Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 06/01/26...

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CAF Africa Cup of Nations

Monday 05/01
Nigeria	4-0	Mozambique

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Jack and Loz at the Cottage - Blog 329
Date: 4th January 2026
Opposition: Liverpool
Score: 2-2
Fulham goal scorers: Harry F Wilson, Harrison WTFWT Reed
Weather: very cold but sunny
Atmosphere: very tense but excellent
MOTM: it could be almost any Fulham player, all of whom gave everything for the shirt. In a David v Goliath contest, men who wouldn't even get on Liverpool's bench played as well as, and sometimes better than, the champions. More importantly, they fought stronger and harder and they didn't stop fighting until the final whistle. We think Harry Wilson just edged it with another scintillating performance and yet another goal. For a long time he must have thought it was the best goal of the game.....
Moment of the Match: sometimes, something odd happens when Fulham score an important goal at the Hammersmith End. The floodlights cast magic and shadows, time slows down and senses are heightened so the ball hangs in the air for longer than it should. Clint v Juve, Dennis v Derby, Harry v Brentford - the list is already long and another exquisite example was added on Sunday. There was one minute left to play, it felt impossible to overturn an unjust result but the Hammy End were on their feet, screaming encouragement, willing the ball into the net. It came to Kevin; we expected trickery but the Birthday Brazilian played a simple pass to the unmarked Harrison Reed. Harrison dribbled, set himself and unleashed a furious strike. The ball soared and spun along its arc; fans held their breath as they waited to see where it would land. A flurry of heartbeats later, it tucked itself into the very top corner of the goal and all hell broke loose.
Lunch: Pret
Post match drinks: the Riverside
Dinner: the Blue Boat

Last season, Fulham took 4 points off Liverpool. Although they're tough and ruthless opponents, we always give them a good game and there are usually plenty of goals. But that's when we've got a full complement of players. On Sunday, 7 key players were missing and this was the 3rd of 5 games in 15 days. At the current rate of attrition, the Under 9s will be starting against Middlesbrough.

This meant that the team picked itself. No one was surprised about the back 5 or that the evergreen Tom Cairney was asked to pull the strings in front of them. It was a defensive line-up and for the first 10 minutes, they did nothing but defend. Liverpool wanted first blood and they wanted it quickly. They attacked like predators - fast and terrifying, threats coming from all across the front line, each more ferocious than the last.

But Fulham stood firm. There were no mistakes, no recklessness. The ball was hoofed away, blasted out for a throw-in or hustled behind for a corner with no drama and no recriminations. Drilled by Marco and led by Andersen, the defence regrouped and waited to repel the next assault.

Patience, as we know, is a virtue and eventually, Liverpool tired of battering an unassailable defence and let us have the ball for a bit. The forwards wasted no time in surprising Liverpool with the range and accuracy of their passing and the speed of their attacks. Tom came into his own controlling the tempo of the game while Emile's younger legs did the running for him and Saša's no-nonsense tackles kept Liverpool in check.

Fulham's sporadic but effective pressing unsettled Liverpool's midfield, creating unexpected opportunities. The goal came from one such - a long forward pass from Cuenca, an audacious flick from Raúl and then Harry doing what he does best - scoring a Premier League goal. It was checked by VAR and given quite quickly - no one knew then the part VAR would play in the match. How they would try to seize the leading role.

If Liverpool were unsteady before the goal they were rattled after it - conceding wasn't in the script. But the nerves of Fulham fans didn't dissipate, even when we reached half time without further incident. We knew one goal wouldn't be enough. We knew that Liverpool could replace their hundred million pound starters with some hundred million pound subs, while Marco's options were the unreliable Kevin, the reliable but uninspiring Sander Berge, Adama Traore who should be on gardening leave, and a bunch of youngsters. Oh, and Harrison Reed, who was surely there just to make up the numbers.

Liverpool started the second half as they'd started the first but this time driven by the need for a response as well as general menace. Their first goal was always coming but it's a compliment (although a back-handed one) to Fulham's defence that it was such a controversial one. A lot has already been said about wonky lines and 5cm tolerances and we won't add to that other than to say keeping the players hanging around in the cold helps no one; if it takes that long to make a decision you've got to go with what the linesman saw. And VAR are either incompetent, or corrupt, or they just want to make football all about them.

Once the scores were level, watching the match was like having dental treatment without an anaesthetic. There was a brief moment of respite when Kevin, having bounded on to replace Emile and got stuck in to grappling with defenders, set Raúl free to race forward with the ball. This led to Harry hitting the bar and a goalmouth scramble which we couldn't quite capitalise on. After that, it was a case of watching the minutes tick down ever more slowly while the substitutions proceeded exactly as expected.

We were surprised to see Harrison come on, especially as Saša was still playing well and there were only a few minutes to go.

But what the hell do we know?

Liverpool's second goal was always coming too. This wasn't going to be one of those games where we managed the danger away. There was no controversy about this one, only disappointment. As the Liverpool fans made some noise for the first time all afternoon and their players celebrated like they'd won the league again, it was hard not to lose belief; not to feel that this was a challenge too far for a tired and depleted team.

