Fulham F.C. vs Chelsea F.C. Lineups: Starters, TV, and Tickets

Football fans love a West London derby, and the Fulham vs Chelsea fixture always brings extra spice. With the new Premier League season kicking off, everyone wants to know the confirmed lineups, where to watch, and how these rivals stack up — this guide breaks down the official team news, head-to-head stats, and everything you need to follow the match on August 24, 2026.

Match Result (Last Meeting): Fulham 1-2 Chelsea (Apr 20, 2025) ·
Chelsea Premier League Position (2025/26): Top 4 (as of Aug 2026) ·
Fulham Premier League Position (2025/26): Mid-table (as of Aug 2026) ·
Kick-off Time (Next Match): 19:00 UTC, Aug 24, 2026

Four key facts from the fixture history and official sources show where things stand.

Who won the last match between Chelsea and Fulham?

Final match score and date

• Chelsea beat Fulham 2-1 on April 20, 2025, at Craven Cottage (Chelsea FC).
• The match was part of the Premier League season, with Nicolas Jackson scoring for Chelsea (Chelsea FC).

Match highlights summary

• Fulham took the lead before Chelsea equalized and then sealed the win through a second-half goal (Chelsea FC).
• The match featured a confirmed Chelsea lineup with Sanchez in goal and James as captain (Chelsea FC).

The implication: Chelsea’s ability to come from behind at Fulham’s ground shows resilience, but Fulham’s early goal proves they can trouble the Blues’ defense.

How could Chelsea line up against Fulham?

Confirmed Chelsea starting XI

• Chelsea fielded: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella; Andrey Santos, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez (c), Palmer; Delap in the January 7, 2026 meeting (Chelsea FC).
• Reece James was captain in the April 2025 lineup (Chelsea FC).

Predicted Fulham starting lineup

• Fulham’s likely XI in a 4-2-3-1: Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, King, Iwobi; Jimenez (Sporting News).
• Chelsea’s probable XI in a 4-2-3-1: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson (Sporting News).

Key injuries and suspensions

• Cole Palmer was listed as doubtful for the August 2025 match due to a groin issue (ESPN).
• Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, and Romeo Lavia were out with estimated return dates in mid-September or late April depending on injury (ESPN).

The pattern: Chelsea’s squad rotation means their lineup can shift drastically between fixtures, while Fulham’s core remains more predictable but less flexible against strong opponents.

Who is showing Fulham v Chelsea on TV?

TV channel listings

• Sky Sports Football broadcasts the match in the UK (Chelsea FC).
• TNT Sports also showed the fixture in previous seasons (Chelsea FC).

Live stream options

• Sky Go provides streaming for Sky Sports subscribers (Chelsea FC).
• International viewers: NBC (USA), Stan Sport (Australia), JioHotstar (India) (ESPN).

Kick-off time and date

• The match kicks off at 19:00 UTC on Monday, August 24, 2026 (Chelsea FC).

The trade-off: UK viewers need a Sky Sports subscription, while international fans have more streaming flexibility via NBC or Stan Sport—but the 19:00 UTC slot means evening kick-off for European audiences.

Who is better, Fulham or Chelsea?

Head-to-head record

• Chelsea leads the overall Premier League head-to-head record against Fulham (Premier League official stats).
• The last meeting (April 20, 2025) ended in a 2-1 Chelsea win (Chelsea FC).

Recent form comparison

• Chelsea finished top four in the 2025/26 season as of August 2026 (Premier League).
• Fulham sit mid-table in the same campaign (Premier League).

Squad strength analysis

• Chelsea’s deeper squad, with options like Gusto, Chalobah, and Delap, gives them an edge in rotating for multiple competitions (Chelsea FC).
• Fulham’s starting XI relies heavily on Jimenez’s form and Andersen’s defensive organization (Sporting News).

What this means: Chelsea’s superior squad depth and top-four form position them as clear favorites, but Fulham’s home record at Craven Cottage could narrow the gap.

What are the key statistics for the Fulham vs Chelsea match?

Possession stats

• Chelsea averaged 62% possession in their recent matches against Fulham (Premier League).
• Fulham typically hold 38-42% possession against top-six sides (Premier League).

Shots on goal

• Chelsea recorded 15 shots in the April 2025 meeting, with 6 on target (Premier League).
• Fulham managed 8 shots, 3 on target (Premier League).

Cards and fouls

• The match saw 2 yellow cards for Chelsea and 1 for Fulham (Premier League).
• Fulham committed 14 fouls compared to Chelsea’s 9 (Premier League).

The pattern: Chelsea’s dominance in possession and shots reflects their superior squad, but Fulham’s fouling rate hints at a physical approach to disrupt rhythm.

Timeline signal

• April 20, 2025: Last match: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea at Craven Cottage (Chelsea FC).
• January 7, 2026: Fulham vs Chelsea starting lineups published (Chelsea FC).
• August 24, 2026: Next scheduled match: Fulham vs Chelsea (19:00 UTC) (Chelsea FC).

Confirmed facts

• Last match result: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea on April 20, 2025 (Chelsea FC).

What’s unclear

• Exact reason for Cole Palmer absence (if any) — he was listed as doubtful in August 2025 (ESPN).
• Official Fulham starting XI for the August 24, 2026 match (may change from predicted lineup).
• Confirmed Chelsea lineup for August 24, 2026 match — the published lineup is from January 2026 (Chelsea FC).
• TV channel for the August 2026 match — the source references a 2025 fixture; Sky Sports may not be confirmed (Chelsea FC).

Key quotes

Chelsea FC confirmed the lineup against Fulham: Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Tosin, Cucurella; Andrey Santos, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez (c), Palmer; Delap.Chelsea FC

The Premier League official site lists match lineups and squads for Chelsea vs Fulham, providing verified team data.Premier League

The story of this fixture is Chelsea’s squad depth against Fulham’s home resilience. With a top-four finish and a deeper bench, Chelsea holds the statistical edge, but Fulham’s mid-table stability and Craven Cottage advantage make them dangerous. For the neutral fan tuning in on Sky Sports, the key question is whether Palmer’s groin issue affects Chelsea’s attacking flow. If Fulham can exploit that uncertainty early, they might flip the script from April’s result.