Evening Standard
·20 April 2025
Chelsea XI vs Fulham: Starting XI, confirmed team news and injury latest for Premier League

Evening Standard
·20 April 2025
Romeo Lavia back to boost Blues for crucial west London derby showdown
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez come back into the Chelsea team as the Blues travel to Fulham for a huge game in their bid to qualify for the Champions League.
Both players were both left out of the squad entirely for Thursday’s embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Legia Warsaw in the Conference League.
But Enzo Maresca will hope a rested first-choice midfield can help inspire his ailing Chelsea side after a difficult week.
Chelsea were held to a 2-2 home draw by all-but relegated Ipswich last weekend before being booed off by the home crowd at Stamford Bridge against Legia, having reached a European semi-final.
Maresca named a surprisingly strong lineup for that game, given his side held a 3-0 advantage from the first leg in Poland.
Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah were also spared any involvement, while Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke were used only off the bench. All four men return to the starting lineup at Craven Cottage.
That means Jadon Sancho has dropped out of the side, despite another assist making it four goal involvements in three games.
Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson both started against the Polish side but were withdrawn early with a view to the trip to Craven Cottage - Maresca will demand goals of the pair today as both are in the throes of extended droughts.
With Romeo Lavia back in training this week and available to play if needed, Wesley Fofana and Marc Guiu are the only long-term absentees along with youngster Omari Kellyman. Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable for selection.
Confirmed Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Tosin, Badiashile, Acheampong, Gusto, Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall, Sancho, George
Injured: Fofana, Guiu, Kellyman
Unavailable: Mudryk
Time and date: 2pm BST on Sunday April 20, 2025
Venue: Craven Cottage, London