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Marco Silva credits Fulham with being 'ruthless' in the first half against Liverpool and says Jurgen Klopp's side got 'lucky' with their opening goal... before claiming the home advantage will help them in the second leg

    Silva said it was a 'game of two halves' and credited his side with being 'ruthless'
    However, he said they should have defended better for Liverpool's second goal

Fulham boss Marco Silva remained positive after his side failed to capitalise on Willian's 19th-minute opener against Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

Fulham were beaten 2-1 in the first leg of their semi-final clash with Liverpool after Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo found the back of the net for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Speaking after the game, Silva said it was a 'game of two halves' and credited his side with being 'ruthless in the first 45 minutes'.

The Fulham manager felt Liverpool's first goal was 'lucky', but admitted they should have 'defended the box better for the second goal'.

He went on to say he was grateful they had the opportunity to right their wrongs in the second leg - which is scheduled to take place on January 24.

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/11/00/79871329-12949521-image-a-5_1704933276313.jpg)
Fulham boss Marco Silva remained positive after his side failed to capitalise on Willian 's 19th-minute opener against Liverpool on Wednesday evening

Speaking after the game, Silva said: 'We knew it was going to be a tough one. You can't play for a final thinking it's not going to be really hard. Even three days ago they were able to play Arsenal away from home in the FA Cup.

'We did really well in the first half, more of a low block than we usually play but we controlled it well. They are a threat with the pace and quality of their attacking players and they can punish you at any time. We were ruthless in the first half but second half they pushed up a bit more.

'They started to create more problems, we had 10-15 minutes of good chances and De Cordova-Reid was a moment for us to score. We didn't take that moment and we lost a few challenges we shouldn't have done and the shot from the edge of the box took a deflection.

'We have to be more clever from a tactical point of view and we should defend our box better for their second goal.

'We're playing at home, we're losing 2-1 but we're going to go for it for sure. In the second half we had good moments and we should've scored another goal at least but it is what it is at the top level of football.

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/11/00/79871327-12949521-image-a-8_1704933379250.jpg)
Speaking after the game, Silva said it was a 'game of two halves' and credited his side with being 'ruthless in the first 45 minutes'
 
(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/11/00/79864565-12949521-image-a-9_1704933388782.jpg)
The Fulham manager felt Liverpool's first goal was 'lucky', but admitted they should have 'defended the box better for the second goal'.

'At home, with our fans behind us, it's going to be a great night for Fulham Football Club.'

The Fulham manager went to add: 'Two different halves. It wasn't our best performance, even so first half we had a plan. We were ruthless from the first moment and really good from Willian when we scored. The second half was different, we struggled a bit more. We should manage them in a different way.

'They were a bit lucky the first goal, a deflection that changed completely the game, and the only thing that is disappointing is the way we managed the next 10 minutes.

'In a competition where we are playing two legs we cannot concede a fast attack like that. Liverpool had one or two chances to score the third and the reality is that Leno kept us in the game.'

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/11/00/79864753-12949521-image-a-7_1704933351746.jpg)
He went on to say he was grateful they had the opportunity to right their wrongs in the second leg - which is scheduled to take place on January 24



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12949521/Marco-Silva-credits-Fulham-ruthless-half-against-Liverpool-says-Jurgen-Klopps-got-lucky-opening-goal-claiming-home-advantage-help-second-leg.html

Fulham will 'go for it' in second leg – Silva
Marco Silva declared that Fulham will "go for it" in the second leg after Liverpool came from behind to win 2-1 in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Willian put the visitors ahead at Anfield before goals from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo.

It means Liverpool will take a lead into the return leg at Craven Cottage, but Fulham still have a fighting chance of reaching Wembley.

Whites boss Silva said: "The tie is still tight. We've lost the first half, so we're going to have to go for it in the second at Craven Cottage.

"We have something to play for, clearly. We know what Liverpool are capable of with their quality, but the belief that we had before tonight's game and the trust we had in ourselves to fight for it doesn't change now the game is done.

"We have a tough game coming up against Chelsea but after that we'll have good time to prepare for the second leg."

Fulham frustrated the hosts during the first half and went ahead when Virgil van Dijk failed to deal with a ball into the box and Andreas Pereira teed up Willian, who showed great footwork to evade a couple of challenges and fire home.

Winning the away leg would have been a fantastic result for Fulham, who battled hard to protect their lead and were unlucky to concede an equaliser when Jones' shot went in via a huge deflection off Tosin Adarabioyo.

And after good work by Diogo Jota on the left, Liverpool quickly netted again.

Jota found Darwin Nunez, who pulled the ball back for fellow substitute Gakpo to score with a first-time finish.

Liverpool continued to attack and three late saves by keeper Bernd Leno to deny Nunez could yet prove to be crucial.

"It's not over yet," said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

"I didn't expect a result where we could book the hotel. We couldn't do more than win the game and I'm absolutely happy."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-will-go-for-it-in-second-leg-silva

Fulham set sights on 20-year-old League One prospect also targeted by West Ham
Fulham are now considering a move for Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards, as per TEAMtalk.

Fulham are 13th in the Premier League and are hoping for another comfortable finish mid-table in the top flight. Marco Silva's men will be looking to strengthen this month, and it seems they've turned their attention to the tiers below them.

Peterborough United are 3rd in League One. They are well in the race for a top two spot and Darren Ferguson won't want his squad to weaken this month in any way.

West Ham were previously credited with interest in the 20-year-old midfielder. They made an initial approach but later updates claimed they weren't going to pursue him this month.

Now, Fulham have seemingly joined the queue. They reportedly had officials in attendance last Sunday during Posh's FA Cup clash against Leeds United with their sights set on the youngster.

An ever-growing battle
Edwards is attracting Premier League interest for a reason. He has made 25 League One outings so far this season and during the 2022/23 campaign he appeared in 42 league games.

At such a young age he has several years experience in the senior environment including a year in the Championship. It does seem inevitable that at one stage Edwards will get a big move, but it remains to be seen whether that will be this month or not.

With Peterborough United so close to the automatic promotion spots they will be reluctant to do anything that weakens their chances this month. The summer would allow them more time to sufficiently replace their prospect and given they may be in the second tier, Ferguson's side might be able to demand a bit more money.

For now they must stay focussed on the league. Up next is an away clash against Charlton Athletic this weekend.



https://the72.co.uk/2024/01/11/fulham-set-sights-on-20-year-old-league-one-prospect-also-targeted-by-west-ham/

Marco Silva names the two Liverpool players who really hurt Fulham last night
Fulham boss Marco Silva has claimed that Liverpool duo Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez caused his side a lot of problems after coming on last night.

Jurgen Klopp's side had to come from behind to get the win yesterday. They were made to work hard by Fulham, but Gakpo and Nunez's introduction in the second half changed the game.

Marco Silva says Liverpool duo Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez hurt Fulham
Liverpool were the favourites to win the game last night, but Fulham were actually the better side for large parts of the first half.

The Lilywhites even took the lead through Willian, who capitalised on a mistake by Virgil van Dijk. Fulham could've then doubled their lead too, but Bobby De Cordova-Reid chose the wrong option.

That was probably the turning point in the game as soon after, Liverpool equalised thanks to a deflected strike from Curtis Jones.

It was substitute Darwin Nunez who assisted the midfielder, and the Uruguayan did the same thing three minutes later as he set up Cody Gakpo to score the winner.

Marco Silva had his say after the game, and he feels Fulham were in control until Gakpo and Nunez were introduced. However, once they came in, they caused his side all sorts of problems.

He told Sky Sports: "I think it went really well first half. Our block was lower than normal, but we controlled almost everything from them. We know that, without space behind us, we could control it much better because every time they have space, with the pace of the attacking players, they can punish you.

"The second half was slightly different as they started to push out a bit more. When you have the capacity to go to the bench and put Darwin and Gakpo on, from that moment, they started to create more problems for us."

Nunez and Gakpo changed the game
Liverpool started with a front three of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott last night, and that didn't quite work, did it?

Yes, all three of them are terrific players, but against Fulham yesterday, especially in the first half, they didn't look as threatening as Klopp would've liked them to be.

Once the Liverpool boss brought on Gakpo and Nunez, however, everything changed. The Dutchman scored the winner while the latter assisted twice and could've scored two himself.

In the return leg later this month, we won't be surprised at all if Klopp decides to start both Nunez and Gakpo to kill the game very quickly.



https://tbrfootball.com/marco-silva-names-the-two-liverpool-players-who-really-hurt-fulham-last-night/

Fulham player wants exit for personal and sporting reasons – Entourage appear to be casting net
Fulham star João Palhinha dreams of making a switch to Barcelona, according to a report from Catalan newspaper Sport.

