Fulham have really impressed - Potter
Chelsea return to action following a two week break as they host Fulham in the Premier League tonight following a record-breaking January transfer window.
The Blues broke the British transfer record to Enzo Fernandez on deadline and take their spending over £300m for the month with Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Malo Gusto, Andrey Santos and David Datro Fofana also moving to Stamford Bridge.
Manager Graham Potter must now come up with a solution to fit all of his new incomings into the team and help Chelsea improve on their current 10th place standing in the table. Fulham come into this West London derby sitting above the Blues in the table and the Cottagers have good memories of this clash having won the reverse fixture 2-1 earlier this month.
Marco Silva will be hoping to repeat that result having also strengthened his squad in January with the signings of midfielder Sasa Lukic and Arsenal right-back Cedric Soares who moves to Craven Cottage on a loan deal.
Follow all the action as Chelsea host Fulham at Stamford Bridge:
Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
3 mins: Chelsea thread the ball into midfield where it comes to Conor Gallagher. He slips it quickly across to Mason Mount who carries the ball to the edge of the box before feeding Myhailo Mudryk on the left.
Mudryk checks to the left and shoots but sends the effort wide. Was there a deflection off Issa Diop? Perhaps but the referee awards a goal kick.
Kick off: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Chelsea get the game underway and send the ball back to Thiago Silva. The defender knocks the ball into midfield before floating a diagonal ball over to Kai Havertz on the left wing.
Havertz looks to win it under pressure but can’t bring the ball down and knocks it out for a Fulham throw in.
Chelsea vs Fulham
Here come the teams.
Enzo Fernandez makes his debut appearance and Mykhailo Mudryk earns his first start for Chelsea tonight. Will they help the Blues pick up three points at Stamford Bridge?
Fulham’s key man?
Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored in all three of his London derby away appearances in the current campaign.
(REUTERS)
Chelsea vs Fulham
Graham Potter is winless in all four Premier League matches as a manager versus Fulham with two draws and two losses.
Fulham boss, Marco Silva, is winless in all four away matches as a manager versus Chelsea in all competitions. Those games all came with four different clubs.
Chelsea vs Fulham
Fulham have scored a league-high 11 goals from crosses this season, while Chelsea have conceded six of their 21 goals from wide deliveries.
Is that the best area for Fulham to target the Blues tonight?
A Friday night victory?
This is Chelsea’s first Friday fixture in the league since a 1-0 win at West Brom in May 2017. Will they get themselves another victory tonight?
Chelsea vs Fulham
Six of Fulham’s eight league defeats this season have been by a single-goal margin, including each the last four. The Cottagers have managed to keep themselves in games and now just need to get themselves over the line more often.
Will Chelsea keep a clean sheet?
Chelsea are the only side yet to concede a first-half goal at home in the Premier League this season. Can they convert that defensive stability into the second half and keep a clean sheet tonight?
