Fulham vs Chelsea prediction, odds and betting tips

Chelsea are in desperate need of a victory to end a dismal run of form, but their neighbours Fulham are enjoying an excellent season and will be tough to beat on Thursday.

Fulham vs Chelsea odds

Here are the latest match odds for Fulham vs Chelsea from bet365.

• Fulham: 23/10
• Draw: 13/5
• Chelsea: 11/10

Best bookies to bet on Fulham vs Chelsea

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Fulham vs Chelsea prediction

This has been a very one-sided rivalry down the years. 

Fulham have beaten their west London neighbours only once since 1979. Chelsea have not lost any of the last 20 Premier League meetings between these two sides. They have won seven derbies in a row heading into the latest edition on Thursday.

Yet if the historical record is not too kind to Fulham, recent events offer hope that they could pick up a rare victory over their bigger, brasher, flashier adversaries from a mile and a half down the road.

The Cottagers go into this clash above Chelsea in the table after a magnificent start to the season. Among the favourites for relegation before a ball had been kicked, Fulham are currently in the top seven.

Chelsea are low on confidence and they will have their work cut out at Craven Cottage, formerly a happy hunting ground. 

Graham Potter is already under huge pressure after his team’s poor run continued with a 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City at the weekend. A section of Chelsea fans chanted Thomas Tuchel’s name during that defeat.

Potter desperately needs a win to earn himself a breathing space, but he might not get it against in-form Fulham.

Fulham vs Chelsea betting tips

Fulham’s fine start to the season means they will not feel inferior to Chelsea, and we fancy their chances of picking up a positive result in this one.

Fulham or draw (4/6)

The pause for the World Cup came at a good time for Fulham. Prior to Qatar, Marco Silva’s men had gone three games without a win and appeared to be running out of steam after a fantastic start. 

But they have come back from the break fully recharged, proving they are not a flash in the pan. Fulham beat Crystal Palace 3-0 on Boxing Day, overcame Southampton 2-1 on New Year’s Eve and then won 1-0 at Leicester City last week.

Even the FA Cup could not halt their momentum, as Fulham ran out 2-0 winners over Hull City in the third round on Saturday.

Chelsea, by contrast, are at their lowest ebb for some time. They head into this game in the lowly position of 10th. Ten points adrift of the top four, it is safe to say they will not be playing Champions League football next term.

Worryingly for the Blues, they have been outplayed, outthought and outfought at times over the last few weeks. 

Being steamrolled by Manchester City is one thing. But being bullied by Nottingham Forest, as they were in a recent 1-1 draw at the City Ground, is cause for even greater concern.

Fulham will have to make do without Aleksandar Mitrovic after the striker picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Leicester. 

But Fulham are not a one-man team, and they have demonstrated a gritty, resolute edge to their game of late. That bodes well for Thursday.

Under 2.5 goals (10/11)

Fulham have showed impressive defensive organisation of late. 

Silva’s side kept clean sheets against Crystal Palace, Leicester and Hull. The only goal they have conceded since the World Cup was a James Ward-Prowse free-kick.

That, together with Chelsea’s struggles in forward areas, suggests this could be a low-scoring affair.

The signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not worked out at all. The Gabon international missed Sunday’s loss to Manchester City with a sore back. It would probably be in Chelsea’s interest if he was injured for this one too.

Potter will be without several other players on Thursday. Armando Broja is a long-term absentee. Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic will miss out. Reece James remains on the treatment table.

Chelsea rank 12th for goals scored this season, having found the net just 20 times in 17 games. That is an incredibly poor return given the amount of money the club spent to assemble this squad.

Andreas Pereira score anytime (9/2)

Mitrovic’s absence is undoubtedly a blow for Fulham. The Serbia international has scored 11 goals this season – or 36.66 percent of his team’s overall total. 

Only Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Ivan Toney have scored more so far. Mitrovic has once and for all silenced the doubters who insisted he was not cut out for this level. 

Without him, Fulham will have to adapt. Carlos Vinicius looks set to deputise up front. He is also a physical centre-forward who can hold the ball up and bring others into play.

But the Brazilian is not in Mitrovic’s class when it comes to putting the ball in the net. As such, Fulham will need other players to contribute in attack.

Bobby Reid is the team’s second-highest goal-getter with four, while the ball-winning midfielder Joao Palhina – arguably the signing of last summer – has chipped in with three.

On this occasion, though, Andreas Pereira could be the best pick. The former Manchester United man will probably be on penalties in Mitrovic’s absence.

Pereira takes most of Fulham’s set pieces and he could even become their primary taker after Mitrovic returns – the striker has missed twice from the spot this term. 

Pereira should also get plenty of chances in open play against a ropey Chelsea backline.

How to watch Fulham vs Chelsea

• Location: Craven Cottage, London, England.
• Date and time: Thursday 12 January 2023, 8pm.
• How to watch: BT Sport 1.

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