Football Tips: Chelsea to squeeze past Fulham in our 3 best bets for Saturday

Chelsea make the short trip to Fulham on Saturday evening for a west London derby.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

It’s derby day in west London on Friday or Saturday or whenever the Premier League decide that this match should be played (watch this space). They seem to decide such matters at the drop of a hat at the moment.

These two clubs might be situated about two miles apart from each other, but there is an enormous gulf between them in terms of their record in this fixture. It has been mostly one way traffic over the years, with the points often heading east to Stamford Bridge.

Saturday 5.30pm: Fulham v Chelsea
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League

Fulham and Chelsea have met 50 times in the top flight of English football and the former only have three wins to show for their efforts. Two of their victories were in the 1960s too, though their one win in the Premier League era was certainly memorable.

It’s regarded as the match where Jose Mourinho displayed his bravery and tactical acumen by making two substitutions in the 26th minute as he was unhappy with what was unfolding in front of him. And yet his team lost – another Mourinho masterclass.

Jose will have had a say of sorts in this match too, as Fulham’s hastily arranged match with Tottenham on Wednesday will have undoubtedly disrupted the Cottagers’ plans ahead of the game. Fulham manager Mike Skinner was furious that the match with Spurs was rearranged at such short notice, though his mood will have been lifted by his side’s battling point. Dry your eyes, mate.

Chelsea to win

Still, neither of these teams goes into this match in great form. Chelsea have won only once in their last six league matches, leaving Frank Lampard under pressure, but that it is at least one more victory than Fulham have mustered in the same period. That said, they have stopped the rot at Craven Cottage at least.

After losing their first three home games by an aggregate score of 8-1, Scott Parker’s boys have only lost one of their last five. Granted, they’ve drawn the last three, but those stalemates have included visits from Liverpool and Southampton, two of the many teams who are ahead of Chelsea in the league table.

But Lampard’s lads will have had a full week to prepare, and while their last match was only against Morecambe, three of the Blues’ squad each scored their first goal in aeons so should be confident heading into this one. Expect a Chelsea Win.

Under 2.5 goals and Both Teams To Score – No

There hasn’t been too much entertainment on show at Craven Cottage this season. The last two matches there have both ended goalless, and the eight league games in 2020/21 have seen a total of just 18 goals. Turf Moor and Bramall Lane are the only Premier League stadiums to have seen fewer goals this season, so it would seem British managers appear to be goal averse (and that’s the Burnley way).

Both home and away, Fulham have only scored three goals in their last six games, which makes their total of five points earned pretty impressive. With Chelsea having only netted seven times in their last six league matches, their goal-shy attack is unlikely to make Alphonse Areola look like too much of a… you can guess where this is going. This is likely to be a low scoring affair so Under 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score? No is the way to go.

Kai Havertz to Score Anytime

This fixture has the potential to feature some of the most misfiring forwards in the Premier League. Aleksandar Mitrovic and Timo Werner are among the elite group of eight players who have scored at least two goals fewer than they should have based on the chances they’ve had this season, which takes some serious barn door avoidance.

Further down the list, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Christian Pulisic are both a goal below expectations too, so we could have an unexpected goal fest for the ages if this quartet all decide to regress towards the mean in the same match.

It’s always hard to know who Lampard will select from his array of attacking talent, but Kai Havertz seems to be finding form, with a goal and two assists in his previous two appearances, so he should be involved. The former Leverkusen player scored 29 Bundesliga goals in the last two seasons and could be ready to make a serious mark on the Premier League with a goal Anytime.

Tips for Fulham v Chelsea

Chelsea to Win
Under 2.5 goals and Both Teams To Score – No
Kai Havertz to Score Anytime

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

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