Before The Whistle: Fulham v Chelsea
Written by Drew Heatley on 19th April 2025
SW6 derbies don’t need any more spice, but when a victory could put us within three points of our neighbours in the race for European football, this one could register on the Scoville Scale.
We’re all deeply invested in our form in recent weeks. And we’re painfully aware that the next letter in the pattern looks to be a W. But we all know that football is not played on paper.
However, we’re looking healthy as the game approaches in terms of bodies in the squad. Apart from Reiss Nelson, who’s already returned to parent club Arsenal, Marco Silva has a full contingent to pick from – and that includes Harry Wilson.
He’ll not start, of course, but it gives us more attacking options and gives us a player who knows how to turn derbies on their head. Just ask Thomas Frank.
One winger who will start is Ryan Sessegnon. And he’ll be hoping to last longer than the 55 minutes he got against Bournemouth when he was accidentally substituted. Who knows what might have happened if he’d stayed on the pitch at the Vitality.
Antonee Robinson has been in the headlines this week after he had a difficult night on Monday. His place won’t be in danger, but he’ll be looking to answer his critics in what’ll be a hotly contested game.
Up top, Rodrigo Muniz has openly admitted that his winner at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day was the most important of his career so far. If he could replicate that at Craven Cottage on Easter Sunday then it would surely surpass that, such are the stakes at this point in the season.
What better way to remind everyone that Fulham Football Club is still very much in the conversation for Europe. Up the Fulham.
ℹ️ MATCH DETAILS
Kick-Off: Saturday, 3.00PM
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Competition: Premier League
TV Channel (UK): None
🚦 LEAGUE FORM
Fulham: ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌
Chelsea: ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ⬜ ⬜
⚖️ MATCH PROBABILITY
Fulham: 35.5%
Draw: 25.6%
Chelsea: 38.9%
🥊 MOST RECENT MATCHES
Dec 24: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham
Jan 24: Chelsea 1-0 Fulham
Oct 23: Fulham 0-2 Chelsea
Feb 23: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
🎙 NEW PODCAST: Dare To Double
We take a final look back at Bournemouth and preview Fulham’s London derby against Chelsea at the Cottage.
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