Chelsea v Fulham LIVE commentary: Kick-off time, team news, head-to-head record and prediction

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Chelsea host Fulham in an intriguing west London derby this weekend, live and exclusive on talkSPORT.Both sides go into the match unbeaten after two league games and hoping to inflict a first dent in each other’s record as well as claiming bragging rights.GettyChelsea were insatiable in last week’s 5-1 thrashing of West Ham[/caption]GettyEmile Smith Rowe earned Fulham a point against Man United last weekend[/caption]Enzo Maresca’ side kicked off the season with a drab goalless draw against Crystal Palace but quickly showed their metal by thrashing West Ham 5-1 at the London Stadium last week.Goals from Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah handed Chelsea a comprehensive victory.And a win for the Blues this weekend will see them go top of the Premier League, albeit for a few hours.Fulham meanwhile, have registered draws against Brighton and Manchester United to begin the new campaign.They had substitute Rodrigo Muniz to thank for his late equaliser at the AMEX before another replacement in Emile Smith Rowe salvaged a point late on against Ruben Amorim’s side.Fulham, who go into the match having dispatched Bristol City 2-0 in the Carabao Cup, would welcome their first three points of the season at the home of their local rivals but will need to be at their best to see off the World Champions.Chelsea vs Fulham: Date and how to followThis Premier League game will take place on Saturday, August 30 and kick-off at Stamford Bridge is scheduled for 12.30pm.talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage from west London, hosted by Reshmin Chowdhury.Commentary will come from Sam Matterface and former England captain Stuart Pearce.To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.talkSPORT will be at Stamford Bridge for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-offGettyYou can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.talkSPORT.com will also be right across the action.The match will also be broadcast on TNT Sports while Discovery+ customers will be able to stream through their laptops and mobile devices.Chelsea vs Fulham: Team newsChelsea hope to have Cole Palmer at their disposal after an injury suffered in the warm-up at West Ham saw him miss the rout.Palmer appeared to tweak his groin prior to kick off at the London Stadium and Chelsea medical staff chose not to risk his participation.The Blues will be without duo Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia while defender Levi Colwill is out for the long term.The Blues could again be without Cole Palmer for the visit of FulhamFulham boss Marco Silva could hand Smith Rowe his first start of the season following his heroics against Manchester United.Silva also has a decision to make on left-back Antonee Robinson who is also pushing for his first outing this term after making his return against the Red Devils.And the Portuguese must choose whether to field either Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez against the BluesChelsea vs Fulham: Head-to-head recordFulham will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s Boxing Day clash when Muniz’s late effort handed the Cottagers a 2-1 win and their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1979.Chelsea got some payback in the reverse fixture, winning by the same scoreline in April.Overall Chelsea have 53 wins against their neighbours while Fulham have registered 13 victories with 27 draws between the two clubs.Rodrigo Muniz netted Fulham’s winner in the corresponding fixture last seasonGettyChelsea vs Fulham: What has been said?Maresca, who is sweating on the fitness of Palmer, insists Chelsea’s results are not dependent on the England international’s availability.“You already know what I think about that. How I feel about it,” Maresca said when pressed on whether his side are overreliant on the 23-year-old.“You are there to say things, and people are there to say things, or the ones that say just we are ‘Cole team’.“For sure, Cole is our best player, no doubt. For sure, with Cole we are a much, much, much better team.“But I think we already showed last year in two, three months where Cole, unfortunately for us, was not 100% and we achieved top four.“No one expected that, and most importantly, no one asked from me in my first season. They asked me in two seasons [to qualify for the] Champions League.”Maresca hit back at claims Chelsea are over reliant on PalmerAFPMeanwhile, Fulham’s Smith Rowe says the impact from the substitutes bench this season is a direct result of the high-level mentality formed in training“We are very competitive in training, I think it all comes from there when I score or when I contribute,” said Smith Rowe.“We know when we come off the bench, we have to work hard and score.“I know when Alex [Iwobi] gets the ball, I know his trademark cross. I knew where he was going to put it and that I just had to be there at the right time.”PredictionChelsea to edge out their neighbours in a narrow 2-1 victory.