Chelsea’s starting XI for their Premier League game against Fulham may come as a surprise. Cole Palmer is out completely, and Reece James is on the bench. Liam Delap is back at the front, while Estevao, Joao Pedro, and Pedro Neto are all back in the attack.
At Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca looks to have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation. Robert Sanchez stays in goal, with Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Marc Cucurella protecting him. Moises Caicedo is the anchor in the middle of the field, and Enzo Fernandez, who is wearing the captain’s armband, leads an advanced group of four that includes the promising Brazilian youngster Estevao, new signing Joao Pedro, and Wolves recruit Pedro Neto.
Cole Palmer, however, isn’t here. The attacker, who was a regular source of creativity for the Blues last season, is said to have a groin injury and is still not available. Delap gets another chance to lead the line because he played well against West Ham and worked well with the midfield.
Reece James, who just got back from an injury, is on the bench as a precaution, so Malo Gusto stays at right-back. The Blues just beat West Ham 5–1, with goals from Fernandez, Caicedo, Neto, Joao Pedro, and Chalobah. Fulham have drawn with both Brighton and Manchester United this season, so they will be careful about Chelsea’s momentum.
Chelsea’s lineup, which includes a few new players and some changes to their strategy, shows that they want to move up the table, even without some of their usual stars.
Fulham chooses to play solid defense as Muniz leads the line against Chelsea
Fulham has picked a well-organized team to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Bernd Leno will be the captain from the goal. Marco Silva has put together a five-man backline with Castagne, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, and Sessegnon. This suggests that he is moving toward a 3-5-1-1 or 5-4-1 formation to slow down Chelsea’s fast-paced attack.
Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic make up a strong central duo in the middle of the field. Their job is to break up play and keep things in order. Alex Iwobi and Matthew King add width and speed, and Rodrigo Muniz stays in front because he has been more consistent in the last third.
Fulham haven’t lost a game this season, and their draws against Brighton and Manchester United were both good ones. This choice clearly puts stability first. Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore, and Emile Smith Rowe are on Silva’s bench. They could all make a difference if Fulham needs goals late in the game.