English Premier
2024-12-26 - Chelsea vs Fulham
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Thursday 26th December 2024 - Kick Off 3pm
This game is live on TV
Chelsea
The layers expected goals, but that was not the case for the preview written here for the Everton vs Chelsea game that was played on Sunday. Ultimately the feeling was that Chelsea's firepower would see them edge past Everton, but Nicolas Jackson missed the best opportunities and the title challengers have lost a touch of ground on the Premier League leaders.
You cannot win the Premier League title in December, but Enzo Maresca and the Chelsea fans will be looking for a reaction from the young squad after the draw on Sunday. They are still 2nd in the Premier League table and 4 points behind Liverpool, but it is another chance for Chelsea to play first and really cut into that lead before the top team kick off later on Boxing Day. The Blues have a 4-3-1 record at Stamford Bridge this season and need to string some wins together here.
Chelsea had won 8 in a row in all competitions before the goalless draw at Goodison Park on Sunday, although that may still be a good point when we look back at the Division in May. The side have won 5 of their last 6 at Stamford Bridge, including the last 3 in a row, while Chelsea will be searching for a third straight Premier League victory in front of the home fans.
Marc Cucurella is back from a suspension and will likely return to his left back spot, but Romeo Lavia is a doubt. The manager may choose to restore Noni Madueke to the starting lineup after his team failed to score last time out.
Fulham
Aaron Ramsdale returned to the Southampton team and frustrated Fulham, although Marco Silva will point to his striker's wastefulness in the goalless draw on Sunday. Dropped points will be a disappointment, but Fulham have made life difficult for the leading title contenders already in December and would love to throw a spanner in the works for a West London rival.
They are 9th in the Premier League table, but 25 points means Fulham are firmly in touch with the teams above them and the fans will be targeting a return to European Football in 2025. The side make the very short journey to Stamford Bridge with a 2-4-2 record away from home in the top flight.
Fulham are unbeaten in 5 Premier League games since the thumping 1-4 defeat to Wolves, although the draw with Southampton means 4 of those matches have ended with the points shared. Since a narrow loss at Manchester City, Fulham are unbeaten in 4 away Premier League games and have held Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool to draws in that run.
Andreas Pereira is back from a suspension, but the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic are doubts.
Head to Head
Chelsea earned bragging rights with two wins over Fulham in the Premier League last season.
The Blues are unbeaten in 20 home games against Fulham and they have won 4 of their last 5 at Stamford Bridge against this opponent.
Prediction
The key to a real title challenge is that dropped points do not lead to more slippages very quickly and that is the challenge for this young Chelsea team to prove they can mount a real bid to win the Premier League.
It was never going to be easy at Everton on Sunday considering the conditions in the North West, but Chelsea might feel they deserved more than a draw.
Now they are back in home surroundings in West London on a good looking Boxing Day as far as the weather conditions go and Chelsea have found some form here. They will be chasing a third Premier League win in front of their own fans and there is no doubting the qualities that Enzo Maresca has been able to work with.
The manager deserves credit for giving a young team the confidence to express themselves and they will give Fulham plenty to think about, especially if key midfield players are missing again.
However, there will also be a huge amount of respect for an opponent that should have earned more than a 3-2 loss at Manchester City and who have held Arsenal and Liverpool to draws this month. Marco Silva's team do like to get forward and they have shown a bit more organisation at the back, but you have to believe the home team are going to control the match and will have the superior quality of chances.
Taking those is key as Arsenal found out to their cost in the 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, but it certainly helps that Chelsea are playing this fixture at home.
With the attacking players available, Chelsea will believe they can get on top of a local rival they have beaten in 4 of the last 5 fixtures when hosting Fulham.
The Blues showed they can be patient in their win over one West London rival this month, Brentford, and they can exert their control of this Premier League fixture in a winning effort.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