But the tired and depleted team had other ideas. This was one of many matches this season where they didn't give up, they didn't give in, they didn't back down. Even so, time had nearly run out when Kevin played his simple pass and Harrison made his fateful move. It looks fantastic every time you watch it - whatever angle, whatever speed, with or without the Titanic music. But no re-watch is better than the Moment we saw it from the Hammy End, from the ball leaving Harrison's foot to rippling the back of the net. Unsavable, unbeatable.

Random musings:-

- Kick-off was delayed due to a medical emergency. We hope the person involved is ok

- In a game of long sleeves and gloves Saša Lukić needed neither. He thinks accessories are for wimps

- The riverside cameraman got in Jedi's way every time he took a throw-in. Surely he knows he has a telephoto lens?

- Liverpool's keeper's Jolly Green Giant costume was sadly faded

- Whilst we were pleased to see Leno in the Riverside everyone really wanted Harrison

- Hopefully Kevin's birthday assist is the confidence boost he needs

- Whilst Antonee is getting back to his best on the pitch, his finest Moment was joining in the special one Iniesta song on the lap of appreciation

- This was a very clean game although the Liverpool players went down very easily at 1-1 and the ref gave them absolutely everything

- Circling back to the goal, the celebrations were fantastic - Harrison running amok with Jedi and Cuenca clinging on, Andersen with his hands to his head in disbelief, Kevin piling on and tipping off. And it was just as good in the stands!

While Harrison's goal was one for the ages it's worth remembering how little football he's played in the last few seasons. And he's not the only one. Even down to its bare bones, this team is so much more than the sum of its parts.

We've got our Championship heroes - Tom, Harry, Jedi, Harrison himself. We've got the most professional of stand-ins - Cuenca, Castagne and how good was Issa Diop????? In Kevin and Jonah we've got players people doubted but who are slowly coming good. We've got a striker who should be on his knees but who somehow plays game after game at full pelt while contributing goals and assists.

This polyglot, mix and match side went toe to toe with one of the best teams in Europe and came out with a point and a moral victory.

It wouldn't have been possible without the man who keeps the understudies motivated, who coaches Championship stars in their 30s to score Premier League goals. With the managerial merry-go-round spinning again, it's more important than ever to keep Marco. Presumably the players we're linked with are the ones on his wish list and the Club have to go all out to get them.

With Marco, our magnificent team, the returning Super Eagles, the recovering wounded and some new additions, Fulham will be like Harrison's goal - unstoppable.



https://werdsmith.com/p/PVrB2GSfbWPSTA

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"Expectation is" – Chelsea to have new manager in dugout for Fulham this week
Chelsea have another Premier League midweek game, and the expectation is they will have a new permanent manager in the dugout.

It will not be Callum McFarlane again apparently, although Chelsea fans have been impressed with him so far as he fought out a point against Manchester City with some tactical tweaks at half time to turn things around after going a goal down away from home.

After the changes, Chelsea gained more control and stopped City having all their possession. And then in the final moments of the game, The Blues got their just rewards with Enzo Fernandez arriving at the back post to bundle the ball over the line and take a point away from The Etihad Stadium.

Obviously Chelsea didn't get the win, but against a top side like City and how things have been going for Chelsea recently, this was a decent point to take away form this game.

Rosenior next up
Former Hull City boss Liam Rosenior is the next one expected to take the reigns at Chelsea after Enzo Maresca and The Blues parted ways on New Years Day.

Rosenior is apparently now in London and will join Chelsea from Strasbourg as the new head coach at Stamford Bridge.

Alex Crook of talkSPORT posted on X last night:

"White smoke coming out of Cobham. Expectation is [Liam] Rosenior will be in the dugout when #CFC go to Fulham on Weds."

First game vs his former club
As a player, Rosenior used to play for Fulham not too long ago. So his first game as Chelsea manager looks set to be against his former side in what could be a fitting start to his Chelsea career.



https://chelsea.news/2026/01/expectation-is-chelsea-to-have-new-manager-in-dugout-for-fulham-this-week/

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"Not interesting" – Fulham €30m+ offer needs to rise as director talks tough
Fulham have a concrete desire to sign PSV Eindhoven's Ricardo Pepi in the winter market.

Eindhovens Dagblad already reported on this last month and a fresh report from the same outlet talked about Fulham's offer.

On New Year's Eve, ED reported PSV had rejected around €30-35m from Marco Silva's side. They also indicated Fulham could return with an improved offer.

PSV technical director Earnest Stewart has now confirmed rejecting an offer for the 22-year-old. Eindhovens Dagblad have relayed his comments.

"It's not interesting for us," he said, without mentioning the fee received or the club that sent an offer for the American.

Eindhovens Dagblad state the Premier League side tabled this proposal and the amount offered didn't convince PSV.

Fulham need to go higher for Pepi
Voetbal International also cover Stewart's admission of turning down an offer for Pepi. They report this was tabled by Fulham and it was around €30-35m, so the figures are being repeated consistently.

VI state Fulham haven't returned with an improved offer yet and as things stand, the Dutch club have no plans to sell the attacker in the winter market.

According to them, PSV will need an 'exorbitant' fee, without mentioning any figure, to sell Pepi in January. Over to Fulham to try again.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/not-interesting-for-us-director-confirms-rejecting-bid-fulham-need-to-do-better-for-january-signing/

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Chelsea want new manager appointed for Fulham clash as Liam Rosenior arrives for interview
Enzo Maresca successor could take charge of west London derby, but Strasbourg need to secure a replacement first

Chelsea will interview Liam Rosenior on Monday, with a view to appointing him as their new head coach in time for Wednesday's game at Fulham.

