Big-spending Chelsea will welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge on Friday night in the Premier League. Chelsea could look incredibly different on the pitch when they kick off compared to the team that went into the transfer window in January after several major signings.
Fulham are aiming for a second straight win over the Blues. The Cottagers defeated Chelsea 2-1 at Crave Cottage at the beginning of January in the league.
Part of our Pride. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/72dxuj1ezI— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 2, 2023
Part of our Pride. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/72dxuj1ezI
Fulham are seventh in the league ahead of the match. Since defeating Chelsea, the Cottagers have lost back-to-back league matches.
Chelsea go into the weekend in 10th place and there is a lot of work to do to finish in the top six. Just two points separate Chelsea from sixth-place Brighton in a very competitive race for Europe.
The Blues are unbeaten in back-to-back games. Since losing at Fulham, Chelsea have slowly improved and most recently drew nil-nil at Liverpool. Chelsea took eight points from the last six games with five goals scored and four conceded.
The defence is playing well for Graham Potter. However, Chelsea’s problems have been in the attack. The signing of Raheem Sterling failed to create goals in the first half of the season. The addition of Enzo Fernandez and Mudryk are hoped to add goals to the team.
Chelsea play well at Stamford Bridge and have a record of 5W-2D-2L at home. They have outscored opponents 13-7 at home this term.
Fulham took 12 points from the last six games but are on a two-game losing streak. They scored eight times and conceded four goals across the last six matches.
The Cottagers have played well on the road this season in the league. Marco Silva’s team has a record of 4W-1D-5L with 14 goals for and 14 against on their travels.
Graham Potter has nine players on the Chelsea injury list going into the game on Friday night. Armando Broja, Christian Pulisic, N’Golo Kante, Sterling, Wesley Fofana, Denis Zakaria, Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Edouard Mendy are all ruled out with injuries.
Striker Joao Felix will miss the game due to a suspension. He was sent off with a straight red against Fulham in early January. Mudryk could start the game on the left and make his first full debut.
Silva has just one player on the injury list as Neeskans Kebano is ruled out due to a calf injury. Fulham failed to score in their last two league games and Silva will be hoping Aleksandar Mitrovic can find the back of the net.
Fulham should continue their scoreless drought, as Chelsea pick up a 1-0 win at home. The Blues' defence will rise to the occasion once again as Fulham’s struggles in the final third continue.