Bayern Munich came close to securing his services last summer but the move collapsed on deadline day. That didn't impact his performances as the midfielder has impressed for Fulham this season, managing two goals and an assist from 21 games.

Despite last year's disappointment, the 28-year-old still wants to leave Marco Silva's side.

That's according to Sport, who state Palhinha is excited about the possibility of joining the La Liga side.

It's claimed the Portugal international has informed his close circle about his wish to sign for the Catalan club.

Sources close to him have admitted that he would welcome a move away from Fulham for both personal and sporting reasons. He's aware it's difficult for him to win silverware with the Premier League side.

There's no explanation given for the personal reasons.

Barcelona appreciate his profile, but a potential deal remains complicated because of their financial conditions. Sport state he's valued at €60m and this is another big obstacle for them to secure the former Sporting man's services.

It feels like Palhinha's entourage have started the process of casting the net and whether they'll be successful in the coming windows remains to be seen.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-player-wants-exit-personal-sporting-reasons-entourage-appear-casting-net/

£51.6m player now dreams of Barcelona move after his advisors asked Liverpool to make bid
Joao Palhinha is dreaming of signing for Barcelona amid claims that his advisors are trying to encourage Liverpool to make a move for the midfielder.

Joao Palhinha has been one of the most impressive midfielders in the Premier League since his move to Fulham. Unsurprisingly, he has been linked with a host of heavyweight clubs.

Arsenal and Manchester City want Palhinha. Meanwhile, it was claimed this week that his advisors had spoken to both Liverpool and Chelsea to see if they would be interested in making an offer for the 28-year-old.

Joao Palhinha dreams of Barcelona move amid Liverpool links
The Reds certainly need greater reinforcements in the middle of the park. Wataru Endo has silenced a lot of his doubters in recent weeks. But Liverpool do not have an obvious replacement for the Japan international when he is not available.

So Palhinha would definitely be an option some Liverpool fans would love to see at Anfield.

But it seems that the Portuguese's dream move would take him elsewhere. According to a report from Sport, Palhinha is dreaming of joining Barcelona.

Unsurprisingly, a move is said to be complicated due to Barca's financial position. The former Sporting man meanwhile, is apparently valued at around £51.6 million.

The Catalan giants are big admirers of Palhinha. And thus, a move to La Liga is deemed to be unlikely.

Reds may not mind seeing midfielder leave the Premier League
You would imagine that the Fulham star would probably be attracting a lot more offers if he was a few years younger.

Palhinha has been exceptional in the Premier League. But he turns 29 in the summer. And with that, some clubs may have their concerns about how long he has left at his peak.

Liverpool are not a club who tend to spend big on older players. So they may be unmoved by Palhinha wanting to join Barcelona. But they may perhaps welcome the idea of him moving there as it rules out the chance of him joining another Premier League side.



https://tbrfootball.com/51-6m-player-now-dreams-of-barcelona-move-after-his-advisors-asked-liverpool-to-make-bid/

Fulham hit by painful Deja vu in Liverpool loss but Carabao Cup glory still in reach
Marco Silva's side should take plenty of encouragement into home semi-final second leg

A first-ever League Cup semi-final may be uncharted territory for Fulham, but Wednesday night's first leg against Liverpool gave them a painful hit of Deja vu.

Holding a lead which had Anfield ruffled and restless, Fulham conceded two quick-fire goals in the second half which means it is advantage Liverpool going into the second leg.

This was a remarkably similar match to the goal fest between these two teams here in the Premier League last month, when Fulham led 3-2 until the 87th minute before Jurgen Klopp's side again scored twice in no time to come out on top.

Fulham manager Marco Silva was disappointed by his side's drop-off in the second half on Wednesday, when they squandered possession and Liverpool took advantage. But he knows Fulham are alive ahead of the return fixture at Craven Cottage in a fortnight.

"We definitely still have something to play for," Silva said. "We have our ambition to be at Wembley. We are going to fight for what we want."

Among Fulham's top performers on the night was 35-year-old Willian, who gave them the lead against the run of play. A misplaced defensive header from the returning Virgil van Dijk and missed tackle by young Conor Bradley allowed him to tap home and silence the Kop.

Fulham held their advantage until midway through the second half, under intense pressure from a home side missing Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold but not lacking rhythm.

Liverpool's midfield might have had a field day had Harrison Reed — who recovered from illness on Wednesday morning to play — not been so energetic in stopping their attacks at source.

Joao Palhinha, similarly industrious, demonstrated again he has perfected the art of winning tackles; no Fulham player won more. "A big effort from them in the way they managed [the game]," Silva added.

One moment could come back to haunt Fulham if they do not reach next month's final. Breaking down the right at 1-0, Bobby De Cordova-Reid shot at goal when he should have squared to the unmarked Andreas Pereira, who would have had a simple task of converting for 2-0.

It took just six minutes after that for Liverpool to level things up, Curtis Jones's effort from distance spinning off Tosin Adarabioyo's back and flying past Bernd Leno. And, within three minutes, the substitutes combined, as Darwin Nunez squared for Cody Gakpo to slot home the winner.


"It's a big frustration", Silva said of Liverpool's quick-fire double. "We spoke about it beforehand. We know what happens with these types of sides and these types of crowds."

A string of crucial late saves from Leno kept Fulham in the tie.

"Nothing is done," insisted Willian. "We have the second leg to play at home.

"We knew that it's always hard to play here against Liverpool, but we played well. We could have maybe scored the second goal to give us more stability, but we have to focus now on the second leg."

Silva agreed, adding: "It's still tight. We lost the first half [of the tie], we have to go for it in the second half."

And Fulham no doubt will. A first major trophy in the club's history is still in reach.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-fc-liverpool-carabao-cup-b1131652.html

How Chelsea could line up against Fulham
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has a quartet of injury doubts to assess for Saturday's Premier League West London derby with Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have several guaranteed absences for the capital contest, including Nicolas Jackson (international), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring) and Romeo Lavia (thigh).

Meanwhile, all of Christopher Nkunku (hip), Benoit Badiashile (unspecified), Ben Chilwell (thigh) and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) are uncertain at the time of writing, having been forced to miss Tuesday's 1-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Middlesbrough.

With so few options for change at the minute, an unaltered backline should comprise Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, Malo Gusto and Levi Colwill in front of Dorde Petrovic, unless Badiashile proves his fitness in time for the derby.

Moises Caicedo did not cover himself in glory whatsoever for Hayden Hackney's winner on Tuesday evening, and the Ecuadorian could very well find himself on the bench for Saturday's fixture if Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez pair up in the middle.

A possible alteration in midfield would allow Mykhaylo Mudryk to provide an injection of pace into the attacking line, although Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer - despite the latter's wastefulness in midweek - should hold their places.

Armando Broja was a notable omission from the first XI at Boro, a decision which Pochettino confirmed was related to his workload and previous fitness woes, but a recall to the starting lineup is ostensibly in order for the Albanian attacker.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gallagher, Fernandez; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Broja



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/chelsea/west-london-derby/predicted-lineups/how-chelsea-could-line-up-against-fulham_533468.html?newsnow

Chelsea vs Fulham: Prediction and Preview
Saturday's early kick-off is a west London derby; here, we look ahead to Chelsea vs Fulham at Stamford Bridge with our prediction and preview. Can the Blues make it three league wins on the spin?

Chelsea vs Fulham Stats: The Quick Hits

    The Opta supercomputer predicts Chelsea to win this one, being given a 49.7% chance of victory at Stamford Bridge.
    Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 18 home league games against Fulham.
    Mauricio Pochettino has won all five of his Premier League meetings with the Cottagers.

Match Preview
Chelsea will put cup commitments to one side as Mauricio Pochettino's team aim to make it three straight Premier League wins when they host fellow EFL Cup semi-finalists Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Blues swept aside Preston North End with a 4-0 demolition in their FA Cup third-round tie last weekend but suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss away at Championship side Middlesbrough in their EFL Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday. Chelsea will look to bounce back in the Premier League, though, where they have recently recorded back-to-back victories over Crystal Palace and Luton Town.

A fine Cole Palmer double, coupled with the former Manchester City man's assist for Noni Madueke's goal at Kenilworth Road, seemed to have Pochettino's visitors easing to a routine victory on Matchday 20 against Luton, but then Ross Barkley and Elijah Adebayo scored to set up a tense finale, though Chelsea held out for a 3-2 triumph.

