Prediction: Chelsea vs Fulham

Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 7/1

Bookmaker: Zetbet

Chelsea and Fulham will lock horns with each other in the Premier League this weekend. The match between Mauricio Pochettino’s side and Marco Silva’s team will be held at Stamford Bridge in London and is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 pm UK time on Saturday.

Chelsea

Chelsea were expected to challenge for the top four of the Premier League table this season, but they are not having much luck. There is no chance that under former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino Chelsea will challenge for the Premier League title this season, and they are unlikely to clinch a UEFA Champions League place.

The Blues have been hugely inconsistent, and that is one of the big reasons why they have fallen behind in the race for the Premier League top four. Chelsea are 10th in the Premier League table at the moment with 28 points from 20 matches, as many as 12 points behind London rivals and fourth-placed Arsenal.

Chelsea have won their last two Premier League matches and also beat Preston North End at Stamford Bridge in London in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend. However, the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough away from home at the Riverside Stadium in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening.

Team News:

Chelsea are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Petrovic will be in goal for the Blues and will have Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva and Colwill in defence. Caicedo and Fernandez will be the two defensive midfielders. Madueke, Gallagher and Sterling will be the three attacking midfielders and will Palmer up front as the striker.

Fulham

Fulham did well last season, and although they have not really pushed on and started challenging the big boys, the London club could end up in the top half of the Premier League table this season. The Cottagers are doing relatively well and are not going to be involved in a relegation fight.

Marco Silva’s side are 13th in the Premier League table at the moment with 24 points from 20 matches. Fulham are as many as nine points above the bottom three. The London club are just seven points off a European spot.

Fulham got the better of Rotherham United 1-0 at Craven Cottage in London in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend. They will take on Liverpool away from home at Anfield in the first leg of the semi-final tie in the EFL Cup. In their last Premier League match, Fulham beat Arsenal 2-1 in the London derby.

Team News:

Fulham are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Leno will be in goal and will have Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop and Robinson in front of him in defence. Cairney and Palhinha will be the two holding midfielders. Wilson, Pereira and Decordova-Reid will be the three attacking midfielders and will have Jimenez up front as the lone striker.

Key Factors to Consider

• Chelsea have won 3 of their last 4 Premier League matches.
• Chelsea have scored 34 goals in 20 Premier League matches.
• Fulham have conceded 35 goals in 20 Premier League games.
• Fulham have won 3 and lost 3 of their last 6 Premier League games.
• Nicolas Jackson has scored 7 goals and given 2 assists in 19 Premier League matches for Chelsea this season.

Conclusion

Both Chelsea and Fulham are inconsistent teams, and it is not really easy to predict which version of the two London clubs will turn up this weekend. This is a London derby, so the players will be up for it. It is very likely that it will end in a draw.

Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw

Best Odds: 7/1

Bookmaker: Zetbet