MX23RW : Monday, March 4 21:08:07

How Chelsea could line up against Fulham

Sports Mole looks at how Chelsea could line up for Sunday's West London derby against Fulham, with decisions to be made over dropped goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

There will be a familiar face in the dugout when Chelsea make the short trip to Craven Cottage for Sunday's West London derby as former player Scott Parker oversees his first game in temporary charge of Fulham following Claudio Ranieri's sacking.

The Blues will be wary of the boost teams often receive when a change of management occurs, although they take on a Fulham side looking increasingly resigned to relegation.

For their part, Chelsea need a win to keep the pressure on the Champions League places and go into the game off the back of a significant 2-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, which helped to ease the pressure on Maurizio Sarri's shoulders.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Italian could line his side up for the derby.



Possible CHE XI vs. FUL

Out: Gary Cahill (back), Danny Drinkwater (Achilles), Marco van Ginkel (knee)
Doubtful: Davide Zappacosta (ill)

Sarri will once again be posed with a dilemma over who to start in goal after dropping the world's most expensive keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for the midweek win over Spurs.

The manager has insisted that Kepa remains his number one despite his incredible insubordination in the EFL Cup final last weekend, but Willy Caballero's clean sheet against Tottenham may be enough to earn him another start for now - despite not having a save to make at Stamford Bridge.

Sarri must also decide whether to rest star players such as Eden Hazard, Gonzalo Higuain and N'Golo Kante with a Europa League clash against Dynamo Kiev on the horizon, although the importance of victory this weekend may override that school of thought.

Ross Barkley will be hoping for a recall after missing the Spurs win, and Pedro's goal in that game may be enough to see him start ahead of Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi once again.

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Who will win the West London derby between Fulham and Chelsea?

Fulham
Draw
Chelsea
Fulham
9.3%
Draw
4.7%
Chelsea
86.0%
Kepa Arrizabalaga in action during the Premier League game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea on December 5, 2018
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How Chelsea could line up against Spurs
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City29232476205671
2Liverpool29217164154970
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs29201856302661
4Manchester UnitedMan Utd29177558382058
5Arsenal29176661392257
6Chelsea28175649301956
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves29127103735243
8Watford29127104141043
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham29116123741-439
10Everton29107123939037
11Leicester CityLeicester29105143541-635
12Bournemouth29104153954-1534
13Crystal Palace2996143539-433
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2987142636-1031
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2886143041-1130
16Burnley2986153253-2130
17Southampton2969143249-1727
18Cardiff CityCardiff2974182557-3225
19Fulham2945202765-3817
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2935211551-3614

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