(https://theanalyst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/luton-v-chelsea-xg-race-2048x1152.jpeg)

Owing to a turgid start to the season, however, the Stamford Bridge club sit 10th in the league table heading into MD 21 – some four places below Opta's sixth-place prediction for Chelsea from 10,000 Premier League campaign simulations ahead of the 2023-24 campaign – with it clear for all to see that Pochettino still has a lot of work to do.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain boss may apportion some of the struggles to injury issues amid his attempts to knit together a plethora of big-money signings – and expect further Todd Boehly activity in the January transfer window – as Pochettino's lineup remains without a host of key figures.

Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sánchez, Carney Chukwuemeka and Trevoh Chalobah are all long-term absentees, while Christopher Nkunku suffered another setback with a hip injury. Ben Chilwell and Benoît Badiashille are back in full-team training ahead of Saturday's kick-off, though.

With those injury troubles, Pochettino may look to the increasingly reliable Palmer as his chief creative asset. The English attacking midfielder squandered two brilliant opportunities against Middlesbrough in Tuesday's EFL Cup semi-final but has scored eight Premier League goals this season, more than any of his Chelsea teammates. The only player to score more in a single campaign for the Blues in the competition while aged 21 or younger is Christian Pulisic in 2019-20 (nine).

Fulham have had similar commitments to Chelsea outside of league football in the last week, defeating Rotherham United 1-0 in their FA Cup third-round tie thanks to Bobby De Cordova-Reid's goal, before losing 2-1 at Liverpool in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday. Marco Silva's men claimed a 2-1 win over top-flight title contenders Arsenal in their last Premier League outing on New Year's Eve as Raúl Jiménez and De Cordova-Reid powered the hosts to a comeback victory at Craven Cottage after Bukayo Saka's early opener.

The 31 December triumph over Mikel Arteta's Arsenal was a welcome return to form for Fulham, whose 13th-place league-table position before MD 21 owes to a run of three straight league defeats – against Bournemouth, Burnley and Newcastle United – prior to their win over the Gunners.

As for Fulham's team news, Silva's lineup will be somewhat depleted for the Stamford Bridge trip, with Nigerian pair Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi as well as Senegal's Fodé Ballo-Touré on international duty at the African Cup of Nations. The west-London visit will likely be too soon for Adama Traoré too, though Tim Ream was back on the bench at Anfield on Wednesday.

Chelsea vs Fulham Head-to-Head
Chelsea will fancy their chances here considering they are unbeaten in their last 18 home league games against Fulham (W11 D7) since a 2-0 loss in the second tier in October 1979.

Continue to look away Fulham fans... the Cottagers have won just one of their last 23 Premier League games against Chelsea (D8 L14) overall, though that was a 2-1 success at home last January.

Indeed, Fulham's 10% win rate against Chelsea (8 wins from 77 meetings) is the lowest of the 3,116 occasions of a side facing another at least 50 times in English league history. The Blues were also 2-0 victors in the reverse fixture this term as Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja found the net.

(https://theanalyst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fulham-v-chelsea-stats-2048x1536.jpeg)

Pochettino, across spells with Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, has enjoyed facing Fulham in his managerial career, winning all five of his Premier League meetings against them – only against Hull City (six from six) does he have a better 100% win rate in the competition.

Recent Form
It has been another turbulent season for Chelsea but they have won their last two Premier League games – against Crystal Palace and Luton – last winning three in a row in October 2022 (a run of four).

Pochettino's men can also rely on home comforts given they have also won their last three – including against Sheffield United and Brighton and Hove Albion –  at Stamford Bridge in the competition, but they have not managed four in succession on home soil since a six-game run in July 2020.

Adding in a chaotic 4-1 win over Tottenham in November, Chelsea have won their last two Premier League London derbies, as many as they had in their previous 13 such games (D4 L7), but Fulham are also looking to win three consecutive top-flight London derbies for the first time since April 2013.

However, Fulham have lost each of their last four Premier League away games – against Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Liverpool and Aston Villa – while conceding 3+ goals in each. Only two sides have lost five in a row on the road in the Premier League while shipping three or more goals each time – Ipswich Town in April 1995 and Barnsley in November 1997.

Opta Power Rankings
The Opta Power Rankings are a global team ranking system that assigns an ability score to over 13,000 domestic football teams on a scale between zero and 100, where zero is the worst-ranked team in the world and 100 is the best team in the world.

Ahead of kick-off in this match, here is the Opta Power Ranking for both sides.

Chelsea vs Fulham Opta Player Ratings
he Opta Player Ratings are something we introduced ahead of 2023-24. For a quick primer on how they're calculated, you can check our explainer here.

Before kick-off in this match, here are the top five performing players from both teams in the 2023-24 Premier League according to the Opta Player Ratings:

Chelsea
Conor Gallagher: 75.0 (out of 100)
Thiago Silva: 72.5
Raheem Sterling: 70.4
Cole Palmer: 68.4
Moisés Caicedo: 68.0

Fulham
Tom Cairney: 75.1 (out of 100)
Willian: 65.8
Alex Iwobi: 64.7
Bernd Leno: 64.6
Harry Wilson: 63.4

Chelsea vs Fulham Prediction

(https://theanalyst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/chelsea-v-fulham-opta-predictor.png)

Dictated by their dominant head-to-head record, Chelsea are backed by the Opta supercomputer to defeat Fulham, winning 49.7% of 10,000 simulations before kick-off.

A draw may be Fulham's best hope, with the data-backed predictions producing that result in 27.7% of simulations, while an away win comes in at just a 22.6% chance, though Fulham will take heart from their strong showing at Anfield on Wednesday, albeit in defeat.

Despite the likelihood of a home win here, Chelsea are still expected to finish 10th – their current league-table position – in 20.2% of season simulations, while Fulham's most likely end-of-season standing ranks as 13th in 20.2% of Opta simulations.



https://theanalyst.com/eu/2024/01/chelsea-vs-fulham-prediction/

Fulham update emerges in West Ham United bid to sign Ronnie Edwards
Fulham are considering joining West Ham in the race to sign Peterborough United ace Ronnie Edwards, according to TEAMtalk.

The publication reported on its website on Wednesday (10 January) that the Cottagers sent scouts to watch the defender in their FA Cup match against Leeds United.

TEAMtalk noted that several Premier League clubs are interested in his signature, including the Hammers and Crystal Palace.

"Fulham are considering joining the race for Peterborough defender Ronnie Edwards after sending scouts to watch him in action last weekend, TEAMtalk understands.

"Fulham officials were in attendance at Peterborough's FA Cup clash with Leeds last Sunday to cast an eye over highly-rated centre-back Edwards.

"The 20-year-old has caught the attention of a number of Premier League clubs in the last few transfer windows with the likes of Crystal Palace and West Ham keen admirers of his."

Top talent
Edwards is only 20 years old, but he has already played a huge 117 matches for Peterborough, proving just how highly regarded he is there.

But he may not be at the club much longer should his impressive displays continue, with Peterborough set to be unable to prevent the centre-back from exiting.

While it would be a disappointment to lose such an important player, his exit would represent a massive payday for the club. Moreover, they would be delighted to see one of their youngsters make a move to the Premier League.

West Ham did improve their defence last summer, with manager David Moyes bringing Konstantinos Mavropanos to the London Stadium.

He finds himself behind the likes of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma in the starting XI, and he could be pushed further down the pecking order should Edwards make the move to East London.

But the Hammers will have a battle on their hands, with London rivals Fulham and Crystal Palace seemingly eager to snap him up.



https://www.westhamzone.com/transfers/fulham-update-emerges-in-west-ham-united-bid-to-sign-ronnie-edwards/

Fulham now keen on signing £20m Premier League 'hard-hitter' in January
Fulham now want to sign Nigerian international midfielder Frank Onyeka from rivals Brentford in January to bolster their options in the centre of the pitch.

A move for long-term target Andre Trindade appears to have gone quiet and so the Whites are now considering alternative targets.

Guardian journalist Ed Aarons has now shared that Fulham and Everton are among the clubs interested in the 26-year-old.

Marco Silva's side are still fighting in both cups but will have to overcome a 2-1 deficit in the second leg of their Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

While safety in the Premier League isn't assured yet, Fulham's main aims now have to be to advance as far as possible in both competitions.

Silva has already suggested that incomings this month are going to be difficult to achieve.

However, that doesn't mean the club won't still try and identify potential targets.

Fulham now want to sign Frank Onyeka from rivals Brentford but have been told it won't be a cheap deal.

