Chelsea will hope to re-ignite their UEFA Champions League qualification prospects when they face Fulham on Sunday.

Two London rivals with vastly different ambitions clash at Craven Cottage on Sunday, as Fulham welcome Chelsea for a pivotal Premier League encounter that could shape the European qualification picture heading into the final stretch of the season.

For Marco Silva’s Fulham, inconsistency continues to plague what has otherwise been a commendable campaign. The Cottagers’ 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Monday, courtesy of a first-minute Antoine Semenyo strike, highlighted familiar defensive lapses. It marked the fourth consecutive game in which Fulham have conceded the opening goal, a trend Silva will be desperate to halt.

Currently ninth in the table with 48 points, Fulham are six points behind Chelsea and seven adrift of the final likely European qualification slot. While a late-season surge could still bring Europa or Conference League football to the banks of the Thames, Silva’s men will need to tighten up defensively after shipping eight goals in their last four. Their inability to string together consecutive results, alternating wins and losses in their last seven league outings, makes them unpredictable but vulnerable.

At Craven Cottage, Fulham have at least shown they can match up against elite opposition. Victories over Liverpool, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest have been counterbalanced by slip-ups, but Sunday offers a chance to restore momentum against a Chelsea side battling its own demons.

For Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, the margin for error is evaporating quickly. A frustrating 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town last weekend, where the Blues had to claw their way back from two goals down, was followed by a 2-1 loss to Legia Warsaw on Thursday in the Conference League. Although their aggregate lead saw them safely through to the semi-finals, the performance did little to appease growing discontent around the fanbase.

Chelsea remain sixth in the league, but with just one point separating them from fifth-placed Manchester City, the Champions League remains in sight, on paper at least. In reality, Chelsea have failed to win three of their last four league games, and goals have been hard to come by, with only three scored in that stretch.

Adding to the concern is Chelsea’s wretched away form. The Blues are winless on the road since December 8, a dismal run featuring five losses and three draws, with five blanks in front of goal. Their last away victory in the Premier League feels like a distant memory, something they must correct immediately if they’re to mount a serious top-five charge.

Chelsea may find some comfort in the recent head-to-head, having won three of their last five against Fulham, though Maresca will remember the 2-1 Boxing Day loss all too well. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Fulham

Marco Silva’s Fulham are dealing with a relatively mild injury list ahead of Sunday’s showdown. Harry Wilson and Reiss Nelson are the only two confirmed absentees for the Cottagers, with Wilson expected to return before the end of the month. Outside of those setbacks, Silva has a nearly full-strength squad at his disposal and is unlikely to stray from his trusted starting core.

In terms of personnel, Fulham are likely to stick with their usual 4-2-3-1 setup. Bernd Leno will continue between the sticks, protected by a back four of Timothy Castagne at right-back, Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey in central defence, and Antonee Robinson on the left. The centre-back pairing in particular will be key in handling Chelsea’s movement and pace through the middle.

The midfield pivot should consist of Saša Lukić and Sander Berge, offering a balance between ball recovery and progression. Ahead of them, Andreas Pereira will slot in as the central attacking midfielder, with Alex Iwobi expected to operate off the right wing and Ryan Sessegnon on the left, providing creativity and width in the final third.

Leading the line will be Raúl Jiménez, whose hold-up play and physical presence offer Fulham a focal point in attack. With the support of Iwobi and Sessegnon, Jiménez will be tasked with pulling defenders out of position and testing Chelsea’s inconsistent backline.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, Pereira, Sessegnon; Jimenez

Chelsea

Chelsea’s injury situation has stabilized in recent weeks, giving Enzo Maresca more consistency in selection. The only notable absentees ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage are Wesley Fofana, who remains out with a long-term knee injury, and backup goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, who is sidelined due to a minor knock. Neither are expected to return imminently, but otherwise, the Blues have a full-strength squad to choose from.

Given that both Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah were rested during the midweek European clash against Legia Warsaw, both centre-backs are in line to return to the starting eleven. They should anchor the defence in front of Robert Sánchez, who remains the first-choice goalkeeper in Premier League action. Flanking them are likely to be Malo Gusto at right-back and Marc Cucurella on the left, both of whom offer width and overlapping potential in the attacking phase.

In midfield, Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández are expected to form the double pivot, a duo tasked with maintaining tempo, breaking up play, and distributing quickly into the attacking zones. Their chemistry and ability to win second balls will be vital in preventing Fulham from gaining midfield control.

Further forward, Cole Palmer is once again expected to play as the central attacking midfielder. The former Manchester City man remains Chelsea’s most reliable creative force and will operate just behind striker Nicolas Jackson, who will lead the line. Noni Madueke is likely to start on the right wing following his impressive form in Europe, while Pedro Neto, if declared fully fit, could be preferred on the left for his directness and ball-carrying ability.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson

Key Stats

• Fulham are aiming to complete their first-ever league double over Chelsea, having faced them in 40 different league campaigns.

• Chelsea have won five of their last six Premier League away games at Fulham, with the only defeat in that run coming in a 2-1 loss in January 2023.

• Fulham have won two of their last five league games against Chelsea, which is more than they managed in the previous 35 meetings (1 win, 12 draws, 22 losses).

• This will be Fulham’s fourth league match played on Easter Sunday. They have a mixed record, beating Manchester City in 2009 and Wigan in 2010, but losing to Aston Villa in 2021.

• Chelsea have lost both of their last two league matches played on Easter Sunday, falling to Manchester United in 2017 (0-2) and Tottenham Hotspur in 2018 (1-3), after beating Arsenal 2-1 in their first such game in 2008.

Player to Watch

Cole Palmer

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The 21-year-old has struggled to replicate his earlier form in recent weeks, with his influence waning in the final third and his end product dipping noticeably.

Despite the drop-off, Palmer remains one of Chelsea’s most technically gifted and tactically intelligent players. His ability to find pockets of space, thread incisive passes, and create goal-scoring opportunities out of tight situations is still unmatched within the squad. Even when he’s not at his best, defenders cannot afford to ignore him, as one moment of brilliance can change the game.

With Chelsea desperate for an attacking spark and struggling to convert dominance into goals, the Blues will be hoping Palmer rediscovers his sharpness. Sunday’s clash at Craven Cottage offers the ideal setting for him to bounce back, and if Chelsea are to revive their push for a top-five finish, Palmer’s return to form could be the difference.

Prediction

Fulham 1-1 Chelsea

This London derby pits Fulham’s home resilience against Chelsea’s road woes and something’s got to give. While the Blues will dominate possession and create chances, Fulham’s structured setup and threat in transition could keep the game level. Neither side has shown the consistency to suggest a clear winner, and a draw seems the most likely outcome.