Team News
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's AFCON trio Chukwueze, Bassey and Iwobi are still going strong with Nigeria, while Rodrigo Muniz has no chance of recovering from his thigh injury in time for the visit of Liverpool.
Kenny Tete (hamstring) and Joshua King (knee) are still missing too, but Ryan Sessegnon has recovered from a hamstring problem and is back in the squad.
Marco Silva has no need to deviate from his recent 3-4-3 system here, but captain Tom Cairney should make way for Sander Berge; Reed's wonder strike might not be enough to earn him a starting role.
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Cuenca, Andersen, Diop; Castagne, Berge, Lukic, Robinson; Wilson, Kevin; Jimenez
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Chelsea enforcer Moises Caicedo watched on helplessly against Man City due to suspension, but the Ecuador international has completed his yellow-card ban and will be back in the visitors' ranks for the derby.
Caicedo's return could push captain Reece James back to a right-back role, if Malo Gusto has to once again fill in for Marc Cucurella (thigh), one of a few doubts alongside Robert Sanchez (muscle) and Wesley Fofana (illness), but all three were supposed to train on Tuesday.
Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended), Dario Essugo (thigh), Levi Colwill (knee) and Romeo Lavia (thigh) are definitely absent for the Blues, although the latter may be fit to return to action within the next couple of weeks.
Cole Palmer got through 90 minutes against Man City unscathed, but having been a regular starter for the Blues over the festive period, he could very well be in line for a rest at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto; Caicedo, Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Neto; Delap
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Source Ben Knapton at SportsMole