The Nigerian international has been described as a 'hard-hitter' by his old director of football at FC Midtjylland Svend Graversen.

Not only that, he was once handed the nickname 'Free-kick Frank' because he tended to fly into challenges in training.

While Joao Palhinha may be slightly kinder to his teammates behind the scenes, it does suggest Fulham are preparing to sign an alternative – or perhaps even a replacement – for their most important player.

Fulham want to sign Onyeka
Posting on social media, Aarons said: "Understand that Everton and Fulham are among the clubs who are interested in signing Brentford's Frank Onyeka this month.

"The Nigeria midfielder signed a new contract in the summer and would cost more than £20m. Brentford could try to sign Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi if he goes."

A £20m fee appears to be out of Fulham's January budget right now.

But considering the interest in Palhinha still exists, the Whites appear to finally have a plan to replace the Portuguese should he depart this month.

There are clear reasons why Fulham would want to sign Onyeka based on his style of play.

He's familiar with playing in the Premier League and loves a big tackle and protecting a back four.

However, his time at Brentford hasn't always gone to plan, with the 26-year-old only starting 26 league games in two-and-a-half seasons, more often than not being used off the bench.

To step in and replace Palhinha, who has been virtually ever-present for the Whites would be a big step up.

Finding a perfect replacement for the Portuguese is going to be impossible but Onyeka would be a step in the right direction.

He would also have the benefit of being helped to settle in by international teammates Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey.



https://www.fulham.news/2024/01/11/fulham-now-keen-on-signing-20m-premier-league-hard-hitter-in-january/

Brentford's Frank Onyeka wanted by Everton and Fulham on loan
Frank Onyeka is wanted by Everton, Fulham and a number of clubs overseas, with the Nigeria midfielder expected to be allowed to leave Brentford this month on loan. Onyeka, who is part of Nigeria's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, has made six Premier League starts this season and is understood to be keen to find regular first-team football elsewhere.

The 26-year-old signed a new four-year contract with Brentford in August and is valued at around £20m, although it appears more likely that he could head out on loan until the end of the season.

Fulham – who could face more interest in João Palhinha this month from Liverpool – and Everton are believed to have registered an interest in Onyeka, who moved to Brentford in 2021 from Danish club Midtjylland for £10m. Everton are understood to be determined to resist Arsenal's interest in Amadou Onana but would like to reinforce their midfield options, although they would only be able to consider a loan move given their financial problems.

Fiorentina, Lens and Villarreal are also believed to be interested in signing Onyeka on loan this month. Brentford have been linked with a move to sign Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi from Marseille.

Despite reports that Bayern Munich have opted against launching a new bid for Palhinha after they came close to signing him in the summer, the Portugal midfielder said this week "that some day I will leave Fulham".

"I want to give everything," he told Sky Sports. "I'm always 100% professional here, and I will do my job every time that I play for Fulham."



https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/brentford-frank-onyeka-wanted-everton-132416483.html

Positives and negatives: Liverpool 2-1 Fulham

Keep those heads held high, people. This is all part and parcel of supporting Fulham and Cam is optimistic we'll mount a grandstand finish in a fortnight's time.

Feeling sorry for ourselves isn't going to do any of us any good whatsoever. We were ahead, we switched off in the only way a Fulham team can at Anfield, but first blood to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool doesn't mean we should give up hope. Save those tears, jubilant or otherwise, for the final whistle on 24 January; this two-legged meeting is not a forgone conclusion and believe you me, it ain't even started yet.

The opening chapter of our first domestic semi-final in 22 years didn't go our way but at least it wasn't a drubbing. Needless rabonas aside, we gave a very good account of ourselves against England's in-form team, a side without Mohamed Salah, Alison, Trent Alexander-Arnold and so on, but they were still blessed with genuine headliners and while the tabloids will drool over their red-hot resurgence, the narrow score line will still remain the same and to that, we certainly played our part.

Positives

It's not over yet

Just stay in the tie. Give it all you've got, but don't allow this first-leg to slip away. Whatever you do – win, draw or lose as we did – remain relevant and give yourselves a fighting chance at the Cottage. The stakes couldn't have been higher as Fulham travelled to Merseyside for what feels like the umpteenth time this season but this meeting had the potential to be an all-timer, one of the greatest games in our club's history and it while it was anything but, our nerves took one hell of a pasting. What a rush. What a strangely enjoyable feeling.

It is not a dream to reach a major cup final, as Silva says, it is an ambition. There probably wasn't a better time to face Liverpool. In truth, there's actually never a perfect time to lock horns with one of the continent's serial title winners but as the Reds have major absentees and unwelcome squad issues to contend with, the Whites had to trust their underling ability and morale above all else and I'd say our dignity is still intact, and I genuinely mean that.

If we showed too much respect to Liverpool, they'd run amok. If we gave too little, we could've been our own worst enemy. We had to find the right balance, the ideal mixture of desire, intent and sensibility and with emotions being so high, as first impressions count in first legs, asserting ourselves when it mattered was always going to be of utmost importance.

Liverpool are extraordinarily familiar with nights such as these. Double-headed knock-out rounds are second nature to a superpower that's literally won it all but it was an occasion to savour for the Whites, an opportunity to stamp their credentials at a stadium that's hosted some of the planet's greatest clubs in varying tournaments across the decades and while our concentration wasn't everlasting, we caused Liverpool problems, troublesome situations to defuse and for them, it was relatively hard going. As we head towards the showdown of the decade, we have to remember our worth and if the lads claim to enter each occasion without fear, we have to really mean it.

Klopp's men will believe they've one foot in the final. They have the advantage, it is in their hands and in winning positions, they're rarely beaten. Fulham, however, do have a toehold in this drawn-out encounter. There is still so, so much to play for, we have to summon Europa League levels of defiance on the 24th and if we hark back to the days of monumental comebacks, we should know that this is far from over. Nothing was gained but in the same breath, nothing other than the result on the night was lost indefinitely, either.

Willian's weaving brilliance

Simply exquisite. Taken like a seasoned show-stopper that's graced the biggest of stages for over 15 years, because he has, Willian's twinkle-toed opener bamboozled, the turf was greeted by red backsides as the Brazilian weaved his brilliance and as he jabbed goal bound, he 'megged Sky Sports' darling Virgil van Dyke for good measure. What a sensational promotion for patience in gilt-edge scenarios, if only others could follow suit.

He could've snatched at it, he could've tried to swindle a penalty from under David Coote's nose but Willian's a player that balls in all the right ways, an honest competitor who's sole purpose is to entertain and thanks to his calmness, we have something to cling onto and that is invaluable. We may not have seen a great deal of Antonee Robinson and Willian, not as much as we did at the beginning of December but the 35-year-old was very much present and his involvement was vitally significant.

Harrison Reed (C)

Donning the captain's armband like a badge of honour, Harrison Reed set a prime example in the centre of the park alongside Joao Palhinha, who was slightly off the pace, and as Liverpool dominated possession, particularly in the first half, the stand-in skipper refused to become a bystander. He readied himself for some of the toughest yards of his career, he chased lost causes, he initiated the press and as he so often does, he conducted himself with professionalism, until he was relieved of his duties on the hour mark, battered and bruised.

He possibly should've done better as Liverpool carved out the leveller, it's a challenge he'd usually come out on top of but momentum was always going to carry Jota through Harrison and he cannot be blamed for that. Others could've stepped in once play had moved towards our penalty area and as we'll discuss later, our entire defensive fortitude went walkies in those crazy few minutes where the Reds gained the upper hand.

He may not be the most dynamic of midfielders, forward thinking isn't his specialty but what he does have is an untiring ethic, a commitment that didn't rest and he didn't lose sight of his responsibilities both as a leader, and a midfield disruptor. I doubt it'll be the last time we see Reed (C) on the team sheet, he may not be granted that privilege on a regular basis but he embodies everything a skipper should be, and he has learned it all from the very best SW6 has to offer.

Negatives

Three minutes of torture

For 68 minutes our defending and discipline whilst maintaining our shape off the ball was exemplary, but the three minutes that followed Curtis Jones' deflected equaliser were torturous. The Reds couldn't break us down for the most part; 10 white shirts stood in their way ahead of Bernd Leno's target but they were knocking, violently, and as they eventually drew level with a ridiculous slice of fortune, our composure went to the dogs and it invited a frantic resurgence from the hosts.

