With or without Liam Rosenior as head coach, Chelsea go dey action for West London derby on Wednesday evening, as dem travel short distance go Craven Cottage to face Fulham for Premier League match.
The two near neighbours both manage steal draw thanks to last-minute equalisers for their last matches, as the Blues rescue 1-1 draw for Manchester City after the Cottagers play 2-2 with Liverpool.
Match Preview
Dem give am small time to steady the ship after Enzo Maresca im shocking exit, as Under-21s head coach Calum McFarlane face serious test for Sunday, when Man City fit – and maybe suppose – run away with the win.
However, the Sky Blues pay for their lack of sharpness after Tijjani Reijnders fire rocket goal, and with four minutes of second-half added time don play, Enzo Fernandez manage bundle in late equaliser to spark wild celebration for the away end.
As good as that point be for both McFarlane and the Club World Cup champions, Wednesday im visitors dey cross the city on four-match winless run for the league, wey don leave dem just outside Champions League places after 20 games.
The three-point gap to Liverpool and the Reds im worse goal difference mean say Chelsea fit force their way back into top four with win for midweek, whether na under McFarlane or Rosenior – as the Strasbourg coach dey close to officially resume.
The new boss also get work to do with worrying away record for the Conference League holders, as dem don win only one of their last six away matches across all competitions, and none of their last four for Premier League.
Fulham sef benefit from very late equaliser for their last draw, as dem almost accept defeat to champions Liverpool when Cody Gakpo score the Reds im second goal, but the Dutchman later get him own Richarlison moment for London.
Gakpo collect yellow card for removing shirt during celebration – something wey later turn to mockery after Harrison Reed fire stunning long-range goal for 97th minute, with one of only three touches wey he get for im short cameo.
By extending their unbeaten Premier League run to five matches – collecting 11 points from possible 15 – the Cottagers wey dey 11th now dey only three points behind fifth-placed Chelsea, and one more good result go push dem straight back into European race.
The absence of AFCON trio Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze never affect Marco Silva im side as much as many expect, and the hosts don now score for 11 of their 12 home games this season, blanking only against league leaders Arsenal.
However, four of Fulham im last five matches against fellow London side Chelsea don end in defeat – including August im 2-0 loss for Stamford Bridge – and the Cottagers don manage only three wins against the Club World Cup champions since Premier League start.
Fulham Premier League form:
Fulham form (all competitions):
Chelsea Premier League form:
Chelsea form (all competitions):
Team News
Chelsea strong man Moises Caicedo watch helplessly against Man City because of suspension, but the Ecuador international don complete im yellow-card ban and go return for the derby.
Caicedo im return fit push captain Reece James back to right-back, if Malo Gusto need cover again for Marc Cucurella (thigh), one of the few doubts alongside Robert Sanchez (muscle) and Wesley Fofana (illness), but all three suppose train on Tuesday.
Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended), Dario Essugo (thigh), Levi Colwill (knee) and Romeo Lavia (thigh) dey confirmed absentees for the Blues, although Lavia fit return to action within the next couple of weeks.
Cole Palmer play full 90 minutes against Man City without issue, but after starting regularly for the Blues during festive period, he fit get rest for Craven Cottage.
For Fulham side, AFCON trio Chukwueze, Bassey and Iwobi still dey with Nigeria, while Rodrigo Muniz no fit recover from thigh injury in time for the visit of Chelsea.
Kenny Tete (hamstring) and Joshua King (knee) still dey out, but Ryan Sessegnon don recover from hamstring problem and return to the squad.
Silva no get reason change im recent 3-4-3 system here, but captain Tom Cairney go likely give way for Sander Berge; Reed im wonder goal no go enough to earn starting shirt.
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Cuenca, Andersen, Diop; Castagne, Berge, Lukic, Robinson; Wilson, Kevin; Jimenez
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Neto; Delap
We Say: Fulham 1-1 Chelsea
Always difficult team to play against – especially for Craven Cottage – Fulham fit repeat wetin dem do Liverpool and frustrate their local rivals well well, especially with defence-heavy 3-4-3 setup.
Some uncertainty still dey while Chelsea fans dey wait for official Rosenior announcement, but anybody wey dey charge likely go oversee another low-scoring draw.