Rosenior flew from France to London on Sunday afternoon to continue talks with Chelsea in person. He is currently in charge of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, who are owned by the same BlueCo consortium that also run Chelsea.

Chelsea have had their Under-21 manager Calum McFarlane in charge of the first team on a caretaker basis since Enzo Maresca departed the club on New Year's Day following the deterioration of his relationship with ownership.

Rosenior's flight to London came while McFarlane's Chelsea were facing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, where they earned a 1-1 draw thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser from Enzo Fernandez.

He was accompanied on the plane by Strasbourg club president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir, who will join Rosenior in meetings with Chelsea directors on Monday.

McFarlane is prepared to take charge of the Premier League match against Fulham but is expecting that Chelsea will have their new permanent head coach in place by that point, which would allow him to return to his usual job with the U21s, who face Benfica in the Premier League International Cup on the same night.

Strasbourg insist Rosenior will not sign a contract to become the new Chelsea manager until they have lined up a suitable replacement.

It is understood that former Bournemouth and Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil is on a three-man shortlist to succeed Rosenior if he does join Chelsea. That is being whittled down to two, with a final decision to be made on Monday and before Rosenior's departure from the French club is fully signed off.

Rosenior, 41, was appointed as Strasbourg head coach in July 2024 to replace Patrick Vieira, just over two months after he had been sacked as manager of Championship side Hull following 18 months in charge having missed out on the play-offs.

He guided the Alsace-based club to seventh in the Ligue 1 table last season and they currently occupy the same position after 17 games, as well as topping the Conference League table with an unbeaten record.

Talks with Chelsea were never expected to progress until the completion of Strasbourg's 1-1 draw at Nice on Saturday, which is likely to prove his final game in charge.

McFarlane said after Sunday's draw in Manchester that when told on Thursday he would be preparing the team for the City match, he was informed that Chelsea's new permanent head coach could be "in on Monday." The Chelsea sporting director informing him was referring to Rosenior.

Chelsea have a training session on Monday at their Cobham base, which McFarlane is expecting to lead. As things stand as of Monday afternoon, he is also scheduled to conduct a pre-Fulham press conference at 12pm GMT on Tuesday.

Strasbourg return to training on Monday afternoon, following a day off on Sunday, and the session will take place in Rosenior's absence.

If Rosenior is hired by Chelsea, he would be the club's first English manager since their all-time leading scorer Frank Lampard, who was in charge from July 2019 to January 2021, before returning on a caretaker basis from April 2023 until the end of the 2022-23 season.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-liam-rosenior-next-manager-appointment-b1264963.html

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Why was Florian Wirtz's 'offside' goal for Liverpool vs. Fulham allowed to stand?

Social media was set ablaze with talk of PGMOL conspiracies, the red cartel, and all sorts of other nonsense after Florian Wirtz's equaliser for Liverpool in their 2-2 draw with Fulham was allowed to stand – despite looking offside to the naked eye.

"I was sure it was offside so I didn't even celebrate," Wirtz told Sky Sports after the final whistle, having seen the linesman flag as soon as the ball ended up in the back of the net.

"I felt the same. Many people inside the stadium felt the same," responded Fulham boss Marco Silva, who was fairly clear-eyed and magnanimous.

"It looked offside, but we have to believe the semi-automated technology worked well and did right."

Sure enough, if you take a freeze-frame still of the moment that the ball left Conor Bradley's boot it certainly appears that the Germany international is just behind the last Fulham body.

The lines on the pitch help, with Wirtz's foot just ahead, in line with penalty spot, while Fulham defender Issa Diop is just behind it.

While it's clear to see that Wirtz is minimally offside, particularly through a 2026 lens where the average football viewer is accustomed to intricate video-assisted reviews, you might have called it "level" in the pre-VAR era.

That's what football's lawmakers had in mind when they made a tweak to the Premier League rules over four years ago – way back at the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

"The toenails and noses that might have been offside last year won't be next season," explained Mike Riley, general manager of PGMOL at the time.

"We will carry on following the same process as last year, so you'll apply the pixel lines, place the attacking line and defending line on top, and then the thicker broadcast lines. But where they overlap those, situations will now be deemed as onside."

Bringing in an extra level of 'tolerance' is ultimately why Wirtz's goal stood, despite being originally flagged by the linesman at Craven Cottage.

While it's clear to see that Wirtz was offside, if we're talking to the millimetre, he fell within the approximate 5cm threshold of tolerance.

That's the technical reason for the goal being given. But it does throw up something of a can of worms.

For example, other competitions – such as the Champions League – have binned off the idea of a 'tolerance level' since it started using the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT), judging offsides to the millimetre.

So if Wirtz's goal had been scored on a European night, it wouldn't have counted. That's despite the Premier League now also using SAOT, albeit not the same system that UEFA uses.

