Chelsea vs Fulham – EPL December 2018 Preview and Scores

Preview

Chelsea will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome West London rivals Fulham to the Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Chelsea are 4th on the table and are looking to continue their fight for the trophy while Fulham lie bottom of the log and are in the battle for survival.

Team News

Maurizio Sarri

Europa League night on thursday produced a brilliant 4-0 win over PAOK in the Europa League, however, and Maurizio Sarri now has to decide whether to leave out any of his top-flight ever-presents for this derby clash.

Eden Hazard who was was absent from the PAOK match, appears to have shaken off a minor ankle injury. He should also be brought back into the frontline, with mass changes expected in the starting lineup

Alvaro Morata also came off the bench to score. Ngolo Kante had his role criticised last weekend but Sarri is still expected to keep him alongside Jorginho and Kovacic

Chelsea possible starting eleven:

Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Morata, Hazard

Fulham

Fulham were forced to sack manager Slavisa Jokanovic earlier this month in what the managemnet had hoped will herald a turn-around for the team.

The Cottagers had flunked seven matches in a row in all competitions to find themselves rock bottom of the Premier League and out of the EFL Cup. Claudio Ranieri was appointed to replace Jakanovic in the second week of November and the mood in the club has changed since.

Ranieri has his work cut out if he is to improve his side’s away form, however, as they follow up this trip to Stamford Bridge with a meeting against Manchester United at Old Trafford, sandwiching a home match against the Italian’s ex-employers Leicester.

Joe Bryan is back in contention after coming back from injury. No other injury worries for Ranieri. Andre Schuerrle will be returning to Stamford Bridge three years after departing in what will be his 13th start of the season.

Fulham possible starting eleven:

Rico; Christie, Odoi, Mawson, Bryan; Chambers, Seri; Schurrle, Cairney, Sessegnon; Mitrovic

Head To Head

Chelsea have gone 16 matches without suffering defeat against Fulham in the league and have lost just once in 26 Premier League meetings, winning 15 of those.

Scores
Chelsea 2 – 0 Fulham
Pedro 4′
Loftus-Cheek 82′

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