Barclays Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Monday, 28 December 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day
TEAM NEWS
**Chelsea have Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel available after delaying their departure to the Africa Cup of Nations.**Florent Malouda serves a one-match suspension following his red card against Birmingham.
Fulham may be without defender Brede Hangeland, who picked up a knee injury in the goalless draw with Tottenham.
Striker Andrew Johnson could feature after recovering from his long-term groin injury.
MATCH PREVIEW
Is history about to repeat itself It was around this time last season that Chelsea’s title challenge came off the rails; a run of two wins in eight games seeing the Blues slip from first to third in the table.
606: DEBATE
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Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Birmingham has left Chelsea with one win from five games so far in December - and that was a nervy 2-1 victory at home to bottom side Portsmouth.
The loss of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel to the Africa Cup of Nations is another blow, although they are available for this game after Chelsea were given permission to delay their departure.
Nonetheless, Chelsea are still top and clear favourites with the bookmakers to win a third Premier League title. They also have a strong record against their West London neighbours Fulham.
In fact, Fulham have beaten Chelsea just once in the last 30 years and they were no match for the Blues at Craven Cottage earlier in the season, when goals from Drogba and Nicolas Anelka gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side a 2-0 win.
And while Fulham have excelled at Craven Cottage in recent weeks, beating Manchester United and Liverpool among others, they haven’t won away in the league since the opening day of the season.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Fulham have beaten Chelsea just once in the last 26 league and cup meetings, spanning 30 years. That solitary success was 1-0 at Craven Cottage in March 2006 (Boa Morte).
• Chelsea have not lost this fixture at home since October 1979, when Fulham won 2-0 in the old Second Division. Fulham’s last top-flight victory at Stamford Bridge was 2-1 in March 1964.
Chelsea
• Since their 3-0 victory at Arsenal on 29 November, Chelsea have won just once in five games.
• Chelsea are unbeaten in 20 home league matches, winning 16 of them.
• The Blues have conceded 13 of their 15 league goals this season from set-pieces.
• Frank Lampard has scored eight goals in his last ten games against Fulham.
Fulham
• Fulham are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions.
• They have conceded just one goal in four league games in December.
• Fulham have gone seven games without an away win since beating Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park on the opening day of the season.
• If he plays, Clint Dempsey will make his 100th league appearance for Fulham.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant referees: Patrick Keane & Adam Watts
Fourth official: Lee Probert
MOST RECENT MEETING
Fulham 0-2 Chelsea (23 August 2009)
Chelsea scorers: Drogba 39, Anelka 76