Enzo Maresca has reiterated his perception that Chelsea will not be within the working to be topped Premier League champions, forward of their Boxing Day conflict with Fulham.
Chelsea have been held to a goalless draw at Everton on Sunday, slipping 4 factors beneath leaders Liverpool having performed a further sport.
The Blues are, nevertheless, unbeaten of their final 9 league matches and are above Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis – who completed effectively away from the chasing pack in every of the final two seasons.
Maresca, although, doesn’t see his staff as real title contenders, saying: “It’s the fact for me, not concerning the stress. I would love that form of stress.
“I say we’re not there as a result of that’s the actuality for me. The primary level is to proceed to enhance and to win video games.
“We’re forward of our expectations when it comes to the way in which we’re taking part in and factors. For us, the primary focus is to see how we will enhance the gamers and the way we will enhance the staff.
“It’s virtually midway so the desk displays the groups and the place they’re. Liverpool are doing implausible for the reason that first day. The squad already dwell that form of second, it’s vital. We’re glad to be the place we’re on this second.
“I believe Manchester Metropolis ultimately might be there. They’re residing one thing that in all probability by no means occurred earlier than. They’ve a brand new harm on the finish of each sport. It’s a very dangerous state of affairs.”
Fulham (H) pic.twitter.com/EHTcF1GRwr
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 24, 2024
Like their West London rivals, Fulham have been held to a goalless draw final day out, failing to discover a well past Southampton at Craven Cottage.
They’re unbeaten in 5 video games however have drawn 4 of these, and boss Marco Silva expects one other powerful task at Stamford Bridge.
“They’re very, excellent. It’s fairly clear there. A soccer membership that has spent cash in such a brief time frame, the standard was there,” Silva mentioned of Chelsea.
“For younger gamers, it’s not simple to discover a membership with so many younger gamers performing. They’re excellent and really assured to play in that system.
“They’ve been dominant in most of their video games. It’s one other massive problem for us.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson
Jackson has a mixed 15 objectives (11) and assists (4) in his final 19 Premier League begins at Stamford Bridge.
The ahead additionally has 13 aim involvements in his final 12 London derby appearances within the league (11 objectives, two assists).
Fulham – Emile Smith Rowe
Smith Rowe has both scored (two objectives) or assisted (one) in three of his 4 Premier League begins towards Chelsea (all for Arsenal), with each objectives towards the Blues coming at Stamford Bridge.
MATCH PREDICTION – CHELSEA WIN
Chelsea are unbeaten of their final 19 residence league video games towards Fulham (W12 D7) since a 2-0 loss within the second tier in October 1979.
Fulham, in the meantime, have gained simply two of their 34 Premier League video games towards Chelsea (D11 L21), with their 6% win charge towards the Blues the bottom any aspect has one other within the competitors’s historical past (minimal 20 conferences).
Fulham are, nevertheless, unbeaten in every of their final 9 Premier League London derby matches (W4 D5), since a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in January this yr.
Backed by a offered out away finish.
Marco previews #CHEFUL.
— Fulham Soccer Membership (@FulhamFC) December 24, 2024
The Cottagers final had an extended run with out a league defeat towards fellow London sides between February 1936 and October 1938 (12 video games, all within the second tier).
Chelsea’s effective current type makes them clear favourites, although. The Blues are unbeaten of their final 9 Premier League video games (W6 D3), final having an extended run with out defeat in Thomas Tuchel’s first 10 answerable for the membership between January and March 2021.
The Blues’ solely two defeats this season have come towards reigning champions Manchester Metropolis and present league leaders Liverpool.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chelsea – 61.1%
Fulham – 19.2%
Draw – 19.6%