Chelsea can see off flimsy Fulham with the minimum of fuss

Premier League
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The Premier League's derby day starts at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea should be able to see off neighbours Fulham with the minimum of fuss.

There is not even two miles between the Bridge and Craven Cottage in a swanky area of London, although the gulf in quality is evident with 19 points separating the sides after just 13 Premier League matches.

No doubt Fulham will be up for the clash as the Cottagers' recently-appointed manager Claudio Ranieri returns to his former club. But history is firmly against the visitors, who last won a top-flight away game at Chelsea in 1964.

Ranieri's debut in the Fulham dugout ended in a much-needed 3-2 victory over Southampton last week but the Italian was supposed to bring defensive solidity to a team who have now conceded 33 times since gaining promotion via the playoffs.

Alfie Mawson returned to the rearguard, while Calum Chambers was used as a makeshift holding midfielder against Saints and yet Fulham remain as flimsy as ever. Those defensive deficiencies are accentuated on the road where their opponents are averaging three goals per game.

Former Blue Andre Schurrle, Ryan Sessegnon and Aleksandar Mitrovic at least give Fulham a threat going forward and there may be some nerves in the Chelsea rearguard following last week's dismal 3-1 loss at Tottenham.

However, rock-bottom Fulham are most definitely not as good as Spurs and the Cottagers have failed to score in defeats at Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton and Huddersfield.

Maurizio Sarri will have been working his players hard in a bid to avoid a repeat of the mistakes in last week's Wembley humbling when the Blues were fortunate to escape with a 3-1 defeat to Spurs.

David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger had shockers and Spurs hinted at a template others may want to follow - smother playmaker Jorginho and allow N'Golo Kante to have possession for Chelsea.

Kante can't find Eden Hazard in the same way as Jorginho and the Sarri's whole system falls down if there isn't quick passing.

However, that was Chelsea's first league defeat of the season and for a bet it may be worth hoping that Sarri selects Olivier Giroud over the incredibly frustrating Alvaro Morata.

Giroud came off the bench to score a consolation at Wembley and followed that with a first-half double over PAOK in Thursday's 4-0 Europa League stroll. He could be the man to break the deadlock if given the chance to start.

Recommendation
O Giroud first goalscorer
1pt 4-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Bet on this match at soccerbase.com

Team news
Chelsea
Eden Hazard is expected to recover from an ankle problem which saw him rested in the Europa League on Thursday.

Fulham
Kevin McDonald and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa have been ruled out.

Key stat
Fulham have won only one of their last 26 Premier League games against Chelsea.

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