Match Preview
Chelsea v Fulham
Premier League Match Day 29 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 3rd March 2019 KO: 14:05
Referee:
Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)
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Fulham will be managed by former midfielder Scott Parker when Fulham play Chelsea on Sunday live on Sky Sports.
Parker is in a caretaker role after Claudio Ranieri was sacked on Thursday following a 2-0 loss to Southampton,
Ranieri lasted just 106 days and leaves Fulham 19th in the Premier League, 10 points from safety with 10 games left to play.
Parker has been placed in charge until the end of the season, with former first-team coach Stuart Gray joining as his assistant.
"I hope I can transmit my passion to the team and get my energy across," said Parker.
"I know there's more to football than passion and drive, but that's a fundamental element.
At times we've been a little easy to play against, and we need to address that".
Kepa Arrizabalaga could return in goal in place of Willy Caballero on Sunday.
Caballero started Wednesday's 2-0 win over Tottenham as Kepa was disciplined for his refusal to be substituted in the Carabao Cup final.
However, Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri has said Kepa remains his first-choice goalkeeper and may return against west London rivals Fulham.
"Kepa is our first goalkeeper, but we are very happy for Willy that he can play in a very difficult match," said Sarri.
"Kepa will be on the pitch for one of the next two matches.
I have not decided yet, I want to see the last two training sessions, of course, for every player.
"On Sunday we played 120 minutes and 95 on Wednesday.
We ran for 15km on Sunday on average and Wednesday was 12km, so we have to consider it".
A 2-0 win over Tottenham on Wednesday saw Chelsea stay sixth in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, but with a game in hand.
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This is the 50th top-flight fixture between Fulham and Chelsea. The Cottagers have won only three of the previous 49 (D16, L30).
- Fulham's current run of 17 games without victory versus Chelsea is their longest top-flight winless streak against any opponent.
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Fulham have lost seven of their past eight Premier League games, conceding at least twice in every match.
- Their four league victories this season all came at home against teams in the bottom six prior to this weekend: Burnley, Southampton, Huddersfield and Brighton & Hove Albion.
- They have lost all nine of their Premier League London derby matches this season, and could become the first team in top-flight history to lose 10 such matches in one campaign.
- The last time the the Cottagers hosted Chelsea in the Premier League, Fulham forward Andre Schurrle scored a hat-trick for the away side in a 3-1 victory.
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Chelsea's win against Tottenham was just a third in seven league matches, drawing one and losing three.
- They have lost their last three Premier League away games by an aggregate score of 12-0.
- The Blues could lose four successive away league matches for the first time since a run of five from October to December 2000 under Claudio Ranieri.
- They haven't gone four away league matches without scoring since December 1991.
Chelsea have the same record after 27 Premier League matches as last season under Antonio Conte (W16, D5, L6).
- Pedro has scored eight Premier League goals this season under Maurizio Sarri, already double his tally in 2017-18 under Conte.
- Half of Pedro's league goals in 2018-19 have come in London derbies.