You also have the issue of scenarios where offsides that appear to be just as marginal, at least to the layman's view, have been ruled out as offside.



https://www.planetfootball.com/liverpool/florian-wirtz-offside-liverpool-fulham-goal-explainer

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Reed the left-field saviour as thunderous strike ensures parity for Fulham against champions
Premier League

Fulham (1) 2 Wilson 17, Reed 97

Liverpool (0) 2 Wirtz 57, Gakpo 94

He was never the most prolific of goalscorers. And these days he hardly gets any minutes on the pitch. But Harrison Reed made full use of the five minutes he was given by Marco Silva to crash in a point-saving worldie.

So often it is Harry Wilson who comes up with the spectacular. This time it was Reed. He only came on for Sasa Lukic in the 92nd minute - just in time to see Cody Gakpo plunder what appeared to be an injury-time winner for the Merseysiders.

Reed was wide on the left and a good 25 yards out when he unleashed his howitzer. It flew into the far top corner out of Alisson's reach and ensured the Whites extended their unbeaten run to five games.

Reed was in danger of being the forgotten man at Craven Cottage. He has only made three sub appearances in the Premier League and his only starts have come in the League Cup. It was his first goal since a 3-1 win at Everton in April 2023 and first at the Cottage since a 3-0 win against Aston Villa in October 2022.

This was some way to remind fans that he is still out there.

That late leveller was richly deserved. Wilson gave Fulham a half-time lead that was fully merited. They had reduced Liverpool to a plodding outfit, unable to make any impression on a disciplined Whites formation.

Wilson's strike against his former club came after he latched onto a first-time ball round the corner from Raul Jimenez. It was originally flagged offside but VAR confirmed Virgil van Dijk had played him onside.

The same scenario happened when Florian Wirtz angled home a shot during a second half in which the Reds were vastly improved Conor Bradley's mazy run doing the damage It was also wrongly flagged, with VAR deciding Issa Diop's toe had just about come to Wirtz's recue.

Wilson came close to scoring his second of the might before the injury time fireworks when Alison spilled a ball as he rushed from his line to clear, with Jimenez in close attendance.

Wilson's lob looked true but it pinged back off the crossbar. Tonight, a different Fulham player was destined to grab the headlines.

Whites: (3-4-2-1) Leno - Diop, Andersen, Cuenca - Castagne,  Lukic (Reed 92), Cairney (Berge 73), Robinson - Wilson (Traore 71), Smith Rowe (Kevin 73) - Jimenez (Kusi-Asare 85)

Reds: (4-2-3-1) Alisson - Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez - Gravenberch, Mac Allister - Szoboszlai, Wirtz (Frimpong 76), Jones (Chiesa 85) - Gakpo (Gomez 96)

Attendance: 27,547



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/reed-the-left-field-saviour-as-thunderous-strike-ensures-parity-for-fulham-against-champions

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Royal Caribbean Legend of the Match Result: Liverpool
Harrison Reed claimed nearly half of the vote on his way to winning the Royal Carribean Legend of the Match against Liverpool.

Introduced as a late substitute, Reed only played around ten minutes in the 2-2 draw, but his impact was huge, rifling an unstoppable strike into the top corner deep into stoppage-time to send the Cottage crowd into a frenzy.

Reed's rocket was just the fourth goal of his Fulham career – and he won't score one better.

The midfielder told Sky Sports: "I knew we'd get a chance, but I thought it'd be a bit more clearcut than that! It came to me nicely, Kev (Kevin) has given me the ball, and I've had no other option than to just hit one.

"What a feeling. I'm not sure on the celebration, I was a bit everywhere, but a deserved point for us, definitely."

49.04% of voters picked Reed as their star performer. Fellow goalscorer Harry Wilson took 11.34% of the vote, ahead of Tom Cairney with 9.43%.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/january/05/royal-caribbean-legend-of-the-match-liverpool/

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Chesterfield to make decisions on Manchester City and Fulham loans after arrival of Aston Villa, Leicester City and Sheffield United trio
Chesterfield are having talks about what to do with their loan players.

Rules state that teams are only allowed to name five loan players in a matchday squad but the Spireites now have eight on the books, although one is due to end today. There are no limits on the number of loan players a club can have in total but there are restrictions on a matchday.

The Blues already had Devan Tanton, Matt Dibley-Dias, Ronan Darcy, James Berry and Will Dickson on loan before they added Sam Curtis, Sil Swinkels and Sammy Braybrooke.

Dickson's deal from Manchester City is due to expire today (Monday) and he was not involved in the squad for the 2-2 draw at MK Dons on Sunday. The striker, 21, has made 18 appearances, scoring one and assisting one. He has only started five times, three of which came in the EFL Trophy, and his last in the league was the 6-2 hammering at Colchester United in October.

Dickson's deal from Manchester City is due to expire today (Monday) and he was not involved in the squad for the 2-2 draw at MK Dons on Sunday. The striker, 21, has made 18 appearances, scoring one and assisting one. He has only started five times, three of which came in the EFL Trophy, and his last in the league was the 6-2 hammering at Colchester United in October.

Dibley-Dias, 22, also on loan from Fulham until the end of the campaign, has not played since August because of a knee injury which required surgery. The midfielder has been undergoing his recovery work at his parent club but is still not thought to be ready. Braybrooke partnered Ryan Stirk in central midfield on Sunday and they also have Tom Naylor and John Fleck in that position.

