Chelsea vs Fulham LIVE Football Score 03/02/2023

Chelsea vs Fulham LIVE Football Score 03/02/2023

Two weeks off for Chelsea comes to an end as they face west London rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge in the hope of sparking further optimism at SW6. Having drawn to Liverpool at Anfield last time out, the Blues have secured three new signings since they last played. Noni Madueke has had plenty of time on the training pitch to meet his new teammates after he was officially announced while Malo Gusto also signed but won’t be available. The Frenchman is back out on loan at Lyon for the rest of the season – but the Premier League’s most expensive player ever could make his debut.

Enzo Fernandez was the big deadline day story to follow and his remarkable saga came to a conclusion on Tuesday night when a £106.8million deal was agreed. Speaking ahead of the game Graham Potter said: “We’ll see. We’ve got to go through the paperwork and he needs to get clearance and all that. I’ve spoken to him.”

With Jorginho leaving to join Arsenal on deadline day too it was one-in-one-out in the midfield and therefore the Blues would benefit greatly if their Argentine superstar is available. Elsewhere, Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk could make their first starts for the club. After their record-setting January shopping spree, Chelsea will expect a positive start to post-window life when they host Fulham on Friday.

The Blues lost 2-1 when these sides met three weeks ago but have been splashing the cash ever since in an attempt to ensure something like that doesn’t happen again. Chelsea are looking for revenge over Fulham as the London rivals meet again in the Premier League just three weeks after a shock win for the Cottagers. Willian and Carlos Vinicius both scored, as Chelsea debutant Joao Felix was sent off on his debut, in a rare win for Fulham over their west London neighbours last monhth.

Chelsea remain two points behind Fulham ahead of Thursday’s game but have since added signed the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez, the latter being in line for his own debut. Chelsea will be able to hand a debut to the most expensive player in British football history, Enzo Fernandez, if he can be registered in time.

Joao Felix is still suspended, serving the third of his three-match ban for his sending off against Fulham last month. Mudryk should start after a lively cameo against Liverpool last time out and should line up alongside Kai Havertz and Mason Mount up top.

Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are all back and fit, but Wesley Fofana, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy, N’Golo Kante, Armando Broja and Denis Zakaria are still out.

Fulham have a clean bill of health, beyond longer-term absentee Neesken Kebano. January signings Sasa Lukic and Cedric Soares are in line to make their debuts.

Chelsea, you would hope, will have renewed hope and purpose now the January transfer window has closed with them firmly stocked up on talent – it’s just down to Graham Potter to make it all work.

Fulham are extremely well-drilled and will prove a tough test – just ask Chelsea! – but I fancy the Blues to have the edge in front of a no doubt giddy home crowd. This game is rarely high-scoring, so any will should be narrow.