CHELSEA host Fulham in a West London derby likely to prove crucial for both teams.
The Blues are three points ahead of West Ham as they look to maintain their grip on the final Champions League place.
What time does Chelsea vs Fulham kick off?
- Chelsea take on Fulham on Saturday, May 1.
- The match will kick off at 5.30pm UK time.
- It will take place at Stamford Bridge.
- When the two sides last met back in January, Mason Mount scored the only goal as Chelsea ran out 1-0 winners at Craven Cottage.
What TV channel is Chelsea vs Fulham on and can I live stream it?
- Chelsea vs Fulham is live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
- Coverage commences at 5pm – half an hour before kick-off.
- To stream the game live, head to your Sky Go account.
- Non-Sky Sports subscribers can still watch all the action with a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.
Stay up to date with all the action from Stamford Bridge in our live blog, below…
FIGHT TO SURVIVE
Confirmation of Brighton’s 2-0 win over Leeds has seen them move ten points ahead of the relegation zone.
Newcastle are now the closest to Fulham in the drop zone but a big ask to claw back a nine point swing with just 15 left on offer.
FITS THE BILL
Thomas Tuchel has made five changes to his Chelsea side for today’s clash against Fulham.
Billy Gilmour partners Mason Mount in centre midfield having only featured in the FA Cup under the new manager this season.
Ben Chilwell somewhat surprisingly starts ahead of Marcos Alonso while Kurt Zouma deputises for the injured Antonio Rudiger.
STAT ATTACK
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 18 home games against Fulham.
The Blues have won 10 and drawn eight of the fixtures since a 0-2 second tier defeat all the way back in October 1979.
FULHAM TEAM NEWS
And for the visitors, it’s an unchanged side from the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
Fulham XI: Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson; Reid, Anguissa, Lemina, Lookman; Maja, Cavaleiro.
Subs: Ream, Hector, Onomah, Rodak, Carvalho, Bryan, Tete, Odoi, Mitrovic.
CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
Billy Gilmour does indeed start for Chelsea today! A huge game for the Scottish starlet.
Chelsea XI: Mendy; Zouma Christensen, Thiago Silva; Reece James, Gilmour, Mount, Chilwell; Ziyech, Werner; Havertz.
Subs: Azpilicueta, Abraham, Kante, Anjorin, Jorginho, Kepa, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, Marcos Alonso.
PARKER ON TUCHEL
The Fulham boss is full of praise for his opposite number in the dug-out today.
He told Sky Sports: “He’s done a fantastic job there.
“He’s gone in and got results and sustained their results really. They’re a really good side, I think we saw that earlier in the season under Frank as well.
“They’re a good team with quality players and as a coach. Thomas has been in and around the clubs and been at the top end of competitions so you can that quality as well.”
PARKER ON CHELSEA SPELL
The Fulham manager has been reflecting on his mixed 18-month period at Stamford Bridge as a player.
He told Sky Sports: “There is some disappointment there. At that moment, I was probably a bit young in who I was as a player and my development and as a person really.
“Going to such a huge club at that moment didn’t give me the best chances to get into that team and be a regular.
“Then on the flip side of that, there are some real positives – surrounding myself in an environment that was world class, surrounding myself with world-class players that educated me.
“I came from Charlton, and no disrespect to them, but I was there from the age of nine and going to Chelsea when I was 21 or 22, I had never experienced or seen world-class players or people in that sense.
“Like I said, that’s no disrespect and I don’t want it to sound like that, but that was something which helped me, made me grow and gave me a reference point of what it needed to look like and what I needed to do. So a mixed bag really.”
NINTCHDBPICT000335048622Credit: PA:Empics Sport BRDIGE THE GAP
Scott Parker has discussed returning to Stamford Bridge to face former side Chelsea as Fulham manager today.
He told Sky Sports: “When the fixtures first come out, they’re not ones that you gravitate to, but certainly when you go into the games, going there, it brings back those memories and you always look forward to that.
“You get there and see familiar faces and you’re in the surroundings you were around for a part of your life and a period of my career.”
BILLY THE KID
Mateo Kovacic remains Chelsea’s other injury concern and Tuchel hinted this week that Billy Gilmour could return to the fold.
The Scottish midfielder, 19, has made just two appearances under the German and almost left the club on loan in January.
Here’s how Gilmour could feature for the Blues should he be given a rare chance to impress this evening…
RUD AWAKENING
Team news is expected in less than half-an-hour but one man sure to be missing is Antonio Rudiger.
Thomas Tuchel revealed he will be without his German compatriot today after he picked up a knock in the 1-1 draw with Real Madrid.
Kurt Zouma is expected to start in Rudiger’s absence with Ben Chilwell and Cesar Azpilicueta set to be rested for the second leg against Madrid.
Here’s how the Blues could line-up this evening…
GOOD AFTERNOON,
Chelsea host Fulham in a West London derby likely to prove crucial for both teams.
The Blues are three points ahead of West Ham as they look to maintain their grip on the final Champions League place.
Fulham meanwhile were denied a crucial win by a last minute Eddie Nketiah strike at Arsenal last week.
They now sit seven points from safety with five games left and are desperate for a result.
When the two sides last met back in January, Mason Mount scored the only goal as Chelsea ran out 1-0 winners at Craven Cottage.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