Darcy, 25, from Wigan Athletic, and Berry, 25, from Wycombe Wanderers, are their other two loan players but they are playing more regularly. And with injured pair Dilan Markanday and Armando Dobra still a couple of weeks away from returning, plus they will need more time to get up to speed, Chesterfield are not flush with attacking midfield options at the moment so it seems unlikely that they would end those deals early. However, it remains to be seen whether Wycombe boss Michael Duff wants Berry back at the League One club to cast his eye over the winger after he was appointed manager when Berry had already departed.

The transfer window is open until 7pm on February 2.



https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/international-football/chesterfield-to-make-decisions-on-manchester-city-and-fulham-loans-after-arrival-of-aston-villa-leicester-city-and-sheffield-united-trio-5463149

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Coming up this week at Craven Cottage
There's still plenty more action to come at Craven Cottage this week!

Following the late drama of Harrison Reed's stunning injury-time equaliser against Liverpool yesterday afternoon, we have two more huge games coming up at The Cottage this week.

Join us for our SW6 derby against Chelsea as we take on The Blues under the lights on Wednesday 7th January, kick-off 7:30pm.

With tickets now limited for this fixture, there's no better time to secure your seat for midweek Premier League action.

CHELSEA TICKETS

Marco Silva's side will then kick off their Emirates FA Cup journey this weekend at Craven Cottage as we face Middlesbrough in our Third Round tie on Saturday 10th January, kick-off 3pm.

Junior supporters can enjoy the magic of the cup at this fixture for just £10! Adult tickets for this fixture start from £20.

MIDDLESBROUGH TICKETS
How to buy

    Online at fulhamfc.com/tickets
    By calling the Fulham FC Ticket Office on 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
    In person from the Fulham FC Ticket Office (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4:30pm)

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/january/05/coming-up-this-week-at-craven-cottage/

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Fulham lineup vs. Chelsea: Predicted XI for Premier League West London derby amid triple injury doubt
Fulham head coach Marco Silva is sweating over a few injury doubts for Wednesday's Premier League West London derby with Chelsea at Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers rescued a late 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday without the services of seven players, and four will definitely still be absent in midweek, including Africa Cup of Nations trio Samuel Chukwueze, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi.

Rodrigo Muniz will not be back from his thigh injury for a few weeks either, but none of Kenny Tete (hamstring), Joshua King (knee) and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) have been ruled out just yet.

In all likelihood, though, Silva should be working with an identical squad from the stalemate with the Reds, where he deployed three centre-backs in front of Bernd Leno to wonderful effect.

As a result, Issa Diop, Jorge Cuenca and Joachim Andersen should all be retained in front of the German, while Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson charge up and down the flanks.

Harrison Reed entered his nomination for goal of the season on Sunday, but if there is going to be a change in midfield, Sander Berge should be summoned to replace Tom Cairney.

Silva may also be tempted to bring Kevin into the final third in place of Emile Smith Rowe, but attacking stalwarts Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez should be retained.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Cuenca, Andersen, Diop; Castagne, Berge, Lukic, Robinson; Wilson, Kevin; Jimenez



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/predicted-lineups/silva-sticks-and-twists-predicted-fulham-xi-vs-chelsea_589213.html

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Fulham vs Chelsea Prediction: Can Silva's Side Continue Unbeaten Run in West London Derby?
Fulham are unbeaten in five Premier League games ahead of Wednesday's west London derby against Chelsea, who are enduring another period of upheaval. Here, we look ahead to the game with our Fulham vs Chelsea prediction and preview.

Fulham vs Chelsea: The Key Stats

    The Opta supercomputer makes Chelsea slight favourites to defeat Fulham, with the Blues boasting a win probability of 42.1% to their hosts' 32.4%.
    Since the start of November, only Erling Haaland (11) has more Premier League goal involvements than Fulham's Harry Wilson (nine – five goals, four assists).
    Among central midfielders, only Bruno Guimarães (seven) has scored more Premier League goals this season than Chelsea's Enzo Fernández (six), who could net in three successive matches in the competition for the very first time.

Just three days on from the shock departure of Enzo Maresca, many believed Chelsea would be easy pickings for Premier League title challengers Manchester City on Sunday.

But those predictions proved inaccurate as the Blues – led by youth coach Calum McFarlane – rallied to claim a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium, with Enzo Fernández prodding home in stoppage time to cancel out Tijjani Reijnders' opener, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling fans.



McFarlane was initially told he may only get one game as caretaker boss, with Chelsea reportedly closing in on the appointment of Strasbourg's Liam Rosenior, but it remains to be seen whether the former full-back – who represented Fulham as a player from 2003 to 2007 – will be in the dugout for Wednesday's 10-minute trip down the road to Craven Cottage.

Liam Rosenior: Chelsea's Next Man Up?
Fulham boss Marco Silva has, remarkably, faced a different manager in all four of his home Premier League games against Chelsea, with both Everton and his current club. That trend will continue here regardless of any news on the Chelsea managerial front, with Silva having previously come up against Maurizio Sarri, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and Maresca.

Silva won his first two home games against the Blues in the competition, with the Toffees in March 2019 and with Fulham in January 2023, but he has lost his last two.

