Fulham v Chelsea LIVE commentary: New Blues boss Potter faces London derby, Aubameyang to make Premier League return – kick-off time, team news, how to follow
New Chelsea boss Graham Potter is set to kick off his tenure with a London derby against Fulham this weekend and it will be live on talkSPORT.
The Blues sacked Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday following their tough start to the season and are set to confirm Brighton chief Potter as their new manager.
The Englishman faces a big encounter right away as Chelsea make the short trip across west London to Craven Cottage.
They beat West Ham at Stamford Bridge last weekend but have been woeful away from home this term, losing at Leeds, Southampton and Dinamo Zagreb.
Meanwhile, Fulham are just two points behind the Blues having made a fine start to their top-flight return.
They were narrowly beaten by Tottenham last time out but have beaten Brighton and Brentford at home this season and claimed a point off Liverpool.
Fulham v Chelsea: talkSPORT coverage
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, September 10.
Kick-off at Craven Cottage is at 12:30pm.
talkSPORT’s coverage will start at 11am with Reshmin Chowdhury while commentary will come from Sam Matterface and former England striker Dean Ashton.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Fulham v Chelsea: Team news
Fulham remain without Manor Solomon and Harry Wilson while Antonee Robinson is a doubt with an ankle injury.
Ex-Chelsea winger Willian could make his first start for the Cottagers.
Summer signings Carlos Vinicius, Layvin Kurzawa and Issa Diop could also come into the starting line-up.
Chelsea only have one injury issue with N’Golo Kante still out with his hamstring problem.
Deadline day arrivals Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria could make their first Premier League appearances for the club.
Ben Chilwell is pushing for a league start but it remains to be seen how Chelsea will line-up in their first clash since Tuchel’s dismissal.
Fulham v Chelsea: Match facts
Fulham have won their last two Premier League home games, as many as they had in their previous 21 at Craven Cottage. They last won three in a row at home in the top-flight between April and September 2012 (a run of four), while they last did so within the same season in April 2011.
Chelsea have won eight of their last nine away Premier League London derbies, with the exception being a 3-2 loss at West Ham last season. The Blues have kept seven clean sheets in this run, conceding four goals.
Fulham have won just one of their last 27 Premier League London derbies (D5 L21), beating Brentford 3-2 at Craven Cottage last month. They last won consecutive top-flight home derby matches in April 2013.
Chelsea have conceded just six goals in their last 15 Premier League games against Fulham, and never more than once in a match in that time. They’ve kept a clean sheet in each of their last four at home against the Cottagers.
Chelsea have lost just one of their 30 Premier League games against Fulham (W19 D10), and are unbeaten in their last 20 against them since a 1-0 loss in March 2006.
Fulham have won just seven of their 74 league games against Chelsea (9.5%) – of the 1,538 fixtures to have been played at least 50 times in English Football League history, Fulham’s win rate against Chelsea is the lowest.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored six goals in Fulham’s opening six Premier League matches this season, netting in the last four in a row. The last player to score in five consecutive Premier League appearances for a newly promoted team was Peter Odemwingie in May 2011 for West Brom. No player has scored in five consecutive Premier League appearances for the Cottagers.
Fulham boss Marco Silva has won just one of his four Premier League games against Chelsea (D1 L2), though it did come in his only previous home game against them – 2-0 with Everton in March 2019.
No team has used more different players in the Premier League this season than Fulham (23). Despite this, the Cottagers have made the joint-fewest changes to their starting XI so far this term (3).