Fulham v Chelsea Preview

Chelsea travel to local rivals Fulham looking needing to win in order to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive.

The Blues are into the semi-finals of the Champions League,but unless they win the tournament realise they need to finish in the top four to get back into Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

Fulham, though, are themselves pushing at the right end of the table and victory for them on Monday night could see them move seventh.

Chelsea have hit a decent run of form with two wins in succession, whilst Fulham also have six points from their last two matches.

Fulham, though, will have to buck a trend to grab victory as they have only beaten Chelsea once in the King’s Road derby in the Premier League and that is their only win against them since 1979.

Fulham Team news
Fulham will be without Bryan Ruiz for the clash after the Costa Rican forward suffered a suspected broken foot at Bolton. Should Ruiz’s injury be confirmed, then he will not play again this season.

Veteran midfielder Danny Murphy could return after illness and strikers Pavel Pogrebnyak and Orlando Sa will hope to prove their fitness.

Midfielder Steve Sidwell, defender Zdenek Grygera and strikers Andrew Johnson and Eddie Johnson remain on the sidelines.

Chelsea Team News
For Chelsea, they will assess John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Ramires before naming their side.

All four missed Saturday’s last-gasp win over Wigan, with Terry not risked due to his cracked ribs, Ramires ill, Lampard had a thigh problem and Cole a knock to his ankle.