Chelsea vs Fulham Predictions
- Five of Chelsea’s eight Premier League wins this season have come at home
- Fulham have lost each of their last two matches in the Premier League without scoring
- Chelsea’s Premier League home games this term have averaged only 2.22 goals per game
- Kai Havertz is Chelsea’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with five goals
Blues after redemption against London rivals
Having beaten the Blues in January, Fulham are eyeing a first ever league double over London rivals Chelsea on Friday night but the Cottagers could be in for a tougher time of it at Stamford Bridge.Fulham have exceeded expectations under Marco Silva this season, throwing their name into the ring for the European places in the Premier League and they sent out a statement with a 2-1 win over Chelsea recently thanks to goals from Willian and Carlos Vinicius.
But since that key win over Chelsea, Fulham have endured a slight dip in form and are not as enticing to back this time around.
Tricky couple of weeks for Fulham
Silva’s side have sustained back-to-back 1-0 defeats in the Premier League against Newcastle and Tottenham and were frustrated in the fourth round of the FA Cup last time out, drawing 1-1 with Championship outfit Sunderland, meaning they must no play a replay next Tuesday.They are still above their capital counterparts in the Premier League standings but Chelsea, who were among the busiest sides in the January transfer window, have put in a couple of improved defensive performances and are worth chancing to grind out a narrow win.
Following the Fulham defeat, the Blues picked up a much-needed 1-0 win over Crystal Palace before earning a respectable 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, carving out a couple of opportunities which could have led to winners in the game.
New addition Mykhailo Mudryk looked lively from off the bench in that game but the important thing was Chelsea held their nerve at the back, denying the likes of Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, and their improved defensive prowess points to a home win and under 2.5 goals against Fulham.
Defensive resolve should see Chelsea over the line
Chelsea’s Premier League games have averaged only 2.15 goals per game this term and although it has not exactly been a season to remember, they have conceded only seven goals in nine home league games this season.We have also therefore gone for a 1-0 correct score prediction.
Kai Havertz is Chelsea’s top scorer in the league this season, had a goal disallowed against Liverpool and managed three shots, two of which were on target, in the defeat to Fulham in January.
He is always a lively presence in the final third and could be worth consideration to score at anytime in this London derby.