Fulham vs Chelsea
The upcoming West London derby against Fulham could be a must-win situation for under-fire Chelsea coach Graham Potter. His Blues are in crisis, with just one win and five defeats in their last seven in all competitions as they languish down in 10th in the Premier League table.
Another defeat in the derby could potentially spell the end for Potter, so the Blues had better get back to their best.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds will certainly back them to win at Craven Cottage, but Fulham are on a fine run of form and will be fully motivated to strike a massive blow to their SW6 neighbours.
Talking Points
Fulham flying high
Fulham are flying high at the moment. Marco Silva’s side have won four games on the trot in all competitions, including three in a row in the Premier League, which has lifted them to seventh in the standings.
They’ve beaten Crystal Palace away, Southampton at home, and Leicester away in the league, and took care of Hull 2-0 in their FA Cup third-round tie.
Marco Silva fielded a heavily rotated side against Hull, giving top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic a much-needed rest. But the Serb should be set to return to the starting line-up against Chelsea.
Mitrovic is having a terrific season with plenty of Premier League 2023 highlights; he’s currently fourth in the Premier League with 11 goals and has scored in 5 of his last 7 games.
Meanwhile, Fulham seem to be turning the corner defensively. They have conceded 27 goals this season – tied for seventh-most in the league – but have kept four clean sheets in their last eight Premier League games.
Portuguese defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha has been one of the signings of the season. Not only has he been a terrific shield for Fulham’s defence, but he has also chipped in three goals.
Another summer signing, left-back Layvin Kurzawa – currently on loan from PSG – scored in the Cottagers’ FA Cup win over Hull. Although, American Antonee Robinson has been a fixture in Marco Silva’s starting lineup – 16 starts in 18 games – and will be tough to displace.
Chelsea in crisis
Graham Potter’s Chelsea are officially in crisis. After their back-to-back defeats to Manchester City in the Premier League (0-1) and FA Cup (4-0), the Blues have now won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions, with one draw and five defeats.
Similar to his spell at Brighton, Potter’s big problem has been scoring enough goals. His Chelsea side have scored just three during their seven-game slide, all of which came against the two worst defences in the Premier League in Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.
The injuries to key players certainly haven’t helped Potter. Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic both picked up knocks in the City matches and are set to miss some time. Meanwhile, Reece James and N’Golo Kante have yet to recover from the injuries that saw them miss the World Cup.
Chelsea have clinched a loan deal for Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix to help boost their flailing attack, although it’s unlikely the Portuguese forward will feature in the derby.
Kai Havertz will likely continue to lead the line amid all the injuries. Mason Mount picked up a knock against City and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed the match with a back issue, but both are expected to be available against Fulham.
History
The West London derby between Chelsea and Fulham has been about as one-sided as it gets in the Premier League era. The Blues have won 19 of their 30 Premier League derbies against Fulham, with 10 draws and just one Fulham win.
And Chelsea’s domination of Fulham extends way beyond the Premier League. Since 1980, Chelsea have lost to Fulham just once and are unbeaten in their last 21 meetings.
Moreover, Chelsea are currently riding a seven-game winning streak over Fulham with an aggregate score of 15-2.
Betting Tip
SBOTOP odds have Chelsea as slight 2.20 favourites to claim a crucial derby win over Fulham, who are priced at 3.20 to win at home. A draw is not far behind at 3.30.
Given their recent poor form and their spate of injuries, it’s hard to back Chelsea at the moment. It will be tough for them to escape Craven Cottage with a win, especially with Fulham playing well. Look for the Cottagers to keep Chelsea’s winless run intact in the derby as they heap more pressure on Potter.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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