Football
Chelsea vs Fulham Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Champion-contenders, Chelsea, may not like the title, but have justified the label so far in the Premier League. Enzo Maresca has enjoyed an incredibly competitive first season with the Blues and will be hoping to claim another three points when city-rivals Fulham come and visit. SportsBoom unpacks all the latest sportsbook odds, latest insights and our prediction for the Premier League match between Chelsea and Fulham – just in time for all of your Christmas football betting!
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Chelsea the favourites
Home: 4/10 (1.4) – 65%
Draw: 39/10 (4.9) – 19%
Away: 24/5 (5.8) – 16%
Head-To-Head Record
Last five meetings (Premier League)
13/01/2024: Chelsea 1–0 Fulham
02/10/2023: Fulham 0–2 Chelsea
03/02/2023: Chelsea 0–0 Fulham
12/01/2023: Fulham 2–1 Chelsea
01/05/2021: Chelsea 2–0 Fulham
Chelsea Current Form – WWWWW
Something that isn’t being spoken about enough is the confidence with which this Chelsea side are playing. So, at the risk of sounding like a stuck record, the way in which they are playing definitely makes them title contenders – no matter how many times they play it down.
Is Cole Palmer one of the best talents in the league at the moment? Yes, he most certainly is…. however, it is what the players around him are now doing which has added to the success of this Chelsea side.
They are the complete side, from to top to tail they have quality all over the pitch and have shown they can blow teams away, grind out a result, come back from going behind and dominate games from the onset – their season has truly been remarkable!
Key Players to Watch
- : Noni Madueke: A player who struggled with injury early on his Chelsea career is proving doubters wrong week by week. He has finally settled in at Stamford Bridge and now his ability and talent are on full display.
His creativity and attacking prowess has been untouchable in recent matches and we think he could make a massive difference here for the hosts. - Joao Felix: In a short time, Felix has already made creative mark on the league. His movement is seamless, which allows his contributions for offensive to defensive to flow with absolute ease. He has shown time and again why he is a brilliant player.
- Cole Palmer: He will likely be mentioned every time Chelsea play, but his ability can never be understated. He is playing with unbridled confidence, confidence which matches his skill and tactical know-how. The impact this young player has had on Chelsea this season is simply incredible.
Chelsea Team News
Ben Chilwell (virus), Benoit Bandiashile (muscle injury), Carney Chukwuemeka (virus), Mykhailo Mudryk (personal reasons), Reece James (hamstring injury), Romeo Lavia (hamstring injury), and Wesley Fofana (hamstring injury) are all a doubt for this encounter.
Fulham Current Form – LDWDD
Fulham have not wilted in front of the so-called big names in the league this season. Most recently taking points of both Arsenal and Liverpool, they now travel to Stamford Bridge to entertain a match with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.
Fulham have found a lot of joy in the way in which they set up, a very well-organized team, committed to ensuring they remain compact and close as much space down without the ball as possible.
Expect the likes of Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore to have a lot to do with little ball possession for the Cottagers.
Key Players to Watch
- Emile Smith-Rowe: Smith-Rowe’s technical ability on the ball, especially over a dead ball, is up there with the very best. He is a dangerous player in all aspects of the game and while he might not be enjoying as much game time as he would have liked at Fulham, he is a special talent who can positively impact his team’s chances here.
- Raul Jimenez: At the time of writing, Jimenez is Fulham’s top scorer in the league. The Mexican boasts a ratio of 0.92 expected goals per 90 minutes but has largely outdone this ratio for the Cottagers. He is a versatile player, and Fulham will be hoping for the best from their striker here.
- Adama Traoré: There are few players who can match his explosive pace and physicality, his arrival at Fulham has almost instantly translated into a direct attacking threat that unsettles defenses and drives his side forward.
With a dribbling success rate of 60%, Traoré will no doubt be looking to take on defenders and find final third entries at the Bridge.
Fulham Team News
Harrison Reed (knee injury), Reiss Nelson (thigh injury), Joachim Anderson (calf injury), Kenny Tete (knee injury) and Andreas Pereira (disciplinary points) are all unavailable to Marco Silva.
Predicted Line-Up
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1
Sanchez, Cucurella, Colwill, Adarabioyo, Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Sancho, Palmer, Madueke, Jackson.
Fulham: 4-2-3-1
Leno, Tete, Diop, Cuenca, Robinson, Berge, Lukic, Iwobi, Smith-Rowe, Traoré, Jimenez.
Suggested Bets
This is how we suggest you structure your football betting for this Boxing Day Premier League encounter.
Chelsea Win: Given the football Chelsea are playing at the moment, we think they claim all three points here. It certainly won’t be straightforward, but our money is on the hosts. 4/10 (1.4) with Betway and 1xBet
Over 2.5 Goals: Backing over 2.5 goals here is your next best bet. These are two teams with a devasting amount of talent upfront, and so even amid solid defensive systems, we think you can expect goals here. 11/25 (1.44) with Betway and 1xBet
Both Teams to Score: Not an easy ask against this Chelsea side, but with the attacking threats Fulham hold, we think there is enough value about the Both Teams to Score market. 5/10 (1.5) with Betway and BetWinner
Value Bets
Chelsea + Over 2.5 Goals: For the brave punter among us, combine the two to make one complete bet with your favourite football sportsbook and you can get a price of up to 43/50 (1.86) with Betway and 1xBet
1st Half – Draw: Fulham are not an easy team to break down, they will be compact and make life difficult for their hosts. There is a lot of value in backing a draw at the end of the half. 17/10 (2.7) with Betway and BetWinner
Half-time/Full-time – Draw/Chelsea: Following on from that prediction, backing Chelsea to ultimately win the game after the 1st half ends in a draw is priced up at 18/5 (4.6) with Betway and 1xBet
Prediction: Chelsea to Win + Over 2.5 Goals
Chelsea have been brilliant this season; they have shown an attacking flair and a defensive acknowledgement which has seen them remain relevant in the title chase. It’s incredible when you consider this is the same team who stumbled through all of last season.
Fulham will be a tricky nut to crack, but we back the hosts to claim all three.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.
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