It’s been a disastrous season for Fulham. Despite spending a lot of money in the offseason with the aim of ensuring their survival, the Cottagers are almost certainly set to drop back down to the Championship. They have just 17 points through 28 games, and they are 10 points away from safety. Even if they draw level with another team, their horrendous goal differential means they need to be a point ahead in order to survive, and that makes their situation even more difficult. Fulham are hoping against hope for a win against Chelsea this week, but even their most ardent supporters know it is very unlikely.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Craven Cottage in London at 9:05 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Fulham +493
Chelsea -185
Draw +333
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
Maurizio Sarri may have saved his job for the time being. Chelsea’s embattled manager has not been a fan favorite over the last couple months, but he showed flexibility and the Blues went to penalties before falling to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, and they followed that up with a big win over Tottenham on Wednesday. Even though Chelsea had one shot on goal combined in those two matches, results are results, and those were huge. Currently, Chelsea are in sixth place in the table, but they have a game in hand and are three points back of Arsenal.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Fulham. After a 4-2 win over Brighton at the end of January, the club was feeling optimistic, but the hopes of a turnaround have been dashed. The Cottagers have been outscored 10-1 in their last four matches, and they have lost all those games by at least two goals. They have allowed a league-high 63 goals this season, and the failings of the defense have been instrumental to their downfall.
Key Injuries
Three players are set to miss the match for Chelsea. Marco van Ginkel is a long-term injury, while Gary Cahill and Danny Drinkwater have both been out for a spell without an inkling of when they might return. It looks like Davide Zappacosta will be healthy enough to be available for selection this time though.
Marcus Bettinelli might miss the rest of the year for Fulham after undergoing knee surgery, but the Cottagers are hoping that Alfie Mawson will return by season’s end. He is out at least a few more weeks after his knee surgery though, and there is no timetable for his return. Andre Schurrle is probable to play through illness.
Player to Watch
Eden Hazard might leave Stamford Bridge in the summer, but until then he is the most reliable offensive option on Chelsea. He is not scoring at the pace he did at the start of the year, but he has 12 goals and 10 assists on the season. Hazard is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league, and he should have plenty of success against a poor defense.
Prop Bet – Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals +169
Fulham have had the worst defense in the league by a wide margin, while Chelsea can look very sharp on offense. The Blues only beat the Cottagers 2-0 the last time these teams met, but I think they will open up their offense a lot more and net often against Fulham.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Failing to get a win here might very well be the last straw for Sarri, so I think he will come up with a solid gameplan that will open up Fulham’s defense.
English Premier League Odds: Chelsea 3, Fulham 0
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