Date of Tips: 21/08/2026
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct at the time of publishing (12:31 21/08/2026) but may have changed since. Please check the latest price before placing your bet.
Fulham FC
v Chelsea FC 
Craven Cottage
Premier League Matchday 1 
24-08-2026 19:00
Fulham Form
Chelsea Form
Fulham vs Chelsea prediction is a fascinating way to begin the 2026/27 Premier League season, with the west London rivals meeting at Craven Cottage on Monday, 24 August. Kick-off is at 20:00 BST, and both clubs start with new managers as Álvaro Arbeloa takes charge of Fulham and Xabi Alonso begins his Chelsea reign.
There is plenty of uncertainty around an opening-week fixture, particularly with new signings and managerial changes involved. Chelsea have the stronger recent head-to-head record, but Fulham won the most recent meeting at Craven Cottage and will have home advantage as they try to make another derby difficult for their neighbours.
This is Matchweek 1 of the 2026/27 Premier League season, so both teams naturally begin on zero points.
Craven Cottage provides the setting, with Fulham hoping to repeat their 2-1 home victory over Chelsea from January. Chelsea arrive having won four of the last five meetings overall, though, giving Alonso’s side reason for confidence.
The managerial changes add another layer. Arbeloa and Alonso will both be taking charge of their first Premier League games for their respective clubs, making the tactical picture harder to judge than it might be later in the campaign.
Fulham vs Chelsea kicks off at 20:00 BST on Monday, 24 August.
In the UK, the game is scheduled to be shown on Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available through a NOW TV Sports Membership. Audio coverage may also be available through TalkSPORT or BBC Radio 5 Live depending on regional schedules.
Standard geographical restrictions apply to UK streaming services.
Fulham will be without the suspended Joachim Andersen, while Tom Cairney is injured. There are no other explicitly reported fitness doubts at this stage.
New signing Gonzalo Garcia could feature and gives Arbeloa another option as he shapes his first Fulham side.
Chelsea have more availability concerns. Wesley Fofana and Mykhailo Mudryk are suspended, while Emmanuel Emegha and Jordan Henderson are listed as injured.
Levi Colwill, Geovany Quenda, Aaron Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr are fitness doubts. Colwill’s condition is particularly important given his place in the predicted defence.
Nicolas Jackson has returned from his loan spell, while summer signings Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix are available.
Fulham predicted XI: Leno; Castagne, Sessegnon, Bassey, Cuenca; Berge, Bobb, Iwobi, Garcia; Smith Rowe, Palacios.
Fulham’s likely formation: 4-2-3-1.
Chelsea predicted XI: Penders; Palestra, Lacroix, Colwill, Hato; Henderson, Caicedo; Estevao, Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro.
Chelsea’s likely formation: 3-4-2-1.
There are obvious uncertainties around that Chelsea XI. Henderson is listed as injured and Colwill faces a fitness test, so changes may be required. Enzo Fernández is another possible midfield option.
Fulham finished last season with one win, two draws and two defeats across their final five Premier League matches. They scored only twice during that run but conceded five.
Their sole victory came 1-0 against Aston Villa. They also drew with Brentford and Wolves, while defeats against Arsenal and Bournemouth highlighted the inconsistency with which they ended the campaign.
Chelsea’s closing sequence was similarly uneven. They took one win and one draw from their final five league matches, losing the other three.
A 2-1 victory against Tottenham at least allowed Chelsea to end the season positively. Across those five matches they scored four times and conceded seven, including three-goal defeats against Nottingham Forest and Brighton.
Those results are useful context, although the managerial and personnel changes over the summer mean neither team’s April and May form should be treated as a perfect guide to August.
Chelsea have won four of the last five meetings between these clubs.
They recorded victories of 2-0, 2-1, 2-1 and 1-0 across four of those encounters, but Fulham broke that sequence with a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage in January 2026.
That latest result should give Fulham encouragement. Chelsea’s broader record in the fixture nevertheless remains impressive, with 13 historical wins compared with Fulham’s three.
Fulham averaged 1.7 goals per home match last season, while Chelsea conceded 1.8 goals per away match.
