Chelsea will aim to continue a solid start to the 2025/26 Premier League season when they welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The 2025/26 Premier League season resumes this weekend with Gameweek 3. Saturday will be an action-packed day, and the latest round of fixtures kicks off with Chelsea vs Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The two clubs are eager to continue the unbeaten start to their campaigns when they convene for the West London derby this weekend.

Chelsea did not have a long pre-season campaign, as they played only two games before the 2025/26 season began due to their FIFA Club World Cup commitments. The lack of a warm-up reflected in the West London club’s performance in the opener, as Enzo Maresca’s men played a goalless stalemate with Crystal Palace. However, the Blues are up and running after an excellent come-from-behind 5-1 win over West Ham United in Gameweek 2.

On the other hand, Fulham’s two outings thus far have shown the typical steel and resolve that Marco Silva has groomed in his team. The Cottagers have come from behind to seal 1-1 draws in each Premier League outing thus far, promising an impressive campaign if the decision-makers back Silva in the market. The West London outfit continued a bright start to the 2025/26 season by clinching a straightforward 2-0 win over Bristol City in the EFL Cup second round.

The corresponding fixture last season saw Fulham come from a goal down to beat Chelsea 2-1, with Rodrigo Muniz scoring the match-winning goal in injury time. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has a new fitness concern that is hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Chelsea manager may be bereft of the services of as many as six first-team players vs Fulham on Saturday. Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho will unlikely feature this weekend, even though he is on the verge of joining the West London club.

Maresca is sweating over Cole Palmer’s fitness, with the English international recovering from a groin injury that forced him to miss the game against West Ham United last weekend. Apart from Palmer, Levi Colwill (knee), Benoit Badiashile (knock), Romeo Lavia (match fitness), and Omari Kellyman (hamstring) remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk is still unavailable after failing a doping test several months ago.

Robert Sanchez is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Fulham on Saturday. The backline should feature Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Cucurella.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot. Joao Pedro will reprise the no. 10 role if Palmer is not fit enough to start. Finally, Liam Delap will lead the line for Chelsea against Fulham, with Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian completing the numbers in the offensive third.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Neto; Delap

Fulham

Unlike his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Marco Silva has no new issues to worry about ahead of the short trip to Stamford Bridge. The Fulham manager will have a full-strength squad this weekend.

There is no looking past Bernd Leno between the sticks, and Fulham will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Saturday. The backline will feature Kenny Tete, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson.

As for the midfield unit, Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Joshua King will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe, and Rodrigo Muniz playing around him. So, Raul Jimenez will be a backup option on the bench, and he will make his 200th appearance in the Premier League in the second half.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Iwobi, King, Smith Rowe; Muniz

Key Stats

• Chelsea have lost only 8.3 per cent of their Premier League games vs Fulham (3/36), the joint-lowest loss rate one side has against another with a minimum of 20 meetings (Manchester United also 8.3 per cent against Aston Villa). However, Fulham won the corresponding fixture 2-1 last season, ending a 21-game winless streak away to Chelsea in all competitions. The Cottagers have never won on consecutive visits to Stamford Bridge in their history.
• Chelsea hobbled to a goalless stalemate with Crystal Palace in their first home Premier League match of the 2025/26 season, and they failed to win their opening two home games last season. However, the Blues have not done so in successive seasons since 2001/02 and 2002/03. Only three times previously have the Blues gone goalless in their opening two home league games in a campaign: in 1955/56, 1978/79 and 1986/87.
• Fulham have won four of their last eight away Premier League London derbies (D2 L2), as many as in their previous 68 combined (W4 D21 L43). Having beaten Brentford 3-2 in May, Marco Silva’s men are aiming to secure consecutive away London victories for just a second time, having beaten Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur in May and August 2003.
• Fulham have played out draws in their two Premier League matches thus far in the 2025/26 season. The West London outfit last drew their opening three league games in 2017/18 in the EFL Championship, while in the top flight they have only done so once (2010/11).
• Rodrigo Muniz, who scored a late winner at Stamford Bridge last season for Fulham, has netted six goals in his ten most recent away Premier League appearances, averaging a goal every 45 minutes across those games. His equaliser at Brighton & Hove Albion in Gameweek 1 took him to six away sub goals for the West London club, overtaking Collins John for the most strikes (5).

Player to Watch

Joao Pedro

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While Rodrigo Muniz, Sander Berge, and Estevao Willian were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Joao Pedro as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s West London derby between Chelsea and Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

The summer arrival has been involved in six goals in his last four games in all competitions for Chelsea (4G A2), managing four goals in four starts for the Blues. In the Premier League era since 1992/93, only three players have scored five or more times in their first five starts across all competitions for Chelsea: Diego Costa in 2014 (7), Alvaro Morata in 2017 (5), and Tammy Abraham in 2019 (7).

After an impressive performance against West Ham United, Joao Pedro will be raring to go, and he will be eager to continue his fine run of form. With Cole Palmer’s involvement unclear, the Brazilian international will be the go-to player in the final third for Enzo Maresca this weekend.

Prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Fulham

Chelsea may have run rings around West Ham United last weekend, but Fulham will provide a much more severe test of the home side’s offensive quality. Additionally, Cole Palmer’s fitness situation affects the creativity in the final third, and the visitors may be confident in their ability to keep Chelsea at bay.

The game against West Ham also showcased Chelsea’s soft underbelly, and the away side should take advantage of that. However, Joao Pedro and Estevao Willian should rise to the occasion again and deliver a hard-fought victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges.