Premier League: Friday Night in the West End…What’s Not to Like?

Chelsea vs Fulham

Two of West London’s Premier League sides are set to meet on Friday night when Marco Silva’s Fulham make the short trip to take on Graham Potter’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 

There may well be some new faces on show as the hosts try to restart their stuttering campaign which has left them in 10th place, three behind the Cottagers who have two points more.

The Premier League 2023 betting odds have insisted Chelsea’s title hopes have been long gone for some time, but a win would lift them up to sixth place and seven points behind the top four for 24 hours anyway.

In the away camp, there will be plenty of confidence as Fulham won the return match in January and, like Chelsea, they have strengthened in the January window.

Both teams come into the game on the back of a draw, Chelsea playing out a 0-0 at home to Liverpool while Fulham were held 1-1 by Sunderland in the FA Cup.

Another draw in this match would only suit the Cottagers.      

Talking Points

Is Boehly betting the ranch or playing the long game?

After a record summer of spending the Blues’ bank busting owner Todd Boehly has been at it again. Chelsea’s signing of Enzo Fernandez made the Premier League 2023 news headlines on deadline day and that followed the big money signings of centre-back Benoit Badiashile and attacking midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk.

These three alone cost upwards of £200-M and none of them were household names a year ago. And Chelsea have also brought Portuguese forward Joao Felix in, on loan from Atletico Madrid.

This level of spending is one heck of a gamble on Potter’s ability to mould a new team rapidly, or maybe Boehly is investing for a sustained future of (hopeful) success.

If it’s the latter then that would be a refreshing change from the previous regime of hire and fire but, like any American businessman, Boehly would like to see a return on investment in due course. To be fair, Chelsea have suffered an horrific run of injuries so the incomers are needed.      

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game when the Blues beat Manchester City three weeks ago and he is one of the established players, alongside Mason Mount who can play a big part in Chelsea’s revival. This fast moving story will be well worth watching.   

Ambitious Fulham welcome Soares  

Silva’s Fulham have been a revelation this term and, alongside Brighton and Brentford, they are one the three surprise packages of the campaign.

The Cottagers have played an attractive brand of football while being hard to beat, and that’s a combination any newly promoted team would love to have.

And Silva has made two impressive additions to his squad in the window, making a late loan signing of Arsenal’s Cedric Soares, a move which was made possible as the boss shuffled things around in his squad.

Soares is an exciting capture for Fulham, an attacking full-back with 34 international caps for Portugal and he’ll join his compatriot Joao Palhinha who has had a superb first campaign at Craven Cottage.

Soares was the second incoming on deadline day as Serbian star Sasa Lukic arrived from Torino. And he too joins an international teammate in the shape of Fulham’s biggest goal threat.

With 11 goals already this season, Aleksandar Mitrovic has been sensational, and Chelsea’s centre defence of Thiago Silva and Badiashile will know they’ve been in a game.

A top 10 finish is well within Fulham’s reach.  

History

The head-to-head meetings are almost as one sided as you could imagine, with Chelsea winning 21 to Fulham’s two over the past 20 years, though there have been 10 draws in this West London Derby.

And of course, one of the Cottagers’ two wins came just three weeks ago when they beat Chelsea 2-1 as Joao Felix was sent off on his debut and former Chelsea winger Willian scored the opener for Fulham.   

In terms of recent form, the Cottagers are stronger with three wins, a draw, and two defeats over the past six games while Chelsea have won just one, drawn two, and lost three.

Since the two teams met on 12^th January, their fortunes have shifted a little, though.

Chelsea have picked up a win and a draw while Fulham have suffered two 1-0 defeats to Newcastle United and Tottenham. Fulham have not won away to Chelsea on their last 16 visits. 

Betting Tip

The Blues are clear favourites to win this game at SBOTOP odds of 1.58, while the draw is at 3.78 and Fulham at 5.03. 

While Chelsea are just trying to put a small run together, their fans are watching Arsenal, who have been in the shadows for a while, emerge as title favourites. Anything other than a win on Friday night will not improve their mood, but it won’t be easy.

 

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