Our game plan was to frustrate, to absorb as much pressure as we possibly could and if we could nick a goal, superb. At unforgiving grounds such as Anfield in games of this magnitude, holding firm for 90-plus minutes isn't sustainable and we found out the hard way, yet again, in typical Fulham fashion. Liverpool's tails were bolt upright, they sensed vulnerability and they took full advantage of it in a devastating 180-second onslaught.

To our credit, we didn't succumb to even further punishment after Cody Gakpo dabbed his side into the lead – a hugely important Leno save denied Darwin Nunez from yards out and it couldn't have been more crucial – but the manner in which we crumbled midway through the second half is hurtful to say the least. In a flash, unceremoniously, we let our guard down and we were hit with a damaging quick fire combination and it really should've been avoided.

Within a matter of seconds our collective mettle had gone MIA, we were well on our way to recording a history-making victory, even a draw would've been unthinkable but the Whites don't make things easy for themselves and really, they never have done. We lived a charmed life in heart-stopping patches, Tosin Adarabioyo lacked urgency and could've been robbed one too many times, Robinson stumbled over possession to allow Liverpool to advance, a Liverpool goal appeared inevitable as the game progressed and their persistence soon told.

Nothing could really be done about the equaliser, however with the ball under foot at the restart, that's when we should've sucked in a deep breath in unison, we should've gathered ourselves but we just couldn't suppress the Reds' rampant eagerness to exploit our sudden headloss and of course, as always, that is on us and nothing else.

Ruing that spurned opportunity

He will know the error of his ways once he views that spurned opportunity to supply a nailed-on second for Fulham. Instead of shooting from an angle which wasn't going to beat Caoimhín Kelleher, ever, Bobby Decordova-Reid should've lifted his head and hit Andreas Pereira on the penalty spot but he went for false glory instead. Oh dear indeed.

Nobody can really be sure whether Andreas was going to reach the cross first if it had arrived, it's a case of whataboutery, the ball into the danger area would've had to have been flawless and usually, I'd have lumped everything I own on Decordova-Reid to supply the goods, rather than fire blanks.

If he could've driven a strike at the target from where he was, BDR could've almost certainly laced a decent ball into Pereira's path and given the bleach blond Brazilian's positioning, just ahead of Ibrahima Konate, the likelihood of Fulham going two goals to the good was massively plausible. Now, in cold, sobering hindsight, we're ruing Bobby's selfishness and we're hung-up on what ifs and what could've been and that is why football is so terribly cruel.

I suppose, as a striker which had beaten Liverpool's defensive line with fresh air to blast into, BDR presumably thought he had the right to go for goal, it's instinctive, but it's actually so unlike him to not have listened to the call (if there even was one) and I know that in the reverse fixture, he will be extra motivated to make amends. We can't pin the loss on Bobby, that just isn't fair or even remotely correct, but it's a proper head-in-hands moment for the usually dependable attacker and he cannot hide from or escape that. All we ask is he does better in two weeks, and we all know damn well that he will.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-01-11-positives-and-negatives-liverpool-2-1-fulham/

Fulham have 'disappeared' from negotiations for midfielder – Silva's side were in advanced talks for signing
Not long ago, Fulham were seen as the main contenders for the signing of Fluminense midfielder André.

With the player engaged in playing the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Cup for his club, a deal was only expected by the end of last year, and that never happened.

Journalist Victor Lessa now shares a story about André and his concerning situation at Fluminense, as the club aren't receiving any bids for a January transfer.

As he talks about Fulham's interest in the player, it's claimed that the Whites have 'disappeared' from the talks, despite having advanced negotiations for the move.

There are no details on why Marco Silva's side gave up on the signing, although Lessa brings one specific reason why clubs left the race for André.

The midfielder reportedly turned down a move to Liverpool last summer, as he was focused on Fluminense's campaign. That's claimed to be an attitude which may have made other sides think badly of his mindset and his career plan, as if he wasn't enough focused on a transfer to Europe.

There's no certainty this is Fulham's case, as their attempt was something more recent. Still, there's some mysterious reason why the Whites are no longer in the race, while the player's staff is now worried that no offers are arriving.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-disappeared-negotiations-midfielder-silvas-side-advanced-talks-signing/

Chelsea injury latest as 11 miss Fulham clash amid Nkunku setback and triple boost
All the latest Chelsea injury news as Mauricio Pochettino has a depleted squad for this weekend's Premier League clash with Fulham

Chelsea must put their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Middlesbrough behind them this weekend when they take on London rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to the Championship outfit at the Riverside Stadium meaning they will have to be at their best in the return leg if they are to book their spot at the Wembley Stadium final.

Mauricio Pochettino was without a number of key players for the midweek fixture and the injury list is showing no signs of getting better. The problems in the treatment room at Cobham have plagued Chelsea's progress this season with the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Reece James and Ben Chilwell all missing large periods of the season.

Nkunku's recent hip setback means the summer signing faces more time away from action having only just returned last month. Fellow summer signings Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu and Robert Sanchez are also out.

James' unfortunate run of injuries has not stopped this season. Having suffered a hamstring injury in the opening day draw with Liverpool, the right-back's return was short-lived after suffering another hamstring problem in December.

Chilwell has been out of action since September with a hamstring injury himself. Fortunately for the England international, he has returned to full team training but his return to the pitch isn't expected to be rushed.

Like Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka is nearing a long-awaited return after suffering a knee injury in the 3-1 loss to West Ham in August. The same can't be said for Marc Cucurella (ankle) and Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), whose apparent timeframe isn't clear at the moment.

Benoit Badiashile is likely to be deemed fit to be in the squad this weekend after missing the win over Preston. The French defender has failed to cement his place in Pochettino's defence this season with injuries setting him back.

Finally, Wesley Fofana's ACL injury sustained in pre-season is set to see him miss most of the season.



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-injury-latest-11-miss-28429002

Fulham join race to sign Ronnie Edwards

Fulham are all set to square up with Crystal Palace and West Ham United for 20-year-old defensive sensation Ronnie Edwards.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Fulham are quite keen on having Ronnie Edwards in their ranks. The Cottagers are looking for defensive reinforcement in the ongoing transfer window, and they are ready to battle it out with Crystal Palace and West Ham United for the services of the England youth international.

The Rise of Ronnie Edwards
Edwards came up the ranks at Barnet before joining Peterborough United in the summer of 2020. He has gone from strength to strength since making this move. Despite being just 20, he is already a mainstay in their defence and has over a hundred appearances for their first team.

He has featured in all of their League One matches this season and has even contributed with two goals. His impressive rise and huge potential have attracted a lot of attention. Numerous Premier League clubs are interested, and they are looking to prise him away from Peterborough.

Ronnie Edwards in Demand
Crystal Palace and West Ham United are two clubs that have been monitoring Edwards for a while now. Both clubs are looking to reinforce their backline and prepare for the long term. They feel the England youth international has the potential to be a special player and can help their cause.

While both Crystal Palace and West Ham are keen, they are all set to face competition from Fulham. The Cottagers are in the market for defensive reinforcement as the future of Tosin Adarabioyo is uncertain. He is in the final six months of his contract, and there are no signs of him penning down a new deal.

With Adarabioyo all set to part ways, Fulham are in desperate need of defensive reinforcement. They are admirers of Edwards and are keen on acquiring his services. Club officials of Fulham were in attendance to watch the 20-year-old centre-back in action in Peterborough's recent clash against Leeds United in the FA Cup.

The England youth international is regarded as one of the best young players in the division and looks all set to make a move to the English top flight. While he is very important to Peterborough, they are unlikely to stand in his way and will sanction his departure for the right price. As a result, the Cottagers can surely win the race for his signatures.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2024/01/11/fulham-join-race-to-sign-ronnie-edwards/

Chelsea have fresh transfer deadline for new signings ahead of Fulham clash
Chelsea will face Fulham in their next Premier League game on Saturday but the Blues have a deadline to register new players for the game at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea are preparing to face Fulham this weekend as they look for a response after losing to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup. Mauricio Pochettino will hope to see his side get back to winning ways after a frustrating start to the season.

The Blues will be approaching the midway point of the transfer window when they take on Marco Silva's team at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have been linked with several notable players, including the likes of Victor Osimhen, Dominic Solanke and Ivan Toney.

When recently asked about possible incomings, Pochettino said: "I am very positive and happy with the squad. We are working, if something appears, we will announce. At the moment we are assessing and working normally, how we have been working from the beginning of the season."

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will complete any new signings in the coming weeks. However, the club face a fresh transfer deadline ahead of their game with Fulham.

