the players got their act together with a much better attacking display to finish 5-1. West Ham were woeful though, so I don’t think we can take too much from that.
Fulham, who took 3 points off us in this fixture last season, with a rare win at Stamford Bridge, have started the season with a couple of draws, scoring a late, deserved equaliser against United last time out.
Whilst Chelsea have shown glimpses of what they might be capable of, we couldn’t find it against a stubborn Crystal Palace, which is likely to be a problem for us again today against a disciplined Fulham defence. They will frustrate us and aim to catch us out on the counter – and if we leave Sanchez exposed, we’ll regret it.
**MANAGER’S VIEWS**
Going into today’s game, Enzo Maresca says, _“They \[Fulham\] are solid, they are well organised, play nice football, are very strong, and it’s not random that they are doing well. Last year was a record for points in the Premier League for Fulham. It shows how good Marco is and the players are. It’s a game, like always, where we have to be careful.”_
Fulham manager, Marco Silva meanwhile, says, “_It’s a special derby. It is a special moment for our fans, and when you feel it, it gives the players that extra motivation as well. In every Premier League game, you can make a statement. This is another game, there are three points there, nothing more, but you know there’s always something special._
_Since I joined, we changed the record against Chelsea. We are really competitive, and we can match them. They have spent billions to strengthen their squad so they are in a completely different world to us off the pitch, they can do things we can’t! They are capable to do things off the pitch which we are not – our aim is to balance everything inside the pitch, to balance everything during the 95 or 100 minutes that we are going to play against them, like we did last season both games.”_
**SQUAD NEWS**
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL), Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashille, and Omari Kellyman remain out. Cole Palmer (groin) will also be unavailable.
For Fulham, Harry Wilson (foot) is a doubt, but they otherwise have a fully fit squad to choose from.
**TEAMS**
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Neto; Delap
FULHAM (Possible line-up): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Iwobi, King, Smith Rowe; Muniz
**LAST SEASON**
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham (26th December 2024)
**CURRENT FORM**
CHELSEA: DW
FULHAM: DD
**OTHER STUFF**
* Chelsea have lost just three of 36 Premier League meetings, home and away against Fulham
* Fulham won this fixture last season for their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1979
* Fulham have never won consecutive visits to Stamford Bridge in their history.
* Chelsea drew 0-0 at home in the first game of the 2025/26 campaign
* Chelsea failed to win their opening two home games last season
* Fulham have won four of their last eight away Premier League London derbies
**PREDICTION**
[Sportsmole](Preview: Chelsea vs Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole): Chelsea 2-0 Fulham