Chelsea vs Fulham: TV channel, team news, predicted lineup and injuries
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Chelsea will look to cut the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table when they face Fulham on Boxing Day.
Enzo Maresca’s side had the chance to go temporarily top of the table early on Sunday afternoon but flattered to deceive as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton.
The result marked the Blues’ first dropped points in six league outings, although it does extend their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions.
Facing a short turnaround before their next game on Thursday, Chelsea may consider ringing the changes as they did earlier in the month for their midweek clash against Southampton.
But facing a far sterner task against ninth-placed Fulham, Maresca may have to stick with his first-choice lineup for what promises to be a tricky London derby.
The Italian, therefore, will be pleased to welcome back Marc Cucurella who was absent from the trip to Goodison Park following his sending-off last Sunday against Brentford.
The Spaniard has been an ever-present this season for the Blues and is expected to slot straight back in at left-back.
That could allow Malo Gusto the chance to move back over to his preferred right-back position, with Axel Disasi dropping to the bench.
Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill could continue their partnership at centre-back, especially with Benoit Badiashille and Wesley Fofana still seemingly facing spells on the sidelines.
Fofana has been missing since injuring his hamstring against Aston Villa at the start of December, while Badiashille sustained an unknown injury in training prior to last weekend’s match.
In midfield, Maresca has had to cope without Romeo Lavia, with the Belgian not seen since coming off at half-time against Tottenham earlier in December.
Lavia was not named in the matchday squad against Everton but will hope to prove his fitness in the coming days to play a part from the bench against Fulham.
Joao Felix was an unused sub on the weekend having returned from his own injury, but is unlikely to displace Cole Palmer from the starting XI.
Maresca, though, may be tempted to tinker with other elements of his attacking quartet, with Noni Madueke somebody who could return to the starting XI after he was benched in favour of Pedro Neto last weekend.
Elsewhere, Reece James remains a long-term absentee, while Maresca will also be without Mykhailo Mudryk indefinitely after the winger was provisionally suspended following a failed drugs test.
Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell are also both not expected to feature in Chelsea’s matchday squad having fallen out of favour under Maresca.
Predicted Chelsea XI to face Fulham
Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson
Where to watch Chelsea vs Fulham? Kick-off time and TV channel
Chelsea vs Fulham kicks off at 3pm on Thursday, December 26. The match will be broadcast in the United Kingdom on Amazon Prime.
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