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A west London derby under the lights on the banks of the River Thames rounds off another thrilling Premier League weekend tonight. Chelsea make the short journey to Craven Cottage hoping desperately that last week’s nervy Carabao Cup win over Brighton can kickstart a much-needed turnaround in the top-flight under Mauricio Pochettino, who has overseen their worst start to a season since 1978-79.
The Blues sit down in 15th place after taking just five points from their first six league matches this term, winning only two of their last 18 in total as last season’s horrendous struggles have continued. Pochettino will be missing his cup match-winner Nicolas Jackson this evening due to suspension and requires others to step up for a goal-shy attack that has gone three league games now without scoring.
Mid-table Fulham have eight points in the bank so far but will be aiming to turbo-charge their own campaign with only a third Premier League win over their local rivals in 33 attempts, having bested them here 2-1 back in January. Follow Fulham vs Chelsea live with Standard Sport below, featuring expert analysis from Nizaar Kinsella and Dom Smith at Craven Cottage.
Live updates
Pochettino wants more involvement in Chelsea transfers
Chelsea’s chronic attacking struggles so far this term have come despite another significant summer transfer outlay leaving them without a top-class centre-forward.
Quizzed on if that is something the club will be urgently looking to address in the January window amid more links to banned Brentford striker Ivan Toney, Pochettino insisted that he must now be more heavily involved in recruitment decisions going forward having already set to work on picking out potential New Year targets.
“The good thing, the relationship is very good with the owners and the sporting directors. I think like I told before, when the transfer window was closed, I need to be involved, more involved now, in every single decision. I think we need to start identifying what we need for January,” he said.
“I think football is very dynamic, it’s the present always. Things can change until January. Now we need to work and try to recover Nkunku and of course Armando Broja and to try and provide the team more goals and to be more solid but of course, parallel to working to improvise to improve the team and the way we assess the team for the competition. But of course, we already start to work.”
Pochettino on striker plans with no Jackson
Asked if he could play with a false nine tonight in the absence of Jackson, Pochettino told reporters at Friday’s pre-match press conference: “The most important [thing] is to adapt to the squad and the players that might be available and to try and perform, to find a way to perform.
“We can play with one striker or maybe without a striker. I think it’s a difficult few days, I need to think and come up with a decision.
“We have a few options to play with a striker and without a striker. We also need to assess the squad after the [Brighton] game.
“Things appear after 48 hours and I’m going to see how they are and how they recover from Wednesday, but different options.”
Raheem Sterling tipped to lead Chelsea attack
Standard Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella at Craven Cottage
It will be interesting to see how Pochettino copes without Nicolas Jackson tonight.
He’s talked about the false nine option, which I think is most likely.
It will probably be Raheem Sterling, since he effectively operates a bit like a striker already in the asymmetric system.
Armando Broja is available but Chelsea are managing him carefully.
Who will replace Nicolas Jackson?
Cole Palmer’s performance on his full debut was a real plus point from Chelsea following the Carabao Cup win over Brighton.
It seems likely that the surprise £40million summer deadline day signing from Manchester City will start in the Premier League for the first time for the Blues tonight with Nicolas Jackson suspended.
Here is how Standard Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella sees Pochettino lining up tonight, with Raheem Sterling leading the line in place of Jackson and supported by a trio of Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and the improving Mykhailo Mudryk.
Axel Disasi could well fill in at right-back again with Reece James still out and Malo Gusto banned, with Levi Colwill shifting back into the middle of defence and Marc Cucurella then potentially playing on the left with no Chilwell.
Chelsea predicted XI: Sanchez; Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Fernandez, Mudryk; Sterling
Fulham vs Chelsea prediction
Chelsea scraped past much-changed Brighton in the Carabao Cup, but the performance was certainly still nothing to shout about – they should have seen midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu sent off in the first half with the score tied at 0-0 – and didn’t exactly herald a likely immediate upturn in fortunes.
There were signs that their luck might finally be beginning to change, though a trip to a Fulham side that will relish the chance to inflict more misery on their closest neighbours represents another tough test.
Fulham are searching for consistency after blowing rather hot and cold so far this term, with a feisty draw likely on the cards this evening.
1-1 draw.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea’s quest to end that three-match scoreless streak in the league is not helped by the suspension of Nicolas Jackson, who got their winner against Brighton in the Carabao Cup but tonight must serve a one-match ban for accumulating five yellow cards already this term.
Malo Gusto serves the second game of a three-match suspension for his sending off in last weekend’s home defeat by Aston Villa, meanwhile, with captain Reece James closing in on a return to first-team training but still sidelined for now along with Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Marcus Bettinelli.
Vice-skipper Ben Chilwell is also now facing weeks on the sidelines with another hamstring injury suffered late on against Brighton last week.
Chelsea could though be boosted tonight by the returns of Noni Madueke and Carney Chukwuemeka.
Fulham team news
Fulham will be boosted by the return of Serbian midfielder Sasa Lukic tonight, their summer signing from Torino having now resumed first-team training following a groin injury.
Right-back Kenny Tete faces a late fitness test, while centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo and winger Adama Traore are both sidelined.
Where to watch Fulham vs Chelsea
TV channel: In the UK, Fulham vs Chelsea will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage of Monday Night Football beginning at 6:30pm BST.
Live stream: Subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Fulham vs Chelsea live
Fulham and Chelsea lock horns in a west London derby tussle under the lights at Craven Cottage this evening.
The Blues head to their local rivals desperately needing to kick-start their Premier League campaign after some of the early pressure on boss Mauricio Pochettino was eased with a battling 1-0 Carabao Cup third-round win over Brighton last week.
England’s secondary club competition has provided the only source of minor solace for Chelsea so far this term with their dreadful form from last season carrying over despite another huge summer transfer spend and popular new managerial appointment, with Pochettino overseeing their worst start to a top-flight campaign since their relegation season of 1978-79.
The Blues sit a lowly 15th in the early table after the weekend’s action with just five points to their name from the first six games, with no goals in their last three league games and cup hero Nicolas Jackson unavailable tonight.
Looking to pile more misery on their troubled neighbours is a Fulham team that sit perched in 12th with eight points so far this season, a so-so opening under Marco Silva.
The Cottagers have a dreadful record against tonight’s opponents overall, though did manage only a second league win over Chelsea in 32 attempts at this ground back in January.
Kick-off tonight is at 8pm BST, so stay tuned for all the latest match build-up, team news and live updates including expert analysis from Evening Standard football reporters Nizaar Kinsella and Dom Smith at Craven Cottage.
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