However, Fulham should approach Wednesday's match in high spirits after a mid-season revival. They are unbeaten in five Premier League games (three wins, two draws) following a run of seven defeats in their previous 10 (three wins), which had led to criticism of their Portuguese coach.

Fulham recovered a point at the death on Sunday, drawing 2-2 with Liverpool as Harrison Reed's 97th-minute thunderbolt cancelled out Cody Gakpo's goal earlier in stoppage time.

Harry Wilson had earlier opened the scoring, and since the start of November, the Welshman's nine Premier League goal involvements (five goals, four assists) have only been bettered by Erling Haaland's 11.



And since the end of Matchday 15 in early December, only Arsenal (15) and Aston Villa (12) have earned more points in the competition than Fulham's 11, which is as many as Brentford, Man City and Liverpool have earned in the same period and almost twice as many as Chelsea have collected (six).

Though Sunday's draw with City was regarded as a positive result, Chelsea have won just one of their last eight Premier League games (five draws, two defeats), failing to win any of their last four (three draws, one defeat) and drawing their last two.

The Blues last drew three Premier League games on the spin in February 2023 – a run which included a 0-0 stalemate with Fulham.

They could have left-back Marc Cucurella available again, though, after a thigh injury kept him out of Sunday's trip to City, while Moisés Caicedo is back after serving a one-match ban for receiving five yellow cards.

Fellow midfielder Fernández is looking to score in three consecutive Premier League matches for the very first time. Bruno Guimarães (seven) is the only central midfielder to outscore Fernández this campaign, with the Argentine already matching his previous best tally in a Premier League season (six).

Fulham vs Chelsea Head-to-Head
Chelsea traditionally boast a strong record against Fulham, and they have won six of their last seven Premier League games at Craven Cottage, with the exception being a 2-1 defeat there in January 2023.

Indeed, when Fulham returned to the Premier League in 2022, they had won just one of their 30 matches against Chelsea in the competition, drawing 10 and losing 19.

But since then, they have recorded two victories in seven meetings with their west London rivals, drawing once and losing on four occasions.

But Fulham have lost four of their last six London derbies at home overall (two wins), having previously gone unbeaten in seven such games. They could lose three straight home matches against fellow capital clubs for the first time since April 2023.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League London derbies (five wins, four draws) since a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last March. The Blues last enjoyed a longer run of unbeaten matches against fellow London clubs from January 2013 to March 2014 (13).

Fulham vs Chelsea Prediction
The Opta supercomputer is siding with Chelsea ahead of this game, but not decisively so.

The Blues are assigned a win probability of 42.1%, compared to Fulham's 32.4%. The remaining 25.5% of pre-match simulations were drawn.



And in our overall 2025-26 season predictions, Chelsea are assigned a 22.3% chance of UEFA Champions League qualification.

Fulham, meanwhile, are given a 2.6% chance of making the UEFA Europa League for 2026-27, following their recent upturn in form.

Fulham vs Chelsea Predicted Lineups
Fulham: Bernd Leno, Jorge Cuenca, Joachim Andersen, Issa Diop, Antonee Robinson, Tom Cairney, Saša Lukić, Timothy Castagne, Emile Smith Rowe, Harry Wilson, Raúl Jiménez.

Chelsea: Filip Jörgensen, Malo Gusto, Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Josh Acheampong, Enzo Fernández, Reece James, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Estêvão, João Pedro



https://theanalyst.com/articles/fulham-vs-chelsea-prediction-premier-league-01-2026

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Chelsea vs. Fulham: Head-to-head record and past meetings
The first West London derby of the year for Fulham and Chelsea is a fascinating one, as the Cottagers welcome the Blues to Craven Cottage on Wednesday night, in gameweek 21 of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

Both teams needed last-gasp levellers to steal points over the weekend, when Marco Silva's men were indebted to an outrageous Harrison Reed rocket in the 97th minute, which rescued a 2-2 draw with Liverpool on home soil.

Now unbeaten in each of their last five Premier League games, Fulham are just three points adrift of Chelsea in the top-flight table, thanks in no small part to the Blues failing to win any of their last four in the division.

However, Calum McFarlane's men showed grit and determination to hold Manchester City to a 1-1 draw last time out, but it remains to be seen whether Liam Rosenior has been given the keys to the locker room in time for this fixture.

Here, Sports Mole looks at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between Fulham and Chelsea.

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 94

Chelsea wins: 54

Draws: 27

Fulham wins: 13

Fulham earned three points against Chelsea in their first Premier League meeting of 2024-25 when they won 2-1 in December 2024 thanks to late goals from Rodrigo Muniz and Harry Wilson, cancelling out Cole Palmer's first-half opener.

Chelsea responded in the reverse fixture with a late show of their own though, as Tyrique George and Pedro Neto scored late on to earn the Blues a come-from-behind victory at Craven Cottage a few months later.

The Blues also struck twice on their own patch in August 2025, but that 2-0 win was not without serious controversy, as Fulham had a goal disallowed before Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez delivered the damage.

The first meeting between Chelsea and Fulham came all the way back in 1910, with the Cottagers winning a second division fixture, but the Blues would quickly dominate their neighbours over the following years, losing none of the next 12 head-to-heads - winning eight.

