Match Preview
Fulham versus Chelsea
Premiership Match Day 21 25/26 at Craven Cottage
Wednesday 7th January 2026 KO: 19:30
Referee:
Peter Bankes (Lancashire)
Live on Sky Sports
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Fulham welcome neighbours Chelsea in West London derby action on Wednesday evening. Both teamsboth stole draws thanks to last-minute levellers last time out, as the Cottagers' 2-2 drew with Liverpool while the Blues rescued a 1-1.
Benefitting from a late, late leveller in their most recent stalemate, Fulham had ostensibly conceded defeat to champions Liverpool when Cody Gakpo struck the Reds' second goal, but the Dutchman would ultimately have his Richarlison moment in the English capital.
Gakpo accepted the yellow card for his shirt-stripping celebration - an act that was soon the subject of ridicule after Harrison Reed's astonishing long-range strike in the 97th minute, with one of just three touches he had during his short and sweet cameo.
By virtue of extending their unbeaten Premier League run to five matches - taking 11 points from 15 on offer in that time - the 11th-placed Cottagers are only three points off fifth-placed Chelsea, and one more positive result will propel them straight back into European contention.
The absences of Africa Cup of Nations trio Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze have not impacted Marco Silva's side as much as some may have anticipated, and the hosts have now scored in 11 of their 12 home games this term, only drawing a blank against leaders Arsenal.
However, four of Fulham's last five matches with capital counterparts Chelsea have ended in defeat - including August's 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge - and the Cottagers have managed just three victories against the Club World Cup winners during the Premier League era.
Afforded little time to steady the ship after Enzo Maresca's extraordinary departure, Under-21s head coach Calum McFarlane faced the hottest baptism of fire possible on Sunday, when Man City could - and maybe should - have run away with the victory.
However, the Sky Blues were punished for their lack of ruthlessness after Tijjani Reijnders's rocket, and with four minutes of second-half injury time played, Enzo Fernandez bundled in a last-gasp equaliser to spark Blues bedlam in the away end.
As praiseworthy as that point was for both McFarlane and the Club World Cup winners, Wednesday's visitors head across the capital on a four-match winless run in the division, leaving them just outside the Champions League spots after 20 games.
The three-point gap to Liverpool and the Reds' inferior goal difference means that Chelsea could force their way back into the top four with victory in midweek, though, whether that be under McFarlane or Rosenior - the Strasbourg boss is on the brink of being sworn in.
The latter must also buck a worrying away trend for the Conference League holders, who have won just one of their last six on the road in all tournaments, and none of their last four in the Premier League.
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Source Ben Knapton at SportsMole/BBCSports