As Chelsea prepare to host Fulham in a fiery West London derby at Stamford Bridge this Saturday lunchtime, the Blues are riding high on the back of a dominant 5-1 Premier League victory over West Ham United last weekend.
That emphatic win, which saw goals from Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, and Trevoh Chalobah, marked a strong response to their opening-day stalemate with Crystal Palace and showcased the depth in Enzo Maresca's squad. However, the joy was tempered by a concerning injury to star attacking midfielder Cole Palmer, who was forced to withdraw during the pre-match warm-up after aggravating a pre-existing groin issue.
Palmer, Chelsea's talismanic No. 10 and a key figure in their recent successes—including last season's top-four finish and their surprise FIFA Club World Cup triumph this summer—has been ruled out for the Fulham clash, as confirmed by Maresca in his pre-match press conference. Recent scans on his groin returned positive results, indicating nothing too serious, but with the international break looming after this fixture, Maresca is taking a cautious approach to ensure Palmer's long-term fitness. "Cole is out... we need to see day by day," the Italian manager stated, adding that the forward's absence won't derail their momentum. Palmer's omission from Thomas Tuchel's England squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia further underscores the decision to prioritize recovery.
Despite the setback, Chelsea's mood remains upbeat. The West Ham rout without Palmer proved the team's attacking versatility, with teenage sensation Willian Estevao stepping in seamlessly for his first start and providing an assist while impressing with his dribbling flair. Maresca echoed this optimism, emphasizing the need for "different solutions" when the star is unavailable: "For sure, 100 per cent, we are a much better team with Cole, no doubt. But when Cole is not in the game, we need to find different solutions. Last week we found different solutions, and hopefully tomorrow we can again." Other options like Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and the in-form Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto are pushing for starts, while a potential £40m deadline-day signing of Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho could add even more firepower on the wings. Tactically, Palmer's absence might even play into Chelsea's hands against Fulham's shaky left-back options—such as Calvin Bassey or Ryan Sessegnon—allowing Estevao or Neto to exploit one-on-one battles more effectively.
Fulham, managed by Marco Silva, sit mid-table after a mixed start to the season and will be looking to frustrate Chelsea with a compact defense, much like Palace did on Matchday 1. But with Chelsea's recent Club World Cup heroics still fresh and a squad brimming with summer reinforcements, Maresca's men are favored to extend their winning run. The injury list also includes longer-term absentees like Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia, but the rest of the squad is fully fit, and the Blues' reaction to conceding early against West Ham demonstrated resilience.
In a derby where local bragging rights are at stake, Chelsea's positivity shines through: they've shown they can thrive without their golden boy, and a victory here could propel them towards the top of the table before the break. Expect an electric atmosphere at Stamford Bridge as the Blues aim to send Palmer off on the mend with three more points.
