Cole Palmer is unavailable to take on Fulham, but Estevao Willian will make his first start for Chelsea at home in the West London derby at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Chelsea will aim to continue a solid start to the 2025/26 season when they welcome Fulham to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. Enzo Maresca has a new injury concern to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.

Cole Palmer is the most notable absentee, with the English international recovering from a groin injury that forced him to miss the game against West Ham United last weekend. Unfortunately for the home side, Palmer remains unavailable to take on Fulham.

Apart from Palmer, Levi Colwill (knee), Benoit Badiashile (knock), Romeo Lavia (match fitness), and Omari Kellyman (hamstring) remain on the sidelines. Additionally, Mykhailo Mudryk is still unavailable after failing a doping test several months ago. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Maresca provided a fitness update on Palmer and other players.

The Chelsea manager said, “Cole is out. Also, Benoit is out, and Romeo is out. The rest are all okay. Cole we need to see day by day, and the other two I don’t think are going to be back after the international break. But they are going to be closer.”

“I spoke with Thomas a few times, but in the end it’s Thomas’ decision and he decided that [to leave Palmer out of the squad]. He is not available tomorrow, so it shows that he has a problem. For sure, 100 per cent, we are a much better team with Cole, no doubt. But when Cole is not in the game, we need to find different solutions.”

The Chelsea manager elaborated further, “Last week [against West Ham] we found different solutions, and hopefully tomorrow we can again find different solutions. With Romeo and Benoit, it’s normal after a long time out that they will need time and sessions. It’s the same with what we are doing with Wes. Wes is back and the other day he played some minutes. Hopefully, we can have more minutes and get him to the right condition.”

“Romeo, I think two seasons ago, he didn’t start any games. Last year he played some games, this season the target is to give him more games. Hopefully, the moment he is back, he can be fit for a long time and play more minutes and games, because he is a player we really trust.”

Robert will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against 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 in Palmer’s absence. Finally, Liam Delap will lead the line against Fulham, with Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian completing the numbers in the offensive third.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro, Neto; Delap