Fulham's record at Stamford Bridge has been dismal in the Premier League era having only won once in their 36 league trips to the Blues' home. However, Chelsea's record at Craven Cottage is phenomenal considering they have triumphed in 10 of their last 17 visits to the ground, losing on just two occasions.

Arguably the most high-profile encounter between the two occurred in 2002 when John Terry's goal saw Chelsea win 1-0 in April in a tense FA Cup semi-final, though they did lose in the final against Arsenal.

The 2004-05 season threw up another important cup tie between the sides, but this time in the League Cup quarter-finals, and when the Blues lifted the trophy under Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard's late winner at Craven Cottage would have been noted as a critical moment.

Despite being a rivalry, the fixture did throw up a nice milestone when they met in December 2006, with Moritz Volz scoring the 15,000th Premier League goal in a 2-2 draw, and the German right-back subsequently donated his £15,000 reward money to local charities during the festive period.

Last 20 meetings
Aug 30, 2025: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Apr 20, 2025: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)

Dec 26, 2024: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham (Premier League)

Jan 13, 2024: Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Oct 02, 2023: Fulham 0-2 Chelsea (Premier League)

Feb 03, 2023: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Jan 12, 2023: Fulham 2-1 Chelsea (Premier League)

May 01, 2021: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Jan 16, 2021: Fulham 0-1 Chelsea (Premier League)

Mar 03, 2019: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)

Dec 02, 2018: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Mar 01, 2014: Fulham 1-3 Chelsea (Premier League)

Sep 21, 2013: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Apr 17, 2013: Fulham 0-3 Chelsea (Premier League)

Nov 28, 2012: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Apr 09, 2012: Fulham 1-1 Chelsea (Premier League)

Dec 26, 2011: Chelsea 1-1 Fulham (Premier League)

Sep 21, 2011: Chelsea p0-0 Fulham (League Cup 3rd Round)

Feb 14, 2011: Fulham 0-0 Chelsea (Premier League)

Nov 10, 2010: Chelsea 1-0 Fulham (Premier League)

Last 10 Premier League meetings
Aug 30, 2025: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham

Apr 20, 2025: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea

Dec 26, 2024: Chelsea 1-2 Fulham

Jan 13, 2024: Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

Oct 02, 2023: Fulham 0-2 Chelsea

Feb 03, 2023: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

Jan 12, 2023: Fulham 2-1 Chelsea

May 01, 2021: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham

Jan 16, 2021: Fulham 0-1 Chelsea

Mar 03, 2019: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/chelsea/top-four-race/head-to-head/chelsea-vs-fulham-head-to-head-record-and-past-meetings_561008.html

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Leeds fan confirmed dead before Man Utd kick-off; medical emergency delays Fulham-Liverpool start
January 5 – Leeds United confirmed on Sunday that a supporter had died following a medical emergency at Elland Road before their Premier League meeting with Manchester United.

In a short statement released ahead of kick-off, the club said everyone at Leeds was "devastated" by the loss and offered condolences to the supporter's family and friends. The incident took place inside the stadium prior to the 12.30pm start, with emergency services responding on site. No further details have been made public and the supporter has not been named.

The match itself went ahead as scheduled, played in an atmosphere of juiced up aggression given the circumstances. Leeds took the lead early in the second half through Brenden Aaronson, only for Manchester United to respond quickly, Matheus Cunha equalising three minutes later to secure a 1-1 draw. While the contest carried its usual furious edge on the pitch, events off it inevitably cast a shadow over proceedings.

Clubs across the Premier League are increasingly asked to deal with medical incidents in crowded stadiums, where swift access and response can prove a challenging responsibility. Supporter welfare is a growing focus, as Premier League grounds are increasingly equipped with enhanced medical provision and emergency protocols.

Leeds' statement underlined the collective nature of the loss felt at Elland Road, a ground renowned for its intensity and close-knit support. For many inside the stadium, the football felt secondary.

Elsewhere on Sunday, a separate medical emergency in the crowd delayed kick-off at Fulham's match against Liverpool.



https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2026/01/05/leeds-fan-confirmed-dead-man-utd-kick-off-medical-emergency-delays-fulham-liverpool-start/

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Fulham make contact to sign €25m midfielder despite 5-1 Real Madrid thrashing
Fulham are the latest club to show interest in Sergi Altimira, as the Real Betis defensive midfielder continues to attract attention on the transfer market, sources have told TEAMtalk.

In recent days, preliminary contacts have taken place between the clubs, with Fulham mainly asking for updated information about Altimira and his situation.

We understand that, at this stage, no formal offer has been made, just collecting details regarding the midfielder, who came on as a second-half substitute for Marc Roca in Betis' 5-1 hammering at the hands of Real Madrid at Estadio Bernabeu in LaLiga on Sunday.

Altimira, whose contract runs until 2029, is considered one of the most interesting midfield profiles in LaLiga thanks to his quality on the ball, tactical intelligence and consistency.

The midfielder has made six starts and five substitute appearances in LaLiga so far this season, scoring one goal and giving one assist in the process.

Altimira has also made five starts and one substitute appearance in the Europa League for Betis in the 2025/26 campaign.

The 24-year-old long-term contract gives Betis a strong position in negotiations, and they are not under pressure to sell.

Fulham are not alone in the race for the midfielder. Eintracht Frankfurt remain very keen on Altimira and have been following him closely for some time.

