Sophia
Chelsea aims to build on their emphatic 5-1 victory over West Ham United as they host cross-town rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. This highly anticipated West London derby, kicking off at 12:30 p.m. BST on Saturday, August 30th, promises a captivating clash, especially after Fulham secured a dramatic 2-1 win at this very venue last season.
The Blues, despite missing star midfielder Cole Palmer, showcased incredible attacking prowess at the London Stadium, delivering a crushing blow to former manager Graham Potter and his West Ham side. Manager Enzo Maresca will be eager to replicate that dominant performance against a Fulham team that has proven capable of springing surprises.
Fulham’s Form and Historical Context
Fulham’s memorable win at Stamford Bridge last season, sealed by late goals from Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz, will undoubtedly be a source of confidence. While Chelsea exacted revenge in the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage with a similar late surge, the Cottagers will be looking to secure their first Premier League victory of the new campaign.
Marco Silva’s men enter this fixture unbeaten, having secured successive draws against Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United. Their midweek 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Bristol City, however, might leave some legs heavy, posing an additional challenge against a refreshed Chelsea side.
Match Details
- Location: London, England
- Stadium: Stamford Bridge
- Date: Saturday, August 30
- Kick-off Time: 12:30 p.m. BST / 7:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. PT
- Referee: Rob Jones
- VAR: Michael Salisbury
Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Chelsea holds a dominant record in recent encounters:
- Chelsea Wins: 4
- Fulham Wins: 1
- Draws: 0
- Last Meeting: Fulham 1–2 Chelsea (April 20, 2025) – Premier League
Current Form (All Competitions)
Chelsea
- West Ham 1–5 Chelsea – 22/08/25
- Chelsea 0–0 Crystal Palace – 17/08/25
- Chelsea 4–1 AC Milan – 10/08/25
- Chelsea 2–0 Bayer Leverkusen – 08/08/25
- Chelsea 3–0 PSG – 13/07/25
Fulham
- Fulham 2–0 Bristol City – 27/08/25
- Fulham 1–1 Man Utd – 24/08/25
- Brighton 1–1 Fulham – 16/08/25
- Fulham 1–0 Eintracht Frankfurt – 09/08/25
- Fulham 4–2 Al Ittihad – 30/07/25
Team News and Lineups
Chelsea Team News
Chelsea will once again be without the influential Cole Palmer, who is recovering from a groin injury suffered in the warm-up against West Ham. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed his absence, stating Palmer’s condition will be assessed “day by day.”
Long-term absentee Levi Colwill remains sidelined for much of the season, while Benoît Badiashile is also out with an injury. However, the return of Tosin Adarabioyo from a knock against the Hammers is a boost, and he is expected to partner Trevoh Chalobah in defense. Roméo Lavia is battling a muscle issue, and Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended following a failed drugs test.
Several other key players, including Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson, and Christopher Nkunku, are exploring moves away from Stamford Bridge and will not feature. Nkunku, in particular, is reportedly nearing a transfer to AC Milan.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Fulham (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Estêvão, Pedro, Neto; Delap.
Fulham Team News
Marco Silva enjoys a largely fit squad, with the primary concern being Harry Wilson, who picked up a foot injury in the Carabao Cup win. The Welsh international, a standout in pre-season, would be a significant loss. On a positive note, Antonee Robinson and Ryan Sessegnon returned against Manchester United, providing solutions at left-back.
Upfront, Raúl Jiménez could return to the starting XI after scoring in the Carabao Cup, potentially replacing Rodrigo Muniz, who netted an own goal against Manchester United. Eighteen-year-old Josh King might make way for England international Emile Smith Rowe, who scored a crucial equalizer against Manchester United.
Fulham Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukić, Berge; Traoré, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jiménez.
Score Prediction
Chelsea’s five-goal demolition of West Ham will have significantly boosted their confidence after a somewhat subdued start to the campaign against Crystal Palace. However, they must remain wary of Fulham’s well-organized defense and potent counter-attacking threats, particularly from players like Alex Iwobi and Adama Traoré.
Despite Fulham’s strengths, Chelsea’s attacking depth, with João Pedro in stellar form and Estêvão impressing on his Premier League debut, should prove decisive. While a clean sheet might be elusive, the Blues are expected to secure their first home win of the season.
Prediction: Chelsea 3–1 Fulham
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