Both teams also ended the previous league campaign with fairly modest form. Fulham’s last five produced one victory, two draws and two defeats, while Chelsea managed one win, one draw and three losses.
Discipline is another consideration for Chelsea after they received five red cards within a 21-game stretch last season.
Chelsea are the preference for the main result market. Their squad has considerable attacking quality, with Cole Palmer, João Pedro and Morgan Rogers among the options available to Alonso.
Fulham’s January victory is enough to discourage excessive confidence, particularly at Craven Cottage. Chelsea also have defensive selection questions to solve. Even so, their greater individual quality gives them the edge in what could be a competitive opener.
Match Result Prediction: Chelsea to win. Bet with bet365.
Fulham have home advantage and scored twice against Chelsea when these teams last met at Craven Cottage. Chelsea, meanwhile, have enough attacking options to cause Fulham problems even if Alonso’s first starting XI is difficult to predict.
The visitors’ defensive absences and doubts also make a Fulham goal plausible. If you regularly consider BTTS tips, this looks like the sort of fixture where both attacks could contribute.
BTTS Prediction: Both Teams To Score – Yes. Bet with bet365.
The expectation is for a reasonably open derby. Chelsea possess plenty of attacking quality, while their own defensive situation gives Fulham opportunities to threaten at the other end.
Fulham’s last five league games were not especially high scoring, but Chelsea conceded seven times across their final five. With BTTS also preferred, over 2.5 goals fits the expected match pattern.
Over/Under Goals Prediction: Over 2.5 goals. Bet with bet365.
A narrow Chelsea victory makes the most sense.
Fulham should have opportunities at home, especially against a Chelsea defence affected by suspensions, injuries and fitness doubts. Alonso’s attacking options can still make the difference, though, so the Fulham vs Chelsea correct score prediction is 1-2.
Correct Score Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea. Bet with bet365.
João Pedro is the standout choice from Chelsea’s predicted attacking line.
He is expected to lead the attack and enters the fixture following a pre-season in which he scored multiple goals. With Palmer and Rogers operating around him in the predicted setup, João Pedro should receive opportunities in dangerous areas.
First Goalscorer Prediction: João Pedro. Bet with bet365.
There are no specific corner statistics to lean on, so this selection comes with lower confidence.
Chelsea are expected to have the stronger attacking side and could spend significant periods pushing Fulham backwards, while the hosts should also have attacking spells of their own at Craven Cottage. That game pattern makes over 8.5 total corners a reasonable line.
Corners Prediction: Over 8.5 total corners. Bet with bet365.
A west London derby on the opening weekend should be competitive, and Chelsea’s disciplinary record from last season adds some factual context.
With no confirmed referee or specific team card averages available, there is no reason to push towards an especially high line. Over 3.5 total cards is the preference for what should be a closely fought match.
Cards Prediction: Over 3.5 total cards. Bet with bet365.
The simplest combination is to stick with the two strongest parts of the overall prediction.
Chelsea are backed to win and the expected 2-1 score naturally supports over 2.5 goals. Combining those selections gives a straightforward bet builder without adding unnecessary variables.
Bet Builder Tip: Chelsea to win, over 2.5 total goals, and João Pedro to score anytime. Bet with bet365.
Chelsea look capable of starting Alonso’s reign with three points, but this is unlikely to be comfortable.
Fulham have already shown they can beat their neighbours at Craven Cottage, and Chelsea’s defensive availability issues offer the hosts encouragement. The visitors’ attacking quality is ultimately the difference, with Palmer, Rogers and João Pedro giving Alonso several potential match-winners.
Final prediction: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea.
Best match-result tip: Chelsea to win.
Goals prediction: Over 2.5 goals.
BTTS prediction: Yes.
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Visit our football previews & predictions page for more betting tips on upcoming matches.
Chelsea are predicted to win. Fulham’s home advantage should make it competitive, but Chelsea’s attacking quality gives them the edge.
Fulham vs Chelsea kicks off at 20:00 BST on Monday, 24 August 2026.
The Premier League match will be played at Craven Cottage in London, with Fulham the home side.
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