Chelsea (Probable, 4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov; Kalou, Drogba, Malouda.

Fulham (Probable, 4-4-1-1): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly; Duff, Murphy, Greening, Davies; Dembele; Dempsey.

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Tale of the game
Chelsea have fresh injury doubts over defender Alex (knee) and Nicolas Anelka (back) in the run-up to the west London derby against Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

Midfielder Frank Lampard remains sidelined with a tendon problem but Michael Essien has recovered from the toe injury that kept him out of the Liverpool game on Sunday.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will play despite being diagnosed with a bout of malaria, having started on the bench at Liverpool.

Chelsea boast the best home record in the League with five wins out of five, 16 goals scored and none conceded.

Carlo Ancelotti’s league leaders have gone a club record eight successive home games without conceding a goal – a total of 781 minutes.

And Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games against neighbours Fulham.

Since Manchester City won 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in February, Chelsea have won 10 in a row, scoring 45 goals (an average of 4.5 per game) and conceding just two.

Fulham have never won at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. In nine attempts they have lost six and drawn three.

And the Cottagers last won at their closest neighbours in October 1979.

Their hopes of ending that poor sequence is not helped by their away form. Fulham have now gone 23 games since they last won away, at Portsmouth in August 2009.

Since then Fulham, whose manager Mark Hughes is a former Chelsea player, have taken 11 points from a possible 29, scored 16 goals and conceded 37.

Fulham could give a first league start since January to Andy Johnson, but they have problems in defence: Carlos Salcido is out and Chris Baird is doubtful.

Mark Hughes would probably accept a draw, a result he is getting used to. In his last 22 games as a manager – 11 for Manchester City and 11 for Fulham – he has won four, lost three and drawn a massive 15.

Last season: Fulham 0 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 2 Fulham 1.

Stat of the game: If Chelsea lose it will be the first time in 164 Premier League games that they will have lost consecutive matches.

Match

I 'm afraid, we may lose this game without Alex, Nneka, and half DD.
I think it's bera we ask ourselves 'how market' before others do it for us. my view

NO TIME FOR HOW MARKET, CHELSEA IS WINNING THE MATCH,

Draw.

West London Derby. Will be a difficult one for Chelsea

This game has draw written in bold all over it.
Mark Hughes has transformed Fulham into draw masters, a team that can grind out result on any ground. Since he took over, Fulham have only lost twice, one was a very controversial defeat to Spurs.
Chelsea are on the back of a defeat and will do everything to maintain their stay on top of the league but in the end, I think Fulham will do just enough to walk away with a point

Chelsea need the win. . .so do I

fulham 2 win and united win city so united climb 2 first on d league

I voted for a chelsea win but it's gonna be a difficult game. A draw is very possible.

bxg:

fulham 2 win and united win city so united climb 2 first on d league

Not in d books. . . u want to ride on the back of Fulham as u rode on Liverpool. Not possible in this game. . .the worst is a draw for chelsea even ur game against mancity is not sure win for united. City can even win it more Fulham can draw at the bridge. My Liverpool is on d upsurge against wigan.

The boys are not joking around at all.

Not watchin d match. pls kip us updated.

Doing well so far. Bosingwa is like a new signing. Replicating every feat Ashley is capable of on the right.

Lamps has this anxious look in the stands.

Heard arsenal & liverpool are 1 up. wetin we dey wait 4 na?

Two awful passes from Essien now.

All we nid in dis is a win o.

Mikel had a shot on goal. Unbelievable.
Essien makes third awful pass.

I need a link fast!!!

Nateevs; any ideas??

That was not a foul Mr Dean.

cabali:

I need a link fast!!!

Nateevs; any ideas??

Bro, try atdhe.net

Yeah, that one isnt connecting; maybe it is from my end;

Thanks anyway

Goalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

I take Essien off my team and he scores. .

Cabali

Don't you have sopcast?

Sopcast is showing man u

Channel 90521 is showing Chelsea.

Dembele . . Fine player.

Kalou? That should have been 2.

Kalou?

Kalou

That should have been 3. . . Kalou haba!!!

Okay I am on!!! atdhe.net came strong

Kalou should be shot in the ear!!