Fulham vs Chelsea: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Lineups

Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage on Monday, August 24 (3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM PT).

Fulham will assess without the injured Tom Cairney and the suspended Joachim Andersen, leaving Alexander Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe as the key attacking options at Craven Cottage after the pair combined for seven goals last season. Chelsea arrive without the injured Emmanuel Emegha, the suspended Wesley Fofana, and the injured Jordan Henderson, with Geovany Quenda, Levi Colwill, Aaron Anselmino, and Mamadou Sarr all doubts, though João Pedro and Cole Palmer, who scored 15 and 10 goals respectively last season, remain the players Chelsea will lean on.

Chelsea go into this one as the stronger side on paper, with the visitors fancied to edge a fixture where both defenses could be there for the taking. Fulham’s form last season was mixed, with the draw at Wolves and defeats to Bournemouth and Arsenal either side of the win over Aston Villa, while Chelsea’s own run swung from three straight defeats, to Manchester United, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest, to a draw at Liverpool and a win over Tottenham to close the campaign. Craven Cottage should stage an entertaining opener if either side carries that same open approach into the new season.

US viewers can watch Fulham vs Chelsea on NBC and Peacock.

Fulham vs Chelsea: Best Bets & Predictions

Fulham host Chelsea at Craven Cottage as both sides open a new Premier League campaign.

Where are you following from? Odds & offers below update to match.

🇺🇸 United StatesTrade on Kalshi 🌎 Outside the USOdds via bet365

Chelsea to winTop pickChelsea have the standout individual quality in João Pedro and Cole Palmer to edge a Craven Cottage opener.

53%win prob.-112 @ bet365

Both Teams to Score – YesFulham's attacking options at home and Chelsea's leaky recent form point to goals at both ends.

64%chance-175 @ bet365

Over 2.5 GoalsBoth sides have shown they can be breached, favoring an open, goal-heavy contest.

62%chance-163 @ bet365

Fulham 1-2 ChelseaA tight scoreline that lines up with a Chelsea win where Fulham still find the net.

11%chance850 @ bet365

João Pedro Anytime GoalscorerJoão Pedro was Chelsea's most prolific forward last season and remains their most direct route to goal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐chanceopening soon @ bet365

Our approach: we cross-check the match markets against last season's underlying player numbers and each side's most recent run of results before settling on a shortlist that has to hang together as one story, not five random picks.

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Season Form & Standings

Fulham and Chelsea both open the new season with a blank slate, no points on the board yet, and everything still to play for at Craven Cottage.

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Potential Match-Winners

• Alexander Iwobi (Fulham): Alexander Iwobi scored 4 goals and created 44 chances last season, the clearest creative outlet in Fulham’s side.
• João Pedro (Chelsea): João Pedro was Chelsea’s most productive forward last season, scoring 15 goals from 73 shots.
• Enzo Fernández (Chelsea): Enzo Fernández added 10 goals and a team-high 68 chances created last season, driving Chelsea’s build-up from midfield.

Recent Form

Fulham: D W L L D

• 2026-05-17: Wolves 1-1 Fulham (D, away)
• 2026-05-09: Fulham 0-1 Bournemouth (L, home)
• 2026-05-02: Arsenal 3-0 Fulham (L, away)
• 2026-04-25: Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa (W, home)
• 2026-04-18: Brentford 0-0 Fulham (D, away)

Fulham ended last season with a draw at Brentford, a win over Aston Villa, back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Bournemouth, and a closing draw at Wolves.

Chelsea: L L L D W

• 2026-05-19: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham (W, home)
• 2026-05-09: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (D, away)
• 2026-05-04: Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest (L, home)
• 2026-04-21: Brighton 3-0 Chelsea (L, away)
• 2026-04-18: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United (L, home)

Chelsea’s run last season featured three straight defeats, to Manchester United, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest, before a draw against Liverpool and a win over Tottenham to close the campaign.

Fulham vs Chelsea Prediction

Expect an open, high-scoring game at Craven Cottage, with João Pedro among the goals as Chelsea edge Fulham 1-2.