Fulham vs Chelsea Prediction, Lineups, Betting Pick, Latest Premier League Odds - Monday, August 24th
Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage in a mouth-watering West London derby on the opening day of the Premier League season. Read our lineups, team news, and match prediction.
OC Staff - August 24, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT
3 Minute ReadFulham vs Chelsea: Lineups, Team News and Prediction
The curtain rises on a brand new Premier League campaign with a mouth-watering West London derby, as Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage on Monday, August 24th at 3 PM ET.
With the season only just underway, the hosts and the visitors occupy the bottom two spots in the table in 20th and 19th respectively, purely by alphabetical order, but both will be eager to secure their first three points of the year and kickstart their campaigns in style.
Fulham vs Chelsea Recent Results
The home team concluded their pre-season preparations with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Stuttgart. It was a mixed summer for the Cottagers, who recorded two wins, two draws, and two defeats across their last six friendly outings. Interestingly, looking back at their competitive run, there have been under 2.5 goals scored in six of the hosts' last seven matches in the Premier League, pointing to a very disciplined defensive structure.
The visitors, meanwhile, also ended their warm-up schedule on a high, defeating Real Sociedad 3-1. The Blues enjoyed a relatively positive pre-season, winning three, drawing one, and losing two of their last six exhibition games. They will be looking to translate that attacking efficiency into competitive success as they head across town.
Fulham vs Chelsea Head to Head
The last meeting between these two rivals saw the home side secure a memorable 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage back in January.
However, the historic balance of power heavily favors the away team. Over their last six meetings, the visitors have claimed four victories, while the hosts have won twice, making Fulham’s recent triumph a rare highlight in a fixture typically dominated by their neighbors.
Fulham vs Chelsea Odds
Fulham vs Chelsea Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Monday, August 24th, 2026
- Time: 3:30 PM ET
- Where to Watch: USA Network, Universo
Click here for complete Fulham vs Chelsea Odds
Fulham vs Chelsea Probable Lineups
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Cuenca, Robinson; Iwobi, Berge; Bobb, King, Palacios; Garcia
Chelsea (3-4-3): Sanchez; Lacroix, Colwill, Hato; James, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palestra; Palmer, Pedro, Rogers
Fulham vs Chelsea Team News
The hosts will be forced to cope without key defender Joachim Andersen, who is serving a suspension following a red card at the end of last season, while midfielder Tom Cairney is ruled out after undergoing minor surgery. However, manager Alvaro Arbeloa is set to hand debuts to exciting summer signings Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia in a revamped attack.
For the visitors, Wesley Fofana is suspended following his sending-off on the final day of last season. Midfielder Jordan Henderson is also out as he recovers from a wrist injury. On a positive note, Danny Welbeck is passed fit, Enzo Fernandez is expected to start despite transfer speculation, and Morgan Rogers is set to make his competitive debut in a star-studded frontline.
Fulham vs Chelsea Match Facts
- There have been under 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Fulham's last 7 games in Premier League.
Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea
This derby is also a fascinating tactical battle between Real Madrid's two most recent managers, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, facing off in their first games in charge. While the hosts will draw confidence from their previous head-to-head victory, the visitors possess superior quality and rarely falter on opening day, having lost just six times in Premier League history.
Alonso's side, spearheaded by Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, and Morgan Rogers, should exploit a home defense missing the suspended Joachim Andersen to secure a narrow 2-1 victory.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score - Yes (-150) Click here to get the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
With Joachim Andersen missing for the hosts, the visitors' formidable attack should easily find the net. However, the home side's new-look frontline, featuring Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia, has the dynamism to breach a visiting defense that is also missing the suspended Wesley Fofana, making goals at both ends highly likely.
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