In order for any new players to feature against Fulham, they must have completed their move before the player registration deadline. For Chelsea, this will be 12pm on Friday as a player must have been signed by noon on the day prior to the next match.

As it appears that Chelsea are not currently close to getting any deals over the line, the Blues will likely not have any debutants against Fulham, though the club are often full of surprises during the transfer window. Looking ahead to the return leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, a new signing would have to arrive by 12pm on Monday, January 22 to feature against Middlesbrough, provided they are not cup-tied.



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/chelsea-transfers-deadline-new-signings-28428838

George Wickens joins on loan from Fulham
Ross County FC can confirm the signing of highly-rated goalkeeper George Wickens on loan from English Premier League side, Fulham, until the end of the season.

22-year old Wickens spent the 21/22 season on loan at National League side Wealdstone FC, picking up two fans awards in the process. The 6 foot 5 goalkeeper has also represented England at U18 level.

Welcome to the club, George!



https://www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news-items/george-wickens-joins-on-loan-from-fulham

Wickens makes Ross County move
Fulham goalkeeper George Wickens has signed for Scottish side Ross County on loan until the end of the season.

The 22 year-old will hope to help County avoid relegation from the Scottish Premiership – having previously impressed on loan at Wealdstone a couple of years ago.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/01/wickens-makes-ross-county-move/

"An example" – Fulham player lauded by international teammate, considers him "a reference in every sense"
Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez has praised Fulham's Raul Jimenez, hailing his international teammate as "an example".

Gimenez has been speaking to Marca in Spain about his career to date during the Dutch side's winter training camp in Marbella.

That interview covered a range of topics, from his impressive performances in the Netherlands so far to what may lay ahead on the international stage with Mexico.

He's already made 24 appearances for his country, scoring four goals, and is set to be their star striker in the years to come.

That's a role he'll assume from Fulham star Raul Jimenez, who has been the leading man for El Tri for the last decade after making his debut in January 2013.

He returned to the international set up in 2021 after recovering from a skull fracture, he suffered in the clash with Arsenal and has been in and out of the side since, similar to his situation at Wolves and now Fulham.

He's currently battling back for Marco Silva's side after joining them in the summer and was in good form over December, something Gimenez was glad to see.

"The first thing is that Raúl, for me, is a reference in every sense, football and personal," he said.

"Life hit him hard after that injury and, although people sometimes don't realize it, he was off the playing field for a year. He fought for his life, first, and then fought to return to football.

"And now he is still in the Premier, the best League in the world, and he continues scoring goals. He is an example to follow and demonstrates it every day."



http://sportwitness.co.uk/example-fulham-player-lauded-international-teammate-considers-reference-every-sense/

Paul Merson predicts the score ahead of Chelsea vs Fulham in the Premier League
Paul Merson has predicted the score ahead of Chelsea against Fulham this weekend.

Chelsea host close rivals Fulham at lunchtime this Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.

They both lost their respective Carabao Cup semi-final first legs in midweek. Chelsea were beaten 1-0 away at Middlesbrough, while Fulham lost 2-1 away to Liverpool.

There's only four points separating the teams in the league table going into Saturday, so we're expecting a tight game. Interestingly, the Blues secured a 2-0 away win in the reverse fixture against Fulham earlier in the season.

Paul Merson has gone with a narrow Chelsea victory at home to Fulham in his pre-mach prediction.

He told Sportskeeda: "This is a big London derby and the two sides are right next to each other on the table, so I expect a fiercely contested game at Stamford Bridge. On their day, Fulham are a really good side and I like them, but you saw what happened against Liverpool yesterday.

"They played really well to take the lead and had one or two glorious chances to add to their advantage, but when it really mattered, they lacked the killer instinct to put the game to bed as the Reds staged a second-half comeback to win 2-1. If Chelsea win by two clear goals, they could go up to seventh on the table. I can't see them winning so comfortably, but something tells me the Blues will show up and secure all three points.

"Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham."

Chelsea vs Fulham
Chelsea have won seven of the previous 10 meetings with London neighbours Fulham, but it's just one victory in the most recent three clashes.

Mauricio Pochettino was without 12 players earlier in the week due to injury, so hopefully there's some good news before this next game.

Pochettino previously shared via Chelsea's official website that defenders Ben Chilwell and Benoit Badiashile may return to the squad by the league clash versus Fulham.

We would like to see Malo Gusto starting at left-back until Chilwell is available to start again.



https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/paul-merson-predicts-the-score-ahead-of-chelsea-vs-fulham-in-the-premier-league/

Ian Maatsen loan highlights major Chelsea issue before Fulham as Blues await injury assessments
Chelsea's injury issues have put a lot of pressure on Mauricio Pochettino's squad and Ian Maatsen's expected move to Borussia Dortmund has illustrated the problems that can cause

Chelsea have already seen some outgoing loans this month in the shape of Eddie Beach and Alex Matos to Gateshead and Huddersfield Town respectively, and have recalled others from their temporary moves away. Andrey Santos and Zak Sturge have both returned to Cobham after difficult stays with Nottingham Forest and Peterborough United.

Ian Maatsen is set to be the next to head out. The Dutch defender is expected to make the move to Borussia Dortmund and was absent from Mauricio Pochettino's squad that faced Middlesbrough on Tuesday night as he flew out to Germany.

That saw Chelsea go into the game one player short of the number of substitutes permitted. Pochettino continued to name two goalkeepers on the bench in Marcus Bettinelli and Lucas Bergstrom.

That left the Blues head coach with options of Mykhailo Mudryk, Armando Broja, Alfie Gilchrist, Deivid Washington, Dylan Williams and Michael Golding to change things up. Against Boro, Mudryk and Broja were selected by Pochettino in the second period while Gilchrist was a late addition to proceedings.

While Chelsea's boss did have academy players to offer more rotation to his side, the evening was evidence that he perceives his options to be limited and the absence of Maatsen has exacerbated that issue. For all of the signings the club have made in the last 12 months, 11 injury issues and Nicolas Jackson's absence due to AFCON has left the squad under strain.

Chelsea will be able to select David Datro Fofana who has been recalled for Union Berlin. However, any apperance for him would mean he could not play for another club this season. With a move expected, an outing for the Blues appears unlikely.

Speaking following Tuesday's defeat, Pochettino admitted uncertainty over whether he would be able to welcome any players back to his squad to alleviate the pressure. Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile and Carney Chukwuemeka have been described as 'so close' as Christopher Nkunku's situation should become more clear ahead of Fulham after continued assessment on his hip issue suffered in training.

Pochettino said ahead of Preston: "We are so close with Chilwell, Badiashile and Chukwuemeka but we need to see every day the evolution. Then it's about if we can improve but they are so close. Always the risk is really important and seeing how the players perform in the training session.

"All of the players when they go to the session all feel they are ready. If you ask they say 'I know myself' but 99.9 per cent they make a mistake. They don't know themself. Our opinion is good to see if they are available or not."

Chelsea have attempted to be patient and thorough in the rehabilitation of their injured stars, and their opinion will be tested once more this weekend. Maatsen will be missing from the squad once again and it remains to be seen whether the Blues can fill their squad.



https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/ian-maatsen-loan-highlights-major-28428958

QPR and Bristol City eyeing deals for Fulham striker
Rodrigo Muniz could be on the move this month

    QPR and Bristol City have inquired about Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz for potential January transfer deals.
    Muniz joined Fulham in the summer of 2021, and spent last season on loan with Middlesbrough.
    The Championship duo are not the only clubs interested in Muniz, as there is also attention from clubs in his native Brazil.

QPR and Bristol City are interested in January transfer deals for Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz.

That's according to journalist Darren Witcoop, who says that the Championship duo have both made enquiries about the Brazilian.

Muniz yet to fully establish himself at Fulham
It is now two-and-a-half years since Muniz first joined Fulham, signing from Flamengo in his native Brazil for a reported €8million in the summer of 2021.

After scoring five goals in 25 league games to help the Cottagers win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League during his first season with the club, Muniz then returned to the second-tier last season.

That move saw the striker link-up with Middlesbrough on a season-long loan, where he scored just twice in 17 appearances in all competitions.

Having returned to Fulham in the summer, the 22-year-old has now found himself in and out of Marco Silva's side during the current Premier League campaign.

As a result, it now seems as though he could be on the move once again, with the January transfer window now open.

Championship duo among clubs eyeing Muniz
Judging by this latest update from Witcoop, both QPR and Bristol City are now taking an interest in Muniz, as they look to add to their own attacking options before the February 1st deadline.

It is thought that the two Championship clubs have both asked about whether the striker is available in January.

