Chelsea head into the 2026/27 Premier League season opener under manager Xabi Alonso with strong momentum, remaining unbeaten in their last three matches, including a 3-0 thrashing of AC Milan. The Blues have strengthened smartly, signing forward Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for €137 million and defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for €60.7 million. History heavily favors Chelsea at Craven Cottage, where they have won 13 and drawn 4 of their last 20 visits.
Meanwhile, Fulham have struggled for consistency, winning only 4 of their last 11 games across all competitions while keeping just one clean sheet in their last five. Manager Marco Silva's side will face a tough test despite Chelsea missing Emmanuel Emegha, Jordan Henderson, and the suspended Wesley Fofana. Fulham will also be without the injured Tom Cairney and suspended Joachim Andersen.
Predicted Lineups
- Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Cuenca, Bassey, Robinson; Iwobi, Berge; Bobb, King, Palacios; Gonzalo
- Chelsea (3-4-3): Sanchez; Colwill, Lacroix, James; Neto, Lavia, Caicedo, Palestra; Rogers, Palmer, Joao Pedro
Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea