Chelsea make the short trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in Sunday’s penultimate west London derby of the Premier League season, kick-off 2pm (UK time).

While the Blues secured passage to yet another European semi-final despite a home defeat on Thursday, Marco Silva’s side had a clear week after losing 1-0 at Bournemouth on Monday.

The mid-table Whites have been consistently inconsistent, their last eight league results alternating between defeat and victory, regardless whether home or away, against top or bottom six.

A win for Enzo Maresca’s side would buck that trend and set the Blues nine points clear of our postcode rivals with 15 still to contest.

Auspiciously, Chelsea have notched five victories in the past six league trips to the Cottage.

And after successive draws with Brentford and Ipswich, the Blues know a return to winning ways will help put pursuit of a Champions League place back on track.

Romeo Lavia is available for selection again after injury, Maresca confirmed in his pre-match media duties.

Chelsea vs Fulham – the history

For the first time since a 2-0 Division Two loss at the Bridge in 1979, Chelsea are seeking revenge at Craven Cottage.

Back in March 1980, Geoff Hurst’s young side duly delivered with two goals from winger Clive Walker. Kevin Lock replied from the spot for the hosts.

This derby was first played as a league fixture at Craven Cottage in 1910, ending in a 1-0 loss for Chelsea after leading scorer Bob Whittingham blazed a penalty over the bar.

The first meeting in Division One came 39 years later on 17 September 1949, a 1-1 draw in which Billy Gray scored the opener for us.

There have been three high-scoring games at Craven Cottage down the years. In January 1962 a Barry Maryland own goal, and strikes by Andy Malcolm, Bobby Tambling from the spot and a last-gasp winner from Peter Brabrook, produced a 4-3 win for the visitors.

Twenty-one years later, in Division Two, future Blue Gordon Davies hit a treble but was outgunned by two from Kerry Dixon and others by Joey Jones, Pat Nevin and Colin Lee to complete a 5-3 Blues victory.

More recently, in November 2004, Arjen Robben mesmerised the Cottagers in an emphatic 4-1 away win. The Netherlander left three defenders on the turf in scoring his fourth in as many games and made one for Tiago. Frank Lampard and William Gallas netted the other two.

Last season the Blues established an early lead through Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja and saw out a bad-tempered game for the 2-0 win.

Know this…

Chelsea are targeting a first away league win since Tottenham in December – a run of eight games without victory.

The Blues are the only Premier League team without an away win in 2025. However, Enzo Maresca’s side have won five and drawn three of the past ten London derbies.

Cole Palmer, with 19 assists from 64 games, could become the third-fastest Chelsea player to record 20 Premier League set-ups after Cesc Fabregas (47 games) and Juan Mata (49).

Rodrigo Muniz has found the net in three of his last five Premier League derby matches for Fulham – each after coming off the bench.

Fulham’s win on Boxing Day this season was only their second success in 75 years of top-flight trips to the Bridge. The other came in March 1964, with the same 2-1 scoreline.

Premier League West London derbies 1992-25