Chelsea is set to clash with Fulham in a West London derby at Stamford Bridge today, August 30, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 PM BST. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, with coverage beginning at 11:00 AM BST. Subscribers can also stream the game via the Discovery+ app and website. Highlights will be available on the Sky Sports app and YouTube from 5:15 PM, and extended coverage will be shown on BBC One's "Match of the Day" at 10:20 PM.
Chelsea enters the match with a chance to briefly top the Premier League table. After a summer that saw them triumph in the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup, the Blues are looking to build on their recent 5-1 victory over West Ham. However, Fulham, who are unbeaten in their three games this season, will be aiming to secure their first league win of the campaign and repeat their 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge from the previous season.
Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer, who is sidelined with a groin injury sustained before the West Ham match. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that Palmer will also miss out on England's upcoming matches. Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile also remain unavailable for selection. However, Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to continue partnering with Trevoh Chalobah in defense. Fulham may see Antonee Robinson return to the starting lineup after being rested in the Carabao Cup. Marco Silva is also expected to restore several first-team regulars, including Bernd Leno, Joachim Andersen, Kenny Tete, and Sander Berge.
Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, displayed attacking fluency and defensive resilience in their previous league match against West Ham. However, Fulham is expected to offer a sterner challenge with a compact defensive structure. Without Palmer, Chelsea may find it more difficult to break down Fulham's defense. Fulham possesses counter-attacking threats, particularly with Rodrigo Muniz. Pundits predict a tight contest, with a narrow home win for Chelsea being the most likely outcome. Sports Illustrated predicts a 3-1 win for Chelsea, while others suggest a 2-1 scoreline.
Chelsea has historically dominated this fixture, with 53 wins compared to Fulham's 13, and 27 draws. However, Fulham's victory at Stamford Bridge last season ended a long winless run stretching back to 1979. Chelsea responded by winning the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage. Chelsea is unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge in 2025, winning eight and drawing three.
In other news, Bayern Munich has reportedly agreed to a loan deal for Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson. The deal involves an initial €15 million loan fee for one season, with a non-mandatory option to buy for €65-80 million. Chelsea will also include a sell-on clause in the agreement.
Jackson is expected to travel to Bavaria soon to finalize the transfer. The Senegalese international, who joined Chelsea in July 2023, was seemingly unsettled by the recent arrivals of Liam Delap and João Pedro. With Harry Kane already leading the line for Bayern, Jackson will likely compete for a role as a backup or in rotational games. It is believed that other clubs, including Napoli, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa, were also interested in Jackson.
