Fulham have had very little time to put the disappointment of Wednesday’s night League Cup semi-first first leg defeat at Liverpool behind them as they prepare for an opportunity to make more history at Stamford Bridge this lunchtime. It is a measure of how far the Whites have progressed under Marco Silva that Fulham followers felt disappointed not to have been able to hold onto the advantage that Willian worked for them with another exquisite finish at Anfield, but there is the not too scant consolation that the slender defeat leaves everything to play for at Craven Cottage.

Silva himself referenced the quick turnaround between the damaging finale on Merseyside – when his leggy outfit were kept in the tie by a couple of brilliant Bernd Leno saves – and the second instalment of the SW6 derby in today’s early kick off. Whilst Chelsea might be having a tough season under Mauricio Pochettino, the Cottagers have an atrocious record at the home of their nearest neighbours. They haven’t won at Stamford Bridge in eighteen league meetings since second half goals from John Beck and Gordon Davies secured a 2-0 win in the Second Division – and the Blues have only conceded a single goal in their last eight competitive meetings on their home turf.

Silva’s charges have proved adept at writing new history for themselves since returning to the top flight sixteen months ago and they will be motivated by the memory of what the head coach considered a distinctly below-par display at Craven Cottage in October. Compared to the way the Whites dismantled Graham Potter’s side in January 2023 – with Carlos Vinicius’ first Fulham goal clinching a first derby win in seventeen years – it was all too easy for Chelsea to cruise to a success that would have settled a few nerves in the blue half of west London. It felt less like a derby and more akin to a cruise through the neighbourhood for Pochettino’s team that night.

Silva will need to decide whether to take a few tired legs out of the firing line after the exertions of Anfield. Plenty of key performers took themselves through the pain barrier in midweek, especially Harrison Reed, who produced a heroic display in the centre of midfield despite complaining of feeling unwell in the run-up to that mouthwatering fixture. Fulham will have the option of introducing four players who missed the first leg against Liverpool. Kenny Tete, who has lost his place to Timothy Castagne at right back since injuring his groin, was outstanding in last season’s goalless draw at Chelsea whilst Tim Ream might be in contention to return in the middle of the back four having made the bench on Wednesday. Captain Tom Cairney’s clever utilisation of possession could be handy to give Fulham a foothold in midfield, whilst Harry Wilson may come back in on the right flank.

It is well known that Chelsea don’t consider this a significant derby – but they will be looking to bounce back from a dismal display at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night when they were outfought by Middlesbrough in the first leg of their own League Cup last four clash. Pochettino’s side have endured an indifferent campaign, certainly well short of the levels the former Tottenham Hotspur boss would have hoped for, but they have won three of their last four and will looking to turn the corner at home in 2024 – after winning just four home league matches from ten so far this term.

Pochettino should be able to call on the fit-again Ben Chilwell and Benoit Badiashile, whilst promising midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka will be handed a late fitness test. It is thought that the capital clash will come a little too soon for Trevoh Chalobah as the defender nears a return to match sharpness. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is unlikely to start with Christopher Nkunku, Reece James and Romeo Lavia all still on the treatment table and Nicolas Jackson away on African Cup of Nations duty with Senegal. The Blues will still have plenty of talent on show this afternoon – so it will require another herculean effort for Fulham to end their barren run at Stamford Bridge, but the invincible aura surrounding Chelsea has definitely diminshed.

MY FULHAM XI (4-3-3): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream; Palhinha, Reed, Cairney; Wilson, Willian, Jimenez. Subs: Rodak, Castagne, Adarabioyo, Lukic, Francois, De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Muniz, Vinicius