Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marc Cucurella and Denis Zakaria are among those in line for returns to the first XI after being benched at The Etihad. Joao Felix is rumoured to be starting this evening to make his Chelsea debut, while Mason Mount and Lewis Hall are both expected to start as well. Fulham team news: Aleksandar Mitrovic will miss the game after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season against Leicester City in their last league match. Neeskens Kebano remains out with an achilles injury, but Shane Duffy will be hoping to return following an illness.
Graham Potter's side are 10 points adrift of the top four and also 10 points clear of the relegation places. Atmosphere builds around cottage With a West-London derby beckoning, Craven Cottage will no doubt be full to bursting this evening. Fulham and Chelsea are in polar opposite positions as the season stands. Cottagers fans will be over the moon with their return to the Premier League so far while Chelsea fans are seething with the club's performances so far. Credit: PA Chelsea team news: In contrast, Chelsea’s injury list has hit double figures again with Ben Chilwell, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Edouard Mendy, N’Golo Kante, Reece James, Armando Broja and Wesley Fofana all still out. Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling are also sidelined with issues they picked up against Man City in the week but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should shake off a back issue to make the squad.
Wilson, 11. Solomon, 21. James, 38. Harris Fulham starting XI: Marco Silva has to make some enforced changes this evening but it is a much-changed side from the FA Cup win against Hull. 17. Leno, 2. Tete, 4. Tosin, 13. Ream, 33. Robinson, 26. Palhinha, 6. Reed, 18. Andreas, 14. De Cordova-Reid, 30. Vinicius, 20. Willian. Credit: @FulhamFC The not-so perfect ten Chelsea are currently fighting to even salvage their European status let alone a place in the Champions League this season. The Blues lie smack-bang in the middle of the table in tenth place.
Physically he is ok, obviously he is in an adaptation time which is not optimal. With the quality he has we thought it was the right decision to put him in. He can receive the ball, he can find space and a final pass, and he can score. In the final third he is a top player. It's a boost, to see a player of that quality come in, I saw it in training yesterday, it gives everybody a lift. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Graham PotterChelsea manager Credit: @AbsoluteChelsea Chelsea subs: 13. Bettinelli, 32. Cucurella, 4.
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea 1. Chelsea start the game looking to retain possession. Not very interested in driving forward but getting a feel for the ball. It may be a tactic to control Fulham's intended high-tempo start. Kick-off: Fulham vs Chelsea We are underway at Craven Cottage. It is a lively atmosphere in West London. Fulham get the game started. Potter needing to find magic touch Despite there being no immediate danger of under-fire Chelsea boss Graham Potter being given the boot, the Englishman's project is struggling to take-off. Disgruntled Blues supporters made their feelings crystal clear during their heavy FA Cup defeat at the hands of Man City. Those who braved the journey to Manchester and stayed until the end were singing Thomas Tuchel and Roman Abramovic's names as Potter's slippery slide continues.
Badiashile, 30. Chukwuemeka, 5. Jorginho, 23. Gallagher, 22. Ziyech, 9. Aubameyang, 27. Fofana Chelsea starting XI: Graham Potter makes multiple changes after the heavy defeat against Man City on the weekend. 1. Kepa, 14. Chalobah, 6. Thiago Silva, 26. Koulibaly, 28. Azpilicueta, 20. Zakaria, 8. Kovacic, 67. Hall, 19. Mount, 11. Joao Felix, 29. Havertz Credit: @ChelseaFC Fulham subs: 1. Rodak, 31. Diop, 3. Kurzawa, 12. Chalobah, 10. Cairney, 8.