The German club see Altimira as a midfielder who could fit well into their dynamic style of play and add depth to their squad.

Betis have already set a clear price range, valuing Altimira at around €20–25 million (up to £21.7m, $29.2m)

While Betis are not actively looking to sell Altimira, they are preparing for all scenarios and have started to look at possible replacements. Among the names on their list is Alex Tóth from Ferencváros.

With Marco Silva's Fulham and Eintracht involved, Altimira's future could become one of the key midfield stories during this January market.



https://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/sergi-altimira-fulham-real-betis

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Gabriel Sara may already have dropped hint on future plans amid fresh Sunderland and Fulham transfer links
Mooted Sunderland and Fulham target Gabriel Sara may already have put pay to speculation linking him with a move away from Galatasaray in the immediate future with a series of comments detailing his desire to play in Europe and win trophies, as well as his contentment in Turkey.

The Brazilian midfielder is reportedly on the respective radars of both the Black Cats and the Cottagers, with journalist Yakup Cinar suggesting that the 26-year-old is once again attracting interest from the Premier League.

Sara previously played in England during a stint with Norwich City, but left the Canaries to sign for his current employers in August 2024. This is not the first time that Sunderland have been credited with an interest in the South American either, with reports over the summer suggesting that Regis Le Bris' men were monitoring both him and attacking teammate Baris Alper Yilmaz. At the time, Sara was said to be valued at around £26 million.

What has Gabriel Sara said about his time with Galatasaray amid Sunderland and Fulham transfer links?
But judging by comments from the player himself, Sara is in no rush to part company with Galatsaray any time soon, and is instead keen to kick on and achieve even more success in Istanbul, having secured a league and domestic cup double in Turkey last term.

Speaking back in July, as quoted by Fanatik, the midfielder was keen to look ahead to his first involvement in European competition proper, as well as reiterating his hunger for more silverware. He said: "We play to win every game we play. Winning the Champions League is more difficult than winning the Super League. We will not play just to play.

"We will play to win the Champions League, the Super League and the Turkish Cup. Every time we go to the stadium we go out to win. I hope to win more trophies this year. It will be my first experience in the Champions League. Last year I played in the play-offs, but of course that doesn't count as Champions League."

Sara also spoke of his belief that a prominent role in the Champions League could eventually lead to recognition at international level. He continued: "Playing only in the Super League, it can be a bit difficult to make it to the Brazilian national team. But with the opportunity to play in the Champions League, everything can change. If I play good soccer and attract attention, maybe I will get a call. It's a dream from childhood."

Reflecting on the differences between the professional game in England and Turkey, Sara added: "Football in England is more tactical. It is less emotional and more rational. There are tactics and rules to follow. There is a working order built on that.

"In Turkey, like in Brazil, it's more emotional. The crazy fans are constantly keeping you engaged in the game. They want you to play the best soccer you can. They want you to create a lot of goals and dribbling and things like that. I think that's the biggest difference between the two countries, there's a more emotional football environment in Turkey.

"As far as I can see, Brazil and Turkey have the most passionate football environment in the world. You can see it in the stadiums and on the streets. You can see it in the way people look at the players. You can see how high their expectations from the players are."



https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/gabriel-sara-sunderland-transfer-news-5463851

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Predicted Chelsea XI to face Fulham as Liam Rosenior makes six bold changes
Liam Rosenior could take charge of his first game as Chelsea manager against a side very close to his heart from his own playing career.

Rosenior played 92 games for Fulham across five seasons, but will be representing the blue side of West London as his deal to become the new manager closes in.

Chelsea players gave a timely reminder of their quality with a spirited display against Manchester City, nicking a point late on.

Despite Calum McFarlane's impressive outing at the helm, we are expecting Rosenior to make plenty of changes to the starting side in his first game in charge.

The Chelsea Chronicle have given their predicted XI to face Fulham in the West London derby on Wednesday.

Chelsea predicted XI vs Fulham
Robert Sanchez is expected to be fit for Chelsea after missing the game against City with a small issue, and we are putting him straight back into the starting side.

At right-back, Malo Gusto will be given another start. His performance at the weekend greatly improved after he moved to his preferred side.

Wesley Fofana also missed the game against City with a fever. The hope is that he will be fit enough to start against Fulham.

He will join Trevoh Chalobah at the back, with the duo looking as if they are the best central defensive partnership the club have available to them.

At left-back, there will be a rare start for Jorrel Hato. The Dutchman impressed with his cameo off the bench against City.

The Chelsea midfield will be bolstered by the return of Moises Caicedo, who missed the last game due to suspension.

Club captain Reece James will lead the side out, starting his second game in four days in his newfound position of midfield.

Just ahead of those two, Enzo Fernandez will look to build on his goal against City with an impressive performance in the new manager's first game.

Out wide, Cole Palmer will start in the position he featured in the second half against City, where he was able to impact the game far more.

The opposite wing will see a return to the starting side for Alejandro Garnacho, after he didn't feature at all at the weekend.

Liam Delap's impressive cameo against Man City will see him earn a start in Rosenior's first game, taking the place of Joao Pedro.



https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/match-coverage/predicted-chelsea-xi-to-face-fulham-as-liam-rosenior-makes-six-bold-changes/