Fulham vs Chelsea Lineups August 2026 – The final match of the opening week of the 2026-27 Premier League season will see Fulham and Chelsea face each other at Fulham’s home ground, as both teams begin a new era under familiar coaches.

The match is scheduled to take place at Craven Cottage on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 20:00 local time.

Fulham said goodbye to Marco Silva after five years, while Xabi Alonso became the latest coach appointed by BlueCo at the five-time Premier League champions, who are searching for direction and consistency.

Now, before the match begins, let us take a look at Mansion Sports’ prediction for the Fulham vs Chelsea lineups August 2026 below!

The Two Teams’ Conditions Ahead of the Match

Fulham

It may feel unusual for a while to watch Fulham without Silva on the touchline, but the Portuguese coach’s decision to return to his homeland and take charge of Benfica has forced the West London club to take a different direction.

The capital club selected Alvaro Arbeloa for the next three years, and it remains to be seen how the former defender will carry out his duties at the Cottage.

The Spanish coach’s first match immediately presents a difficult test against their nearest rivals, who have historically dominated this fixture, although Fulham have recently enjoyed more positive results.

Silva won 50% of his last four West London derbies, securing a 2-1 victory sandwiched between two defeats, with the most recent loss coming in January at the venue for Monday’s match.

That victory was The Cottagers’ first home win over The Blues since 2023, and they are now targeting consecutive victories over Chelsea for the first time since recording back-to-back wins in the 1970s.

However, their pre-season results were mixed, with Arbeloa securing two victories from six matches and recording only one clean sheet during that period, particularly in their final match against Stuttgart.

Chelsea

The head-to-head record against Chelsea suggests that another clean sheet may be difficult to achieve, considering Fulham have prevented The Blues from scoring in only two goalless matches in their last 16 meetings, in 2012 and 2023.

That could assist Alonso’s mission ahead of the meeting with his former teammates at Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as against the man who replaced him at the Bernabeu earlier this year, before Arbeloa himself subsequently left his position.

Alonso’s arrival at Stamford Bridge has brought significant optimism to The Blues, who endured an inconsistent season under two head coaches and one interim coach before ultimately finishing only 10th.

That result means the five-time Premier League champions will not play in European competition, and the club’s supporters will certainly have fond memories of a similar situation inherited by Antonio Conte exactly 10 years ago.

At that time, Chelsea went on to win the top-flight title, which remains their most recent league championship, while Alonso’s preference for a similar approach using a 3-4-2-1 formation has generated enthusiasm on the blue side of the capital.

However, while Conte inherited a team with experience of winning the title in 2014-15, the former Bayer Leverkusen coach has taken charge of a group of players who have appeared to lose direction under various coaches since 2021.

With mixed pre-season results under the Spanish coach but enthusiasm for the world champion remaining undiminished, the fifth coach appointed by BlueCo will hope to gain the supporters’ backing from the outset by securing a positive result at the Cottage on Monday night.

Fulham vs Chelsea Lineups August 2026

Fulham (4-2-3-1)

Regarding Fulham’s squad condition, they have a relatively healthy squad, with Tom Cairney suffering from a knee injury and being the only player unavailable due to injury ahead of Monday’s match.

Meanwhile, Joachim Andersen will serve the final match of his three-match suspension following the red card he received against Bournemouth in May.

Arbeloa’s connection with Real Madrid was an important factor in The Cottagers’ successful summer recruitment of Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, and both are expected to start as the central striker and left winger.

The pressure on Garcia is significant, considering the departure of Fulham’s top scorer last season. Harry Wilson scored 10 goals, while Raul Jimenez contributed nine goals.

Therefore, the former Real Madrid player will look to adapt to life in West London as quickly as possible.

Shea Charles was also one of Fulham’s expensive summer signings, but the former Southampton player is expected to remain on the bench as Alex Iwobi is preferred.

Iwobi scored four goals and provided three assists, while the Nigerian’s ability to carry the ball and deliver passes has become an important part of the home side’s play.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1)

Meanwhile, regarding Chelsea’s squad condition, although Chelsea have doubts over Enzo Fernandez’s long-term future in the capital, Joao Pedro has committed himself to the club until 2032, and their top scorer from last season wants to continue his 2025-26 form after scoring 15 goals.

Joao Pedro’s seven goals during pre-season have already provided a positive sign for The Blues, while the arrival of Morgan Rogers for a record English transfer fee to support Cole Palmer in the attacking midfield position could benefit the number 10 after he endured a below-par season due to fatigue and injuries.

Danny Welbeck still has to undergo a final fitness assessment, while Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha are confirmed absentees for the visitors.

Chelsea will also be unable to field Wesley Fofana after the centre-back was sent off in the final match of the previous season.

This meeting will be the first step for Fulham and Chelsea into their new eras. Fulham will want to begin a new chapter following Marco Silva’s departure with a positive result, while Chelsea will hope Xabi Alonso’s approach can bring consistency and improve their performances from the first match of the 2026-27 season.