Fulham vs Chelsea
England – Premier League
Date: Saturday, 16 January 2021
Kick-off at 17:30 UK/ 18:30 CET
Venue: Craven Cottage.
Fulham vs Chelsea as Frank Lampard prepares his side to return to action for the primary time since the coronavirus pandemic halted the Premier League season.
Chelsea return to Premier League action for the primary time in three-and-a-half months on Sunday once they combat relegation-threatened Aston Villa.
Scott Parker wasn’t best pleased with this week when it was announced that Fulham would be stepping in to replace Aston Villa in a scheduled Premier League fixture with just over 24 hours notice.
However, the Fulham boss would have been much happier after the performance put in by his players in that match, as the struggling Cottagers were able to claim a point away from home against Tottenham Hotspur.
Ivan Cavaleiro scored the equalising goal in the draw at the New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and it was the very least that Parker’s side deserved.
The point means that Fulham remain in the bottom three, but they are just two points from safety with two games in hand over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Unlike teams around them, Fulham are at least picking up points on a regular basis, as they have drawn their last five in the Premier League.
Parker has made them a much more difficult team to beat, and that could be crucial for this game against Chelsea. Chelsea’s season looks to be hanging in the balance, as a massive gap of six points has opened up between themselves and fourth placed Leicester.
The Blues have struggled for wins recently, and have lost two of their previous three league matches. Chelsea have won just once in six, and the early season optimism that they could be about to launch a title challenge has disappeared.
The form of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz has been a big issue for Frank Lampard, with Werner particularly struggling having just scored four goals in 17 league games this term.
Fulham vs Chelsea: Head-to-head (h2h) :
- The Blues are on a five-game winning run.
- They had scored two or more goals in all these five match-ups.
- They had recorded 19 of the preceding 20 overall wins.
- It’s been 14 years since they have lost against this rival.
- The guests have scored two or more goals in nine of the last twelve meetings at this ground.
Fulham vs Chelsea Prediction :
Fulham boss Scott Parker has made clear his displeasure at being forced to play Tottenham this past Wednesday night at such short, just three days before another big London derby match here against Chelsea. Whilst Fulham are fresh off their draining battle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Chelsea have been in action just once since a very disappointing 1-3 defeat at home to Man City back on January 3rd. That was an FA Cup third round tie at home to League Two side Morecambe last weekend, in which the Blues secured a morale boasting 4-0 victory. Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is starting to come under some pressure following recent results in the Premier League and his team will be expected to pick up three points at Craven Cottage. With a strong squad to choose from attacking wise, combined with the extra rest they have been afforded compared to the hosts and any result other than a Chelsea win would be considered a big surprise.
Fulham vs Chelsea Team News :
FULHAM Team :
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo; Tete, Decordova-Reid, Reed, Anguissa, Robinson; Cavaleiro, Lookman
UNAVAILABLE: Lemina (Injured), Cairney (Injured), Loftus-Cheek (Ineligible)
QUESTIONABLE: Mitrovic (Injured)
CHELSEA Team :
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Mendy; James, Thiago Silva, Zouma, Chilwell; Havertz, Jorginho, Mount; Ziyech, Werner, Pulisic
UNAVAILABLE: Kante (Suspended)
