Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
Fulham vs Chelsea Odds
The Blues are a -110 favorite for this clash at soccer betting sites. The Cottagers sit at +260 on the moneyline, while a draw is priced at +270. The O/U is set at three goals, with negative odds on both sides.
Recent meetings have been mixed. Chelsea beat Fulham at Stamford Bridge last term, but the Whites ran out 2-1 winners on home soil in January.
Fulham vs Chelsea Analysis
Fulham will be looking to put together another solid campaign, and like several other clubs around the Premier League, they’re also heading into a new era. After five years, Marco Silva left Craven Cottage for his homeland, taking the job as Benfica’s new boss. To replace him, Fulham brought in Alvaro Arbeloa, who was the interim manager for Real Madrid last season after they parted ways with Xabi Alonso. Arbeloa has limited managerial experience at a top level, but there’s no doubt his short tenure with the Los Blancos first-team was valuable.
The Whites finished in 11th place last term with a 15-7-16 record, level on points with Chelsea. But they finished one spot below the Blues due to a worse goal difference. Fulham lost Raul Jimenez this summer as he reunited with Wolves in the Championship, which leaves a hole up top. However, the London outfit did sign Gonzalo Garcia, who follows Arbeloa to Craven Cottage, and he’ll surely get his opportunity to produce the goods in front of goal. Cesar Palacios also arrives from the Spanish capital, and he could prove to be a key figure in the middle of the park.
There are boatloads of optimism around Chelsea ahead of the new season. Alonso taking over at Stamford Bridge is seen as a massive addition, and although his stint at Real was a disaster, the belief is that he could make a real difference for the Blues. The new boss wasted no time strengthening the squad this summer, too. Maxence Lacroix, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, and Danny Welbeck all arrive, with Rogers the headliner. Chelsea paid a high price for the former Aston Villa star, who was an important figure for England at the World Cup.
Chelsea’s 10th-place finish last term was an embarrassment for a club of this stature, but they’re ready to put that behind them, and there’s no shortage of talent at Alonso’s disposal. The Blues will be hoping Cole Palmer can find his 2024-25 form again, while Rogers and Joao Pedro will be seen as crucial figures in the final third as well. Lacroix proved to be one of the best defenders in the top flight at Crystal Palace, and he’ll get every opportunity to prove his quality in West London.
Fulham vs Chelsea Injury News
Fulham enters Monday’s derby without captain Tom Cairney, who is sidelined with a knee injury and isn’t expected back until October. Joachim Andersen will also miss the season opener through suspension.
Chelsea has more uncertainty, although Alonso said this week that most of his squad is fit to train. Wesley Fofana and Mykhailo Mudryk are suspended, while Henderson is dealing with a wrist injury. Levi Colwill, Aaron Anselmino and Emmanuel Emegha are also listed as doubts, but Chelsea still have several training sessions remaining before Monday’s clash.
Fulham vs Chelsea Picks
It’s hard to know what to expect from either side in the first game of the campaign. However, Chelsea has won two of their last three visits to Craven Cottage, and I really like the way this side is looking. The Blues will hit the ground running and snatch a massive road victory on matchday one.
Pick: Chelsea -110/TonyBet
