Fulham face Chelsea on Monday, August 24 at 22:00 GMT+3 at Craven Cottage in a Premier League west London derby.
Chelsea have a new manager in Xabi Alonso and a reshaped squad, while Fulham are also dealing with major summer changes, leaving the Blues better placed to make an immediate impact.
Below is the full match preview, predictions and betting analysis.
Fulham vs Chelsea Tips
*Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Fulham vs Chelsea Odds
| Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Fulham |
|
| Draw |
|
| Chelsea |
|
*Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Free Bets and Offers
No promotions available for your location at the moment.
Fulham vs Chelsea Predictions
Chelsea have the stronger platform for an opening win
Chelsea won only two of their final 13 Premier League games last season and finished tenth, so Xabi Alonso has taken charge with plenty to improve. The summer has brought significant investment, with Morgan Rogers arriving from Aston Villa as the headline signing.
Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson have also joined, adding experience to a squad looking for greater stability. Chelsea therefore have a very different feel at the start of the new campaign despite the poor finish to last season.
Fulham have had upheaval of their own. Marco Silva has departed after establishing the Cottagers as a mid-table Premier League side, with Alvaro Arbeloa replacing him at Craven Cottage.
Only one of the last 15 meetings between these clubs has finished level. Fulham have also lost Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez over the summer, while Gonzalo Garcia has arrived after making only nine starts for Real Madrid last season.
Chelsea appear better prepared after their summer changes, and with Fulham adapting under Arbeloa, I’m backing Chelsea to Win at 1.95.
Tip: Chelsea to Win @ with N/A
Fulham’s attacking changes make 2-0 appealing
Fulham scored at one end and conceded at the other in only two of their final ten league games last season. That low frequency of both teams scoring gives their early-season attacking rebuild extra significance at Craven Cottage.
Arbeloa has brought Gonzalo Garcia with him from Real Madrid, but the striker made only nine starts for Los Blancos last season. Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez have both left Fulham, increasing the importance of Garcia settling quickly.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have spent heavily after finishing last season with just two victories from their final 13 league matches. Alonso now has Morgan Rogers in his squad, while Welbeck and Henderson add further experience to the summer reset.
A Chelsea victory has additional support from a head-to-head run containing only one draw in the last 15 meetings. Fulham’s limited both-teams-to-score return late last season also favours a scoreline with the hosts kept out.
With Fulham relying on a new attacking option after those departures, Chelsea 2-0 could be worth a look at 12.00.
Tip: Chelsea 2-0 @ with N/A
