Striker in and academy player starts for Chelsea vs Fulham – Talk Chelsea

The stress is as soon as once more on Mauricio Pochettino and this Chelsea staff to get a win on Saturday with this as soon as once more turning into one other large sport for the membership in the event that they wish to get European qualification on the highest degree.

The Blues welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge for the 12.30pm kick off reside on TNT Sports activities within the UK.

Chelsea are able within the league proper now the place they may simply head in direction of both course (high or backside) after a number of of outcomes.

We’re simply three factors off seventh place proper now, but in addition simply 4 factors forward of our opponents Fulham, who’re down in thirteenth place. The highest is far nearer than the underside proper now, however the hole just isn’t but comfy sufficient for my liking!

Present type

As mentioned, Fulham are thirteenth within the league and shall be this sport as an opportunity to get only one level behind their shut neighbours Chelsea.

They went 1-0 up in opposition to Liverpool within the League Cup this week however ended up being turned over to lose 2-1.

Earlier than that, Marco Silva’s facet have had a loopy run of fixtures and an entire blended bag of outcomes. Lately they’ve overwhelmed Arsenal 2-1, overwhelmed West Ham and Nottingham Forest 5-0 in two video games in a row, however they’ve additionally misplaced 3-0 to Newcastle and Bournemouth, and misplaced 2-0 to Burnley.

I assume similar to Chelsea proper now, all of it depends upon what Fulham will flip up!

Chelsea’s type had been getting higher as soon as once more earlier than the Middlesbrough defeat, but it surely’s been a case of a pair steps ahead and a pair steps again as soon as once more, because it has been all season.

In our final 5 video games, we’ve got gained 3 and misplaced 2. Earlier than Boro, we gained 3 in a row and it felt like some momentum was coming again. Sigh.

Face to face

The Cottagers’ win over Chelsea in January of final 12 months is their solely such victory since Luis Boa Morte scored the winner in April 2006.

Chelsea wins: 51

Fulham wins: 12

Attracts: 27

Group Information

Christopher Nkunku, Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile, and Carney Chukwuemeka all as soon as once more have an opportunity of constructing the squad not less than. Nkunku shall be checked in on this week, and I’ve heard Chilwell is definitely essentially the most forward when it comes to a spot within the squad out of the opposite two talked about. However all have an opportunity.

No different injured Chelsea gamers are anticipated again for this sport.

Chelsea are nonetheless with out Nicolas Jackson attributable to his involvement on the Africa Cup of Nations, a match which additionally encompasses a trio of Fulham gamers in Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Fode Ballo-Toure.

Lineup Prediction

Frustratingly, Pochettino appears to have these identical gamers who he actually trusts and closely depends on. Nonetheless, I feel he would possibly make a little bit of a change on the again on Saturday. Once more, this isn’t based mostly on information or something, only a feeling.

I feel he would possibly drop Levi Colwill, after which if Chilwell makes the bench, a view for utilizing him later within the sport. Extra on that under.

My predicted Xl:

I feel he would possibly drop Levi Colwill after a poor sport within the final match, possibly to take him our of the firing line if something?

Then Malo Gusto and Alfie Gilchrist begin as the total backs, with possibly Chilwell approaching later to switch one in every of them.

The remainder of the lineup I feel shall be fairly apparent, sadly. Enzo Fernandez is perhaps dropped in favour of an additional attacker resembling Mykhailo Mudryk – I can even see that taking place.

Armando Broja comes again in as a presence up high, although I’m not judging Cole Palmer as false 9 on that one sport – I nonetheless consider he is an effective choice there.

Raheem Sterling ought to be firmly on the bench, however once more, I’ve a sense he’ll stick with him. There’s an opportunity Mudryk is available in for him, however lets see.

Rating prediction

Chelsea have a 58% win chance.

Match odds:

Chelsea: 6/10

Fulham: 4/1

Draw: 17/5

Forgive me for as soon as once more having no religion or any sort of confidence for this sport. I watched Fulham in opposition to Liverpool on Wednesday evening and they are going to be an actual risk, particularly in assault. They’ve scored lots of objectives this season, and Silva may have them going at us. They’ve bought some superb gamers too.

My rating prediction:

Chelsea 1 Fulham 2
I hate not backing my staff to win, however I’ve to be as true as I could be with these rating predictions. I used to be enthusiastic about possibly a 2-2 or a 3-3 draw, however I simply don’t actually see the place our objectives are coming from and in all honesty, it’s arduous to see Chelsea profitable this one after witnessing our first 45 in opposition to Preston, and our whole 90 minutes in opposition to Boro. Additionally nonetheless having nightmares concerning the Wolves efficiency!

Conclusion

Chelsea NEED to win this one, definitely. And naturally, as I say each sport, we CAN win any sport we play. However I simply lack any sort of optimism with this staff and supervisor (no I don’t need him sacked I would like him to enhance) proper now, I’m afraid.