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Chelsea vs Fulham: EPL Match Preview, Odds & Prediction
On Boxing Day afternoon, Chelsea will host Fulham at Stamford Bridge, vying for the right to boast about west London. Here is our match analysis and predictions.
Previous Matches and Head to head
To start with the hosts, Chelsea, who were let down last weekend by their 0-0 draw with Everton, will be looking for a quick comeback tonight. Even if some may have been surprised by Enzo Maresca's summer move to west London, the Blues have had an incredible ascent.
With his team garnering a slew of European accolades, the former Leicester manager is in the thick of a surprise race for the Premier League championship.
The atmosphere in Chelsea's camp is scorching hot as they breeze to a spot in the quarterfinals of the Europa Conference League with a perfect record.
The visitors on Thursday will be looking forward to playing on home pitch after suffering just one loss in seventeen Premier League games this season. Since losing 2-0 to Manchester City on opening weekend, Maresca's team has won all three of their home matches at Stamford Bridge, for a 10-2 aggregate victory.
The visiting Fulham are looking for some stability after last weekend's missed golden opportunity—a 0-0 home draw against Southampton.
Although Marco Silva's team has been consistently receiving praise this season, after returning from the international break in November, the Cottagers have failed to win in any of their six Premier League matches.
After returning from a two-week break with a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Wolves, the former Everton manager should be ready for a tough test tonight.
There is cause for concern over Fulham's record against their local rivals, after they suffered a 1-0 defeat on their January journey across west London. In addition to being winless at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, they have lost their past three matches by a combined score of 5-0.
Chelsea vs Fulham Team News
Never mind Thursday afternoon; Mykhailo Mudryk, who tested positive for drugs last week and is now embroiled in a doping controversy, will not be playing. English international Reece James is also out for the season after suffering a setback to his knee woes last month.
Marc Cucurella, a former Brighton defender, will be back in the lineup after serving a suspension away at Everton last weekend. Cole Palmer, who has been instrumental in another Premier League triumph this season and scored eleven goals in the league, will be a key figure for Chelsea.
Reiss Nelson, who is on loan from Arsenal, missed last weekend's match against Southampton due to a thigh injury. Also sitting on the bench is Harrison Reed, a former Southampton midfielder who hasn't played since returning from the international break in November.
On Thursday afternoon, however, ex-Manchester United player Andreas Pereira will be back in Silva's lineup after serving a one-match ban at Craven Cottage last week. Raul Jimenez, who has scored five goals in the Premier League this season, should start in Rodrigo Muniz's place.
Our Predictions
Chelsea to win @ 1.50 on Sky247.ng
Chelsea will be eager to return to Stamford Bridge tonight after being forced to settle for a solitary point away at Everton last weekend. The hosts on Thursday will be aiming to gain bragging rights for west London as they are in the thick of a miraculous Premier League championship race and the atmosphere in camp is scorching.
Fulham have won all three of their most recent Premier League encounters with 5-0 aggregate scores, and the Cottagers have not won a single game in the league at Stamford Bridge.
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