Fulham vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction
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The first Monday night game of the Premier League season is the West London Derby between Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham and Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – Universo
Fulham preview: A bit of worry
Fulham have stagnated. The Cottagers were left frustrated by an FA Cup fifth round loss to Southampton last season when assured of being mid-table in the Premier League and that contributed to the departure of Marco Silva.
Silva had done a good job at Craven Cottage but struggled to break through into the top-half and the European spots. He has since been replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa, who took charge of Real Madrid after the departure of Xabi Alonso mid-way through last season.
Arbeloa has lent on his contacts at Real Madrid to bring in duo Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia for a combined fee believed to be in the region of £42.5 million.
Chelsea preview: Alonso in at the Bridge
Chelsea have appointed a long-term friend of Alvaro Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso. Arbeloa took charge of Madrid after the sacking of Alonso. It is fair to suggest that was a decision more or less forced by underperforming players, who got even worse after the departure of Alonso.
Prior to that, Xabi Alonso had led Real Sociedad B to a historic promotion to La Liga 2 before leaving for Bayer Leverkusen. In his first full season in charge in the Bundesliga, he completed the domestic double without losing a game while also reaching the UEFA Europa League final. They were runners-up in his second season in charge before Leverkusen then went on to finish sixth in the Bundesliga after his departure.
Fulham team news: Andersen suspended
Fulham have a slight issue in defence as Denmark international centre-back Joachim Andersen begins the season suspended, while fellow centre-back Issa Diop has been sold to newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
Club-record signing Gonzalo Garcia is expected to start up-front with Cesar Palacios vying with the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Josh King for the so-called 'number ten' position.
Further details will appear here following pre-match press conferences…
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Cuenca, Bassey, Robinson; Charles, Berge; Chukwueze, Smith Rowe, Kevin; Garcia
Unavailable: Andersen (Suspended)
Questionable: Cairney (Injured)
Fulham’s top FPL assets
Bernd Leno (£4.5m) – Goalkeeper
Antonee Robinson (£4.5m) – Defender
Gonzalo Garcia (£6.0m) – Forward
Gameweek 1 captain pick: Gonzalo Garcia
Chelsea team news: Xabi's system
Xabi Alonso has preferred a three-at-the-back system in the past but defensive issues may mean a 4-2-3-1 is the way to for their opener with Wesley Fofana suspended with Levi Colwill, Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr doubtful.
How Alonso aims to get both Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers into the side is intriguing, while Enzo Fernandez is expected to play despite reported interest from Manchester City.
Further details will appear here following pre-match press conferences…
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill, Barco; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Rogers; Pedro
Unavailable: Fofana (Suspended), Henderson (Injured), Emegha (Injured)
Questionable: Colwill (Injured), Anselmino (Injured), Sarr (Injured), Quenda (Injured)
Chelsea’s top FPL assets
Cole Palmer (£9.5m) – Midfielder
Morgan Rogers (£7.5m) – Midfielder
Joao Pedro (£7.5m) – Forward
Gameweek 1 captain pick: Cole Palmer
Fulham vs Chelsea prediction
If not for the likes of Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez, Fulham may well have found themselves in a lot of trouble last season. They have gone and now Arbeloa, with no managerial track record at a senior level behind him, bar a tumultuous spell in charge of Real Madrid, has a tough test here. Chelsea will be expected to be much-improved this season, too, and Xabi Alonso has previously been able to get his teams firing from the start of his reign and so a Chelsea victory is to be expected in this local derby.
Fulham vs Chelsea tip: Chelsea to win
