Match Preview
Fulham v Chelsea
Premier League Match Day 33 24/25 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 20th April 2025 KO: 14:00
Referee:
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
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Fulham face Chelsea at Craven Cottage on Sunday in their 33rd Premier League game of the season planning to complete the double over the team from Fulham Broadway for the very first time.
The Cottagers lost 1-0 against Bournemouth on Monday, and their tally of 48 points is six fewer than Chelsea, who are in sixth place following their disappointing 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town last Sunday.
Fulham's defeat against Bournemouth came about due to Antoine Semenyo's first-minute winner, and they have conceded first in their past four games.
Boss Marco Silva will be frustrated by his side's Premier League form, with the hosts alternating between defeats and victories in their last seven top-flight fixtures, dropping 12 points in that period.
The Cottagers still have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe given they are six points from Aston Villa, who are in seventh place, and that spot will likely be enough to participate in the Conference League at minimum but may be enough for Europa League football.
If Fulham are to make a late charge for the European spots, they will have to improve considerably at the back considering they have conceded eight in their four most recent outings, failing to score twice in that time.
Silva's side have also alternated between wins and losses in their past seven home games, though they came out on top against teams such as Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur in those matches.
Chelsea had to rescue a point against relegation candidates Ipswich after heading into the half-time interval 2-0 down, and it should be noted that their 34 shots on the day was roughly double their per 90 average this season (16.4).
The Blues were also beaten 2-1 by Legia Warsaw on Thursday in the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final tie, but they advanced into the semi-finals thanks to their 3-0 victory in the first leg on April 10.
Manager Enzo Maresca has faced significant scrutiny in the second half of the season, though his side are currently only one point from fifth-placed Manchester City, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
However, Chelsea have failed to win three of their four most recent Premier League fixtures, drawing twice while scoring just three times.
Maresca also suffered a 2-1 defeat when he last faced Silva in the top flight on December 26, but that was the club's only loss against Fulham in their past five meetings, with the Blues winning on three occasions.
Chelsea are winless away from home in the league since December 8, a period in which they lost five, drew three and failed to find the back of the net in five matches.
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Fulham could do the league double over Chelsea for the first time - this is the 40th league campaign in which they've met.
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Chelsea have won five of their past six Premier League away games against Fulham.
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Fulham have alternately won or lost their last eight matches.
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They are aiming for a third consecutive home win in the league for the first time since December 2023.
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Fulham named an unchanged starting XI against Bournemouth on Monday for the ninth time in this season's Premier League, the most of any team except Newcastle.
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Rodrigo Muniz has scored in three of his last five Premier League London derbies, scoring each goal as a substitute. In total he has six goals in 16 London derbies, with a goals to minutes ratio of one every 76 minutes.
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Midfielder Tom Cairney has made 38 substitute appearance in the Premier League since the start of last season, the most of any player.
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Chelsea have lost just one of their last six league games (W3, D2).
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However, the Blues have won just five of 16 top-flight matches since 22 December (D5, L6).
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They have not won away in the league since 8 December, drawing three times and losing five.
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Chelsea have scored just three goals in those eight Premier League away games, with a 3% shot conversion rate.
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Cole Palmer has gone 15 consecutive appearances without a goal in all competitions.
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Source Lewis Nolan at SportsMole/BBCSports