Preview, expected line-ups, stats and where to watch

Premier League,
Round 1

Fulham
FUL

24/08/2026
20:00

Chelsea
CHE

Craven Cottage

J. Brooks

Fulham v Chelsea preview

Chelsea will begin the 2026-27 Premier League season away to Fulham on Monday, with both West London clubs entering a new era under new managers.

Fulham have replaced long-serving boss Marco Silva with former Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, while Xabi Alonso takes charge of Chelsea after a 10th-placed finish last season.

The hosts will have to adjust to life without Silva after the Portuguese manager ended his five-year spell at Craven Cottage to return to Benfica.

Arbeloa has been handed a three-year contract and faces a difficult opening test against Chelsea, although Fulham have enjoyed some success in this fixture in recent seasons.

The Cottagers defeated Chelsea 2-1 at Craven Cottage in January, ending a run of just one home victory over the Blues since 2023. They will now be looking for consecutive wins against their local rivals for the first time since the 1970s.

Alonso will therefore be hoping Chelsea’s attacking options can make the difference as he takes charge of his first competitive match at the club.

The Spaniard’s appointment has generated plenty of optimism around Stamford Bridge after Chelsea’s turbulent 2025-26 campaign, which saw the club work under two permanent managers and an interim before finishing 10th.

Premier League Table

Fulham v Chelsea team news

Fulham have just one injury concern, with Tom Cairney sidelined with a knee problem. Joachim Andersen will also miss the match as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension.

Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios could make their competitive Fulham debuts, with Garcia expected to lead the attack and Palacios potentially operating as a left wing-back.

Garcia will have pressure on his shoulders following the departures of Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez, who scored 10 and nine Premier League goals respectively last season.

Alex Iwobi is expected to retain his place ahead of summer signing Shea Charles, with the Nigeria international’s creativity and ability to carry the ball likely to be important to Arbeloa’s system.

Chelsea’s Joao Pedro will be looking to build on a 15-goal campaign last season and has already scored seven times during pre-season.

Morgan Rogers has also arrived for a British-record transfer fee and could provide support for Cole Palmer in attacking midfield.

Danny Welbeck faces a late fitness test, while Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha are unavailable. Wesley Fofana is also suspended following his dismissal on the final day of last season.

Fulham v Chelsea expected line-ups

Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Cuenca, Robinson; Iwobi, Berge; Bobb, King, Palacios; Garcia.

Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Lavia, Palestra; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro.

Fulham v Chelsea stats

• Fulham will begin a Premier League season with a London derby for a fourth time, having lost the previous three: 2-1 Arsenal in 2007/08, 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace in 2018/19 and 3-0 at home to Arsenal in 2020/21
• They have won their opener in one of their last six Premier League seasons (D2 L3), beating Everton away in 2023/24
• In 2026, only Manchester United (8) have won more Premier League home games than Fulham (6), with the Cottagers victorious in six of their last nine at Craven Cottage (L3)
• This will be both Arbeloa and Alonso’s first Premier League match as managers. The pair played 46 league games alongside one another for Liverpool from 2007 to 2009, losing four of those (W28 D14)
• That makes this the first time any manager’s first Premier League game has come against another manager he was a teammate of as a player in the competition
• Chelsea were beaten in their most recent meeting with Fulham (2-1 away in January in the Premier League) but haven’t lost consecutive games against them across all competitions since a run of three between April 1977 and October 1979
• The Blues have failed to win their opening league game in each of the last three seasons (D2 L1), last going four in a row without a win between 1995/96 and 1998/99
• Since the start of March, Chelsea have the fewest points of any side not to be relegated from the Premier League last season (7). They have lost eight of 11 league games in this period (W2 D1), which is the most of any top-flight club
• Alonso is set to be the 27th manager to take charge of at least one Premier League game with Chelsea, overtaking Tottenham Hotspur (26) as the most by any side (counting joint-managers as one)
• Two of Chelsea’s last eight managers have won their first league game in charge (D4 L2), although both were in London derbies: Graham Potter vs Crystal Palace in October 2022 and Liam Rosenior vs Brentford in January 2026
• Welbeck is set to feature in his 19th Premier League season, playing at least once in every campaign since and including 2008/09. This will be the joint-most seasons played in by any striker in the competition’s history, equalling Jermain Defoe (19) and overtaking Peter Crouch (18)
• These managers will be the 10th and 11th to take charge of a specific Premier League side for the first time this weekend, which is the outright most on matchday in a single campaign (excluding 1992/93) in the competition’s history (previously nine, in 2012/13 and 2016/17)

Where to watch Fulham v Chelsea: TV and online streams

Kick-off on Monday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.

Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £27.99 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.

Fulham v Chelsea prediction

Fulham

1 – 2

Chelsea

Fulham’s recent record against Chelsea suggests this could be a competitive opening-day derby, particularly with Arbeloa taking charge of his first match.

However, Chelsea have greater individual quality across the pitch and should have enough attacking talent to edge what could be a close encounter.