Chelsea welcomes Fulham to Stamford Bridge for what promises to be an exciting West London Derby. The Blues have been in good form, aside from the Everton setback, but after Marco Silva's men held Arsenal to a standstill some weeks ago, they will be confident heading into this match as well.
Several players did not start against Everton on Sunday, suggesting they may feature in this game, especially considering the risk of starting them in matches just four days apart. With Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana both injured, the center-back partnership practically picks itself. Here is the Pride of London’s predicted lineup for the West London Derby.
Robert Sanchez, No. 1, Goalkeeper
Sanchez will continue as the Blues' starting keeper in the league. His shot-stopping has been excellent this season, but his distribution has often been lacking. He faces numerous shots, which explains why he's conceding an average of 1.2 goals per game.
Malo Gusto, No. 27, Right back
Gusto played left-back against Everton, but with Marc Cucurella returning to the lineup, the Frenchman is likely to move back to his natural right-back position. Gusto performed well against Everton, and with Reece James' right-back spot still uncertain, the former Olympique Lyon fullback should see plenty of playing time.
Tosin Adarabioyo, No. 4, Centerback
Tosin was Chelsea's best defender against Everton, helping secure a clean sheet. Given his strong performance and the injuries to Fofana and Badiashile, it’s a no-brainer that he starts here.
Levi Colwill, No. 26, Centerback
Colwill will also start against Fulham for similar reasons to Tosin. However, unlike Tosin, Colwill had a poor performance against Everton. He hasn't been at his best this season—his long passing has been inaccurate, he's not been heavily involved defensively, and his duels have been lacking.
Marc Cucurella, No. 3, Left back
Cucurella was sent off against Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Europa Conference League last Thursday but missed the league game against Everton due to yellow card accumulation. Having served his suspension, he is now ready for selection.
Moises Caicedo, No. 25, Central midfielder
Ideally, Caicedo should be rested for this game, but for several reasons, he cannot be. First, Enzo Maresca will want a full-strength side for this derby, and second, Chelsea lacks other serious central midfield options on the bench. Cesare Casadei and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are available, but the situation still requires Caicedo's inclusion.
Enzo Fernandez, No. 8, Central midfielder
Fernandez, like Caicedo, could have benefited from a rest but will play due to the circumstances. He had a solid performance against Everton, but he can expect a more challenging game against Fulham.
Noni Madueke, No. 11, Right winger
Madueke has all the tools to be effective against Fulham, but it's up to him to decide whether he can be a difference-maker. His sharp dribbling skills will definitely be a factor, but it’s what he does after the dribble that has often left fans frustrated.
Cole Palmer, No. 20, Central attacking midfielder
Palmer will have another opportunity to make an impact, this time in a West London derby. He struggled against Everton, and Chelsea felt the effects of that. With 11 goals and six assists in the league this season, Palmer is beginning to look like his 2023/24 self, which is encouraging.
Jadon Sancho, No. 12, Left winger
Sancho has yet to lock down the left-winger spot, despite many fans expecting him to. He played decently against Everton, but he wasn’t as productive as he could have been in the final third. He’ll need to improve if he wants to keep his place in the starting lineup.
Nicolas Jackson, No. 15, Center forward
Jackson had a poor game against Everton, but the only way to shake off a bad performance is by playing more games. He will get another chance to trouble and punish a Premier League defense on Boxing Day. He is already on track to surpass his goal tally from last season and may even hit 20 league goals this campaign.