Chelsea vs Fulham: 10 Things to Know For The Boxing Day Showdown

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Ah, Christmas. It’s the time for indulgence, gratitude, family, and…Football! You see we’re blessed here in the UK. Unlike our European cousins who break over the Christmas season, the show continues here in the English Premier League. Let’s talk about Chelsea’s boxing day showdown this year against West London rivals Fulham. Before you head to your favourite betting website, here are 10 things to know ahead of the fixture and what you need to know:

West London Bragging Rights

Alright, it’s not exactly as ferocious as West Ham/Millwall, nor is it as even as Man United/Liverpool. Moreover, West London is littered with top teams who have graced the top flight of English football including Brentford and QPR. At the end of the day though, Fulham and Chelsea sees two grounds that are no more than 2 and a half miles apart. Two premier league teams, in the same London Borough. Chelsea’s first top-flight meeting with Fulham kicked off in September 1949 with young winger Billy Gray netting for the Blues. This year’s fixture will once again be played at Stamford Bridge, lucky for Fulham fans there’s unlikely to be much of a commute!

Chelsea Form

Palmer and co have been in fine form as of late. The Blues have put in some impressive performances and it shows in their last five games:

  • Win (Brentford)
  • Win (Astana)
  • Win (Tottenham Hotspurs)
  • Win (Southampton)
  • Win (Aston Villa)

Fulham Form

A glance at Fulham’s form demonstrates some plucky performances this year and one could argue that they’ve been knocking on the door for an upset looking at their last few games:

  • Draw (Liverpool)
  • Draw (Arsenal)
  • Win (Brighton)
  • Draw (Spurs)
  • Loss (Wolves)

Where is each team in the table?

At the time of writing, Chelsea are looking good and sit second in the English Premier League. They are just 2 points off leaders Liverpool (though Liverpool have a game in hand). Fulham meanwhile sit at 8th in the table, that’s certainly no mean feat and could suggest that this fixture will be closer than previous encounters.

Head-to-Head Stats

– Total matches: 85

– Chelsea wins: 49

– Draws: 26

– Fulham wins: 10

– Chelsea Premier League era domination: 15 wins, 8 draws, just 1 loss

Unfortunately for Fulham fans, numbers don’t lie. You could be forgiven for thinking that much of that is history, but look into recent trends and it’s equally as unsettling. For reference, Fulham has not beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge since 1979! 

Fulham has won 9.5% of league fixtures against Chelsea since records began, and only 1 match within the Premier League era.

Chelsea’s Boxing Day Form

Boxing Day matches are more than just games. They’re a cultural institution. Think about it – while most of the world is in a food coma, British football fans are bundled up, ready to watch their heroes battle it out. Chelsea’s Boxing Day record tells a story of festive footballing excellence:

  • 10 wins
  • 6 draws
  • 4 losses in 20 matches
  • Memorable moments like the 4-4 thriller against Aston Villa in 2007
  • The 3-2 nail-biter against Fulham in 2005

Chelsea’s Attack

One guy is dominating Chelsea headlines right now and that’s Cole Palmer. Watch an interview of the lad and it’s clear that football is the only thing on his mind. He’s not just a player, he’s an artist painting masterpieces on the football canvas and England fans were in revolt over his lack of game time during the Euro 2024 Championship. Leading the charts for both goals and assists at the time of writing, Palmer really is ice cold and he will be an integral component of this fixture come December 25th. 

Next up, Senagele sensation Nicolas Jackson. Jackson has a phenomenal goal conversion rate this season with a rate of 0.42 goals per game at the time of writing putting him second behind Palmer in Chelsea’s goal scorer list this season.

Fulham’s Hopes and Dreams

Alex Iwobi is Fulham’s standout player this season and jointly leads the goalscoring chart having netted five times this season. The Nigerian midfielder has also produced 3 assists and will be a key player for Fulham in this encounter.

Mexican striker Raul Jiménez has also bagged 5 goals for the Cottagers this year and the 33 year old will be hoping he can be fit and on fine form come Boxing day.

Meanwhile, Harry Wilson is another with clear quality and has been one of the standout players for Craig Bellamy’s Wales side. Fulham fans will be hoping he can replicate such form at Stamford Bridge on 26th December.

The Tactical Battle – Maresca vs Silva

Maresca has transformed Chelsea into an attacking juggernaut, emphasizing a possession-based game that seeks to dominate opponents through fluid movement and structured build-up play. Utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation Chelsea averages around 55.5% possession this season, focusing on quick transitions and exploiting spaces left by defenders.

In contrast, Marco Silva has established Fulham as a disciplined unit capable of adapting to various opponents. Employing a 1-4-3-3 formation Silva emphasizes defensive solidity while encouraging opportunistic counterattacks. His midfield duo, often featuring players like Sasa Lukic and Andreas Pereira, provides stability and facilitates rapid transitions when Fulham regains possession.

The clash of styles will be fascinating to observe. Chelsea aims to control the game with their attacking philosophy, while Fulham will look to disrupt play and capitalize on quick breaks. Each manager will seek to exploit the other’s weaknesses while maximizing their team’s strengths.

As both teams prepare for this London derby, fans can expect a thrilling encounter filled with strategic depth and high-stakes competition. The effectiveness of Maresca’s attacking tactics against Silva’s disciplined organization could very well determine the outcome of this exciting Boxing Day clash at Stamford Bridge.

What Channel is Chelsea vs Fulham on?

This match is set to be shown by Amazon Prime and will be available for Prime members on the smart TV app and online. Otherwise, just head down to the Bridge!