However, they are seemingly not alone with their interest in Muniz, who is also said to be attracting attention from clubs back in his home country of Brazil.

As things stand, there are still two-and-a-half years remaining on the Brazilian's contract with Fulham, securing his future at the club until the end of the 2025/26 season.

As a result, the Premier League side are in a strong position to dictate his future during the current window.

Mixed seasons so far for Bristol City and QPR
Both Bristol City and QPR have changed managers in 2023/24.The Robins replaced Nigel Pearson with Liam Manning, and Marti Cifuentes taking over from Gareth Ainsworth at Loftus Road.

That has arguably contributed to differing fortunes for the two clubs, with Bristol City 11th in the Championship table, four points adrift of the play-offs, and QPR 23rd, four points from safety.

Bristol City's next match sees them travel to Deepdale to face Preston North End on Saturday afternoon, while QPR will hosting Watford at Sunday lunchtime in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Muniz an intriguing target for Championship clubs
It does feel as though this is an interesting link to emerge for these two sides.

Both clubs have somewhat lacked a consistent source of goals in the Championship this season, so you can understand why they may be interested in signing a striker this month.

Doing so would obviously boost their prospects for the rest of the campaign, although given he is yet to find top form in England, there may be questions about whether Muniz is the best option to fill that void, while his Premier League status may mean he is not the cheapest option either.

With that in mind, you feel QPR and Bristol City may have to give this potential deal a fair amount of thought, before deciding whether or not to make their move for the Fulham striker.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/qpr-and-bristol-city-eyeing-deals-for-fulham-striker/

Date and kick-off time confirmed for Fulham FA Cup trip
A date has been confirmed for Newcastle United's FA Cup fourth round clash with Fulham.

The Magpies beat local rivals Sunderland 3-0 in the third round last weekend thanks to an Alexander Isak brace and a Dan Ballard own goal, with a trip to Craven Cottage their reward in the next round.

And it has now been confirmed that that tie will be played on Saturday, 27th January, with kick-off set for 7pm GMT.

The match is also one of six FA Cup games to be selected for live television coverage over that weekend. United's game agaisnt Marco Silva's men will be shown live on ITV4.

Any further details regarding the fixture will be confirmed in due course.



https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/date-and-kick-off-time-confirmed-for-fulham-fa-cup-trip/

Stamford Bridge Awaits Chelsea-Fulham Duel

Chelsea and Fulham: A Tale of Two Londons
Stamford Bridge Showdown: Derby Day Looms

Chelsea and Fulham prepare for a captivating west London derby this Saturday. With only four points and three league positions separating them, the stakes are high. Fulham, comfortably nestled in mid-table safety, approach the match with a sense of achievement, while Chelsea, under Mauricio Pochettino, find themselves grappling with inconsistency, a far cry from their European ambitions.

Blues' Inconsistency Meets Fulham's Road Woes
Chelsea's recent form has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, exemplified in their midweek loss to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final's first leg. Pochettino's side has yet to find a rhythm that resonates with the club's lofty standards. Fulham, on the other hand, despite their consecutive home wins, face a daunting task away from home, having not secured a victory in regular time on the road for over two months, including a Carabao Cup setback at Anfield.

Team News: Pochettino's Selection Puzzle
Chelsea's squad depth faces a test with Christopher Nkunku's hip injury casting doubt over his participation. The return of Benoit Badiashile and Carney Chukwuemeka offers some solace, but Ben Chilwell's situation demands caution. Pochettino's choice to field Cole Palmer as a false nine drew criticism, but hopes are pinned on Armando Broja for a starting role. Nicolas Jackson's absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations, along with Fulham's missing trio – Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Fode Ballo-Toure – adds another layer to the strategic conundrum.

Fulham's injury concerns include Tim Ream, who remained benched at Anfield, and a new worry in Harrison Reed. Adama Traore continues to be sidelined.

Rivalry Renewed
The derby isn't just a game; it's a continuation of a historical rivalry. Fulham's memorable win over Chelsea last January stands out, their only victory against the Blues since Luis Boa Morte's triumph in April 2006. With Chelsea leading the head-to-head record with 51 wins to Fulham's 12 and 27 draws, the upcoming clash isn't just a game – it's a chapter in a long-standing London narrative.



https://eplindex.com/102131/stamford-bridge-awaits-chelsea-fulham-duel.html

Player ratings: Liverpool 2-1 Fulham

George Rossiter has the player ratings from the first leg of the League Cup Semi-Finals.

I got a real sense of déjà vu at Anfield. Sat centrally behind the goal, facing the famous Kop End, hearing Anfield roar as Liverpool turned a losing situation into victory in a matter of minutes. The feeling of heartbreak is ever so slightly less this time, though, with a second leg to turn things round at Craven Cottage in two weeks' time.

Bernd Leno

In terms of shots on goal, Leno was left mostly unchallenged in the first half. It is worth noting, however, just how composed he remained for every Liverpool ball into the box, catching everything that came his way. He was sprung into action mostly after Liverpool had taken the lead, most noticeably with two incredible saves from Darwin Nunez, one acrobatic save from a header heading towards the top corner, and another from close range after a pinpoint cross from the young Bradley. 8/10.

Timothy Castagne

Luiz Diaz looked particularly strong compared to the rest of the Liverpool front line in the first half and Castagne defended against him well. In the first 45 he made a number of brilliant last ditch interceptions in our box too. My biggest issue with his game was the lack of attacking input that hampered us on occasions.70% pass accuracy, no key passes and not a single cross into the box is not good enough for a full back in an offensive sense. 6.5/10.

Tosin

Really poor performance I think, which is surprising on recent form. Looked really lapse on the ball from the off, misplacing multiple passes and getting caught in possession too often. It was like watching the Tosin of two years ago who always seemed to struggle on the ball. While he was unlucky to see Jones' equaliser deflect off him, if he tried defending the ball instead of stepping off 10 yards...that probably doesn't result in a goal. 4.5/10.

Issa Diop

A less dramatic performance from Tosin's centre back partner. Maybe you could argue he could have tracked Gakpo better for the winning goal and reacted quicker to Nunez's cross, but that would quite a harsh assessment. Diop was solid on the ball, did well at defending his own box and especially strong at helping to defend set pieces. 6/10.

Antonee Robinson

Defensively played really well, completely isolating Harvey Elliott out of the game in the 56 minutes the ex-Fulham academy graduate was on the pitch for. Going forward, Jedi offered a hell of a lot more of a threat than Castagne. But as the game on, he became annoyingly wasteful in possession. The number of long balls down the channel that were completely unrealistic for any of our attackers to chase down after Liverpool took the lead was particularly frustrating. 6/10.

Joao Palhinha

The Portuguese man was the perfect shield any time any one of Liverpool's midfield trio ventured forward throughout. His nine tackles were triple the amount of the next best Fulham player, his 10 clearances comfortably the best from anyone in a white shirt too. Even late into the game, Joao was one of the only players showing any attacking intent as Fulham remained a goal behind. 7.5/10.

Harrison Reed

A proper captain's performance from the man wearing the armband on the night. Lots of trust was put into Harrison after a recent spell out of the side which has seen Tom Cairney deployed in a deeper midfield position. In the first half, he was the best of the 22 players on the pitch, winning every second ball in the middle of the park and driving Fulham forward at any given opportunity. To continue until deep into the second half on the back of a knock taken just before half time showed a real warrior's attitude on a big occasion. 8/10 – Man of the match.

Andreas Pereira

Really good first half showing as the most forward thinking of the midfield three. Looked really neat on the ball and played a number of lovely touches to set Fulham on the counter attack. Does really well to bring the ball down under pressure from Van Dijk and slide in Willian for our goal too. 7/10.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid

Didn't see too much of the ball in the first half as Fulham looked to attack more down the right hand side, with Willian and Robinson frequently doubling up on Liverpool's young full-back Bradley. Covered Castagne well for the most part too in a defensive sense. When Fulham focused on soaking up pressure in the second half and playing on the counter, Bobby was set free multiple times and his decision making left a little bit to be desired when Fulham had chances to find a second goal. 5.5/10.

Willian

His class showed in the composure he showed to score our goal, not rushing a shot the moment it came to him in the area and gliding past a defender before squeezing a shot past Kelleher. Saw a lot less of the ball in the second half as Silva seemed to target counter attacks down the opposite side of the pitch. 7/10.

