Chelsea-Fulham Preview

Mauricio Pochettino will take a larger role in Chelsea's transfer business looking towards the January window.

Chelsea had another hectic transfer window over June, July and August - no club in European football spent more money on incoming players than the Blues.

In total, 12 new players arrived at Stamford Bridge, including Christopher Nkunku - who suffered a serious injury in pre-season - Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, who Chelsea broke the British transfer record to sign from Brighton.

So far the huge spend has not yielded much positivity. Chelsea have won just one of their opening six Premier League games, having taken just five points from the 18 on offer.

According to Opta's expected points model, Chelsea have performed well enough to be fourth in the standings, but the lack of a top-quality goalscorer has proved damaging, and that is something Pochettino is hoping to remedy in 2024.

"The good thing is the relationship and communication is very good with the sporting directors and owners," he said ahead of Monday's trip to Fulham.

"When the transfer window was closed I said I need to be more involved now in all the decisions. I have started to work to identify what we need for January.

"Football is very dynamic and it is about the present always. Things can change until January. We need to work to recover Nkunku and Armando Broja to try to provide the team with more goals and become solid. But, of course, we have already started to work (on transfers)."

Pochettino has exactly the same record after six Premier League games in charge of the Blues as he did with Southampton (P6 W1 D2 L3). He then went unbeaten in his next six league games with the Saints, picking up 12 points (W3 D3).

Fulham - Willian

Four of Willian's five Premier League goals for Fulham have come at Craven Cottage, including one against his former side Chelsea in this exact fixture last season. The Brazilian made 234 league appearances for the Blues between 2013 and 2020, scoring 37 goals and providing 33 assists.

Chelsea - Armando Broja

After returning from a long-term injury, and in the absence of the suspended Nicolas Jackson, Broja could get a chance to lead the line for Chelsea at Craven Cottage. The striker scored six league goals while on loan at Southampton in the 2021-22 season.

Fulham picked up four points against Chelsea in the Premier League last season (W1 D1), as many points as they had earned in their previous 15 against the Blues (W0 D4 L11).

Chelsea lost this exact fixture 2-1 last season - only once before have they ever lost consecutive away league games against Fulham, doing so in April 1977 while in the second tier.

Chelsea are winless in their last 18 Premier League games against sides starting the day above them in the table (D5 L13) since a 2-1 win over third-placed Leicester City in May 2021.

Fulham - 30.6%

Chelsea - 39.6%

Draw - 29.8%

Updated September 30, 2023