The first Monday night offering of the new Premier League season comes from Craven Cottage as Fulham host Chelsea, with the west London rivals both starting the season under new management.
A whopping nine new managers are in charge at Premier League opener clubs this season and they include Alvaro Arbeloa at the Cottagers and Xabi Alonso in the Blues dugout.
The Spanish duo played 46 Premier League games as team-mates during their times at Liverpool and now take charge of English top-flight games as managers.
Fulham v Chelsea Tips Summary
Best Bet - Chelsea -1 @ 11/5
Alternative Bet - Joao Pedro anytime goalscorer @ 7/5
Bet Builder - Chelsea to win, Cole Palmer 1+ shots on target, Morgan Rogers to score or assist & Calvin Bassey to be booked @ 16/1
Fulham v Chelsea Prediction
Best Bet: Chelsea -1 @ 11/5
The departure of Marco Silva from the Fulham dugout after five years should not be overlooked.
He brought real stability to the Cottagers and Arbeloa, with such little first-team managerial experience, has a big job on his hands to maintain that level of achievement.
For many observers, the Cottagers are the team likeliest to get dragged into a relegation battle and winning starts for Hull City and Ipswich Town on Saturday underscored that it could be a dogfight.
Chelsea were major underachievers last season and Alonso must turn things around, but the early signs are positive in regards to the work he has been doing to create a good environment for his Blues squad to operate in.
The Blues have won six of their last eight trips to Craven Cottage and, if they can make a fast start, they could overrun their hosts, who have lost key men Sasa Lukic, Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez this summer.
Alternative Bet: Joao Pedro anytime goalscorer @ 7/5
Joao Pedro scored 20 goals in his first season at Stamford Bridge, helping his side to a Club World Cup triumph last summer.
The Brazil international, 24, was a surprise omission from Carlo Ancelotti's squad for the World Cup finals this summer and should be fresh and ready to roll now.
Clearly the Blues have major faith in him, as a new contract was signed over the weekend that runs until 2034.
He was the first Chelsea forward to net 20 goals in a season without taking penalties since Diego Costa and he can be expected to build on that in a team that should progress under their new manager.
He played just 15 minutes in Chelsea's 2-1 loss here in January, but scored against Fulham at Stamford Bridge last August and can repeat that here.
Fulham v Chelsea Bet Builder Tip
Chelsea to win
Cole Palmer 1+ shots on target
Morgan Rogers to score or assist
Calvin Bassey to be booked
Pays 16/1
Beating the handicap may be too much to ask, but Chelsea appeal as a solid bet to pick up all three points and Fulham have lost their last three season-opening London derbies.
Alonso will be desperate to get Cole Palmer back to his best. He has registered at least one shot on target in his last five games against the Cottagers and can do so again.
Palmer will have some of the creative weight removed from his shoulders by the arrival of Morgan Rogers, who claimed 48 goal contributions in the Premier League and European competitions for Aston Villa over the previous two seasons.
A goal or assist for the England forward is forecast.
If Chelsea are to dominate, Calvin Bassey is a card candidate. He was booked in successive London derbies against West Ham and Spurs in the spring and won't have Joachim Anderson alongside him at the back as the latter is suspended.
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Key Match Stats
Fulham have won only four of their 38 Premier League games against neighbours Chelsea
The Blues have won six of their last eight trips to Craven Cottage (L2)
Rival bosses Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso take charge of their first Premier League games, ahing played 46 Premier League games together at Liverpool
Fulham have won just one of their last six Premier League openers, while Chelsea have lost just three of their last 25 curtain-raisers
Chelsea summer signing Morgan Rogers had 48 goal contributions for Aston Villa in the Premier League and European competitions across the past two seasons
Fulham have lost all three London derbies played on the opening weekend of the season previously
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
