Chelsea vs Fulham – Betting Preview
The Premier League weekend kickstarts with a bang this Friday night when Chelsea host Fulham in a West London derby.
Chelsea Preview
Tenth hosts seventh in this London derby, with Chelsea in desperate need of an upturn in form.
So they’ve done what they do best and splashed the cash considerably in the transfer window.
Even though just three teams have given up fewer goals, Chelsea’s troubles are mostly on the offensive end, and failing to sign a top-tier, pure striker could backfire despite the enormous sums they have spent.
In addition to a large number of Chelsea attacking possibilities, Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling, and Christian Pulisic have all underperformed this season, scoring a combined total of just 14 goals in the league.
The fact that Felix was given a red card upon entering the Premier League was an extraordinary welcome, but the fleeting glimpses of the Portuguese international and Mudryk at Anfield suggest that the pair may be the difference-makers for Chelsea in the second half of the season.
They frequently outperform Fulham in this West London derby at Stamford Bridge as well, since the only victories for Fulham there came in 1964 and 1979, neither of which occurred in the top division!
Fulham Preview
Fulham have stumbled in recent weeks and haven’t won in their last three games, but their last win was actually a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Craven Cottage!
Their lofty league position shows how well they have done this term to still maintain a good league standing.
They would move into sixth place before the rest of the league games if they can pull off a historic victory tonight at Stamford Bridge.
It would also mark the first time in the club’s history that they defeated Chelsea twice in the league, and it would undoubtedly have its supporters daydreaming of their first trip to Europe since 2011.
1X2 Betting Odds
It wasn’t long ago that Fulham were beating Chelsea in their back yard, But the transfer window they have had, plus the free week due to no FA Cup football, and getting bodies back off the treatment table makes Chelsea favourites here @ 1.66.
Fulham has never defeated Chelsea twice in the league, and the market deems that record will stay as it is, as Fulham are the underdogs in this @ 6.00.
The possibility of a draw and points shared between the two sides, stands @ 4.33.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals scored will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.97.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 2.00.
Under 2.5 goals have been scored in four of the last seven meetings between these two clubs, while only three of the last seven head-to-heads between the two clubs have seen both teams find the back of the net.
Expect a tight, cagey affair this one… where perhaps individual brilliance will be needed to be the difference maker!