Raul Jimenez

A lot of Fulham's best attacking play came out wide, so it was hard for Raul to play his way into the game at any stage really. At least in the first half he showed the intent to track back for the team and defend from the front. In the second, it felt as if he'd lost a bit of fight, jumping less for aerial duels and pressing less on Liverpool's centre backs. 5.5/10.

Substitutes

Tom Cairney and Harry Wilson

Subbed on after 71 minutes for Andreas Pereira and Willian

Neither had the desired impact of getting their foot on the ball and pushing Fulham forward on the counter. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone would have the way we were set up to play in the second half, which was frustratingly negative. 6/10 for both.

Sasa Lukic (subbed on after 82 minutes for Harrison Reed) came on too late to be fairly rated, but you do wonder what his role is in this squad going forward.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-01-11-player-ratings-liverpool-2-1-fulham/

Newcastle United Supporters Trust make football regulator request after 'disgraceful' FA Cup decision
Newcastle United will travel to Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round for a 7pm kick-off on January 27

Newcastle United supporters are raging after their trip to Fulham in the FA Cup was confirmed for a 7pm kick-off.

The Magpies had not been in the hat for the fourth round since 2020 but advanced this time around after a 3-0 win over bitter rivals Sunderland. A trip to the capital beckons as Newcastle drew Fulham, with the game taking place on January 27.

Their last trip to the capital ended in heartache - and a cup exit - as Chelsea beat United on penalties in the Carabao Cup. Newcastle take on another West London outfit as Eddie Howe's men aim to end the club's 69-year wait without a domestic trophy.

However, fans are furious after ITV announced the fourth round TV schedule. Newcastle will be broadcast on ITV1 for a 7pm kick-off time, meaning fans planning a 550-mile round trip from the North East will not return home until the early hours of the morning.

One supporter echoed the collective feeling among supporters once the announcement was made. His social media post read: "Need to start lodging complaints about these kick-off times. Are supporters expected to stay overnight in extortionate London hotels? (It is) difficult to get the train back at that time of night."

Another went as far as to call the decision a "disgrace", questioning why the broadcaster needed to televise the game given the alternatives. The Newcastle United Supporters Club also hit out, urging the incoming football regulator to take action.

"Once again we are appalled at the lack of thought given to travelling supporters ahead of our FA Cup match at Craven Cottage," a statement read. "A 7pm kick-off leaves supporters with no option of catching a train home, with the last train for Newcastle departing King's Cross at 9pm, leaving thousands now looking for accommodation in London with only two weeks' notice.

"The financial and logistical burden imposed on travelling supporters by TV companies is shocking in an industry repaying huge profits. It is always the fans who pay the price.

"The loyalty of our supporters is once again being taken for granted in the knowledge that we will fill the away end regardless of the kick-off time. We urge the incoming football retail tour to ensure that significant changes are put in place to ensure fans are prioritised when it comes to TV scheduling of games."



https://www.newcastleworld.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-supporters-trust-make-football-regulator-request-after-disgraceful-fa-cup-decision-4475401

Bristol City Make Enquiries For £4.5 Million-Rated Premier League Striker
Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City have registered an interest in signing Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz, according to Darren Witcoop of the Sunday Mirror.

Muniz has struggled to nail down a starting spot at Fulham this season and has been attracting interest since the start of the window. QPR and the Robins have made enquiries to the London club about the player's availability.

The two Championship clubs are not the only sides interested. Muniz has also garnered interest back in Brazil, having initially spent time at Cortiba and Flamengo previously before signing for Fulham.

Marco Silva has struggled to find game time for the 22-year-old this season. He has started just three games in the Premier League, with the majority of his minutes coming in the cup competitions. His one goal this term came in the EFL Cup, in Fulham's fourth-round win over Ipswich Town. Muniz didn't feature against Liverpool last night despite being named in the squad.

The Hoops are currently on a torrid run of form, failing to score in three of their last five games. They have the joint-lowest goal tally in the Championship with just 21 goals and need a striker like Muniz to come in and change their fortunes in front of goal.

The Robins are in a different situation, lingering around mid-table. Still, the signing of the Brazilian could help bridge the four-point gap currently between them and sixth-place Sunderland in the play-off positions.

Muniz had a loan spell in the Championship last season but failed to make any major impact during his time at Middlesbrough. The former Cortiba man scored two goals in 17 games during his time with Michael Carrick's side, and his market value currently sits at just £4.5 million, according to FotMob.

There is also the subject of interest from Brazil. Ge Globo in Brazil reported last week that Muniz had interest from Atletico Mineiro, but their proposal to Fulham did not suit the English club. The report also stated that the striker was unlikely to leave Europe, making a move to one of the interested Championship clubs all the more likely.

Muniz may prefer to join Bristol City due to QPR's involvement in the relegation battle. Gareth Ainsworth's side are currently four points from safety and are showing no signs of turning their form from the first half of the season around. Liam Manning's side remain in with a shout at promotion and therefore may feel confident if it turns into a battle to sign the Fulham forward.

Writer's View
Muniz is yet to find form at Fulham but has proven in Brazil that he can be a valuable asset for a team. Bristol City are likely to have the upper hand when it comes to signing him, but if QPR can get their hands on the Brazilian it could transform their season completely.

A move to Brazil looks unlikely, so it's imperative that one of the Championship clubs takes advantage of the opportunity to land Muniz this January.



https://therealefl.co.uk/2024/01/11/bristol-city-make-enquiries-for-4-5-million-rated-premier-league-striker/

Nkunku To Spearhead Pochettino's Attack | 4-2-3-1 Chelsea Predicted Lineup Vs Fulham
4-2-3-1 Chelsea Predicted Lineup Vs Fulham ahead of their crucial Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge this Saturday afternoon.

Chelsea will welcome Fulham at Stamford Bridge this Saturday afternoon as they look to secure a win in the Premier League. The Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Middlesbrough in midweek, so they would be eager to bounce back by putting in a much-improved performance in this London derby.

Mauricio Pochettino will stick with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation and is expected to name a strong first XI for this game. Christopher Nkunku could get a chance to play from the start of this contest if he can recover in time from his injury.

4-2-3-1 Chelsea Predicted Lineup To Face Fulham

Defence

Dorde Petrovic will continue to function in goal for Chelsea after shipping in one goal in his last outing. Thiago Silva will resume his defensive partnership with Axel Disasi at the centre of Pochettino's backline as they try to keep the Fulham attackers frustrated throughout the 90 minutes.

Malo Gusto will operate as the right-back while Levi Colwill fills in on the other flank as the left-back. Both of them will have to pick and choose their moments to join in on the attack.

Alfie Gilchrist will have to settle for a spot on the bench as he offers cover for the defensive positions.

Midfield

Conor Gallagher and Moises Caicedo will anchor the midfield for Chelsea as they try to win the 50-50 duels at the centre of the park. Both of them need to retain possession well if they want to cause some problems for the Fulham defendes.

The talented trio of Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke will play just ahead of them as part of Pochettino's attack. All three of them will have to combine well if the Blues are to create enough chances to win this London derby.

Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez will be named on the bench as they wait for their chance to impress in the second 45 minutes if Pochettino decides to call upon their services.

Attack

Christopher Nkunku could spearhead Chelsea's attack if he can recover in time for this game. Armando Broja will offer cover for him on the bench and might come on to influence the game in the latter stages if the Blues are in need of a goal by then.




https://the4thofficial.net/2024/01/nkunku-to-spearhead-pochettinos-attack-4-2-3-1-chelsea-predicted-lineup-vs-fulham/?utm_content=cmp-true

Inter Milan targeting move for Fulham defender of Nigerian descent
Italian giants Inter Milan are keeping tabs on Fulham defender of Nigerian descent  Tosin Adarabioyo who will be out of contract in the summer.

According to FCinter1908 citing Italian journalist Marco Barzaghi,  the right-footed center-back is being targeted by Inter Milan Piero Ausilio as one who could help bolster their defense.

The Serie A table-toppers had eyed a move for Lille defender Tiago Djalò but are now set to miss out to Juventus for his services and that has ignited their interest in Adarabioyo.

The list of the 26-year-old'S admirers seems to be growing by the day with clubs becoming aware that he will be available for free next summer.

Besides the Nerazzurri, the Super Eagles-eligible defender has been linked with two other Serie A sides in AC Milan and Napoli.

While he is yet to play outside the Premier League, his experience in playing at the top level is evident having played 118 games for Fulham since joining the club in the summer of 2020.

Marco Silva will be well aware that he is on the verge of losing one of his best players and might not have given up on convincing Adarabioyo to extend his stay at the Craven Cottage.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=50084