Fulham, who have seven points from their last three league games, welcome the Blues to the Cottage where they haven’t lost in any competition since December 26.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have picked up six points from their previous three league games which gives Fulham the slight advantage with regards to recent form.

New boy David Luiz is set to make his full debut for the Stamford Bridge side, having signed for £21.3million and Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping that he fits into a Chelsea backline who have struggled since the injury to Alex this season.

Jose Boswinga is a doubt with an injury, while Yuri Zhirkov is still sidelined with a calf injury so Ancelotti’s defensive options are currently bleak.

The Blues have conceded four goals in their last three games across all competitions and it has proven to be a big problem for the side who have faltered in their title defence.

The west London club are now 13 points behind Manchester United in the Premier League, albeit with a game in hand. Ancelotti admitted recently that the title is now beyond them and that Champions League football the priority for Chelsea this season.

Fulham will be licking their lips at the prospect of a derby game against a Chelsea side low on confidence.  The league game at Stamford Bridge finished in a 1-0 win to Chelsea back in November, an Essien strike separating the sides, but Fulham have made a fortress at the Cottage recently and will fancy their chances.

The Cottagers have kept a clean sheet in their previous three home games and Chelsea appear to be suffering from the old ‘too-many-chiefs-and-not-enough-Indians’ dilemma with their attacking options.

£50million man Fernando Torres has had a poor season by his standards, Didier Drogba is not the player he was and Nicolas Anelka has only recently started to regain his form.  But truth be told, regardless of the class of these three, getting them to gel as a three-pronged attack in what will be only their second game as a unit will be a big ask.

Problems in defence for Chelsea, and issues to sort out in attack, means that Fulham, although seven league places behind their London neighbours, are worth a bet and stand a great chance of claiming all three points (Fulham to win 1-0 – 9/1).

Fulham will want star midfielder Clint Dempsey to be on form, as Bobby Zamora will not play despite making a return for the reserves recently.  The American Dempsey (to score anytime against Chelsea – 5/2 fav) has scored nine league goals this season and is well worth a punt to ruin Chelsea’s season even further.

No player at the Stamford Bridge club is yet to reach ten league goals for the season.  Drogba and Florent Malouda have both scored nine league goals this season.

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The former England and Manchester City boss has been mooted as the man to takeover at Craven Cottage as his future with the Ivory Coast national team is in doubt after he failed to guide them beyond the group stage at the World Cup in South Africa.

However, the Swede’s return to English football will hinge on current Fulham boss Hodgson’s future given that he remains hot favourite at 4/7 to be Next Permanent Liverpool Manager.

The Merseyside giants are thought to be close to agreeing a compensation package with the Cottagers for Hodgson’s services. But it is being reported that he wants some guarantees about the club’s financial future and his possible transfer funds before he agrees to replace the outgoing Rafael Benitez.

Another potential obstacle to a deal going through to take Hodgson to Anfield is the prospect of the England manager’s position becoming vacant in the very near future.

Current Three Lions coach Fabio Capello insisted that he has no plans to resign following the side’s humiliating World Cup last-16 exit at the hands of Germany on Sunday afternoon in Bloemfontein.

However, the Italian will speak with FA chairman Sir Dave Richards on his return and could be relieved of his duties if the decision-makers feel he is no longer capable of bringing success to the national team.

It is thought that Hodgson will be amongst the frontrunners to replace Capello if he does depart as England boss and they will look for a quick appointment as the bid to qualify for Euro 2012 (England 2/7 group G Winner) starts this autumn.

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