Fulham v Chelsea: Premier League predictions, best bets and odds

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The first Monday Night Football of the 2026/27 Premier League season pairs neighbours Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage from 20:00 BST.

You can follow the action on TV and live streaming apps, with the trusted bookmakers featured on this page offering over 100 gambling markets. Bettors and armchair fans can choose between match-winner, totals, first scorer, and much more.

Need help uncovering the value ahead of this London derby? Keep reading as experienced football betting writer Frank Monkhouse unpacks his Fulham vs Chelsea Premier League predictions and best bets.

Fulham vs Chelsea betting tips

Chelsea win @ 19/20 (bet365)

Antonee Robinson 2+ tackles @ 3/10 (bet365)

Cole Palmer 1+ shot on target @ 8/11 (bet365)

Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

Result - Chelsea win

Picking sides early, I'm taking Chelsea to get off to a flying start, collecting all three points and a morale-boosting derby win.

It’s exciting times to be a fan of the Blues, but there’s still work to do at Stamford Bridge. 

Chelsea are far from the finished article, with Xabi Alonso and his team working hard behind the scenes. The squad isn’t yet ready to lay down a title challenge, but Chelsea have enough quality to beat Fulham. No European football certainly helps their cause in the short term.

The stats are against Fulham here, too.

The Cottagers have opened a Premier League season with a London derby three times before, losing each match; 2-1 to Arsenal in 2007, 2-0 to Crystal Palace in 2018, and 3-0 to Arsenal in 2020.

Need more convincing before parting with your hard-earned cash?

Fulham are notoriously slow starters, winning just one of their last six Premier League starts. They don’t have a great record when hosting Chelsea either.

When analysing the Fulham vs Chelsea head-to-head stats on the Flashscore app, I noticed that the locals have won only two of the last 10. Included in that run are six wins for Chelsea, with the other games ending in draws.

I don’t like to read too much into pre-season friendlies, but let’s look at how both clubs have performed in warm-up matches this month.

Chelsea played five times in August, scoring 10 goals as they battered AC Milan 3-0, before blasting Real Sociedad 3-1.

Switching to Fulham, we see they played four friendlies in August. Alvaro Arbeloa’s troops scored six goals, including one when losing to Crystal Palace, and another when beating Stuttgart.

Tip: Chelsea win @ 19/20 (bet365)

Bet explanation: If Chelsea out-scores Fulham, you’ll beat the bookies and earn a profit.

Antonee Robinson 2+ tackles

Moving on to my second Fulham vs Chelsea betting prediction, and it’s the first of two from the increasingly popular player markets.

You can back Fulham’s in-demand Antonee Robinson to make two or more tackles in the match. That’s it. You don’t need him to score, provide an assist or even end on the winning team. If the 29-year-old English left back is credited with at least two tackles, you’ll profit from this wager.

Looking at how Robinson performed for Fulham near the end of last season offers encouragement. Capped more than 50 times for the United States, he made three or more tackles in three of his last four EPL games.

With Chelsea expected to dominate the play and come flying out of the traps, Antonee will spend much of this match on the back foot. He’ll be tasked with stopping crosses reaching the box, and will be an important player on Monday.

Robinson has been making headlines this week, with many trusted football sites reporting him as a target for Manchester United. Whether he joins the Red Devils remains to be seen, but the defender will do his chances no harm whatsoever with another solid performance in front of a global TV audience.

Tip: Robinson to make 2+ tackles @ 3/10 (bet365)

Bet explanation: You need Fulham defender Antonee Robinson to make two or more tackles against Chelsea on Monday evening in London.

1+ shot on target - Cole Palmer

I sign off with a bet on Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s goal threat.

Palmer endured a tough season last term, with injuries delaying his progress. How will he perform in 2026/27? We’ll see, but one thing is for sure; Palmer is eager to make up for lost time. The coming campaign is a crucial one in his development, and he needs a strong start.

Chelsea’s number 10 scored 11 goals in 36 appearances last season, including one in his final match of the campaign. Interestingly, seven of those goals came this year, proving he’s back approaching his best form. I have high hopes for Palmer for the remainder of 2026.

When following this Fulham vs Chelsea prediction, you don’t need Palmer to find the net or Chelsea to win the game. As long as the 24-year-old from Manchester registers at least one shot on target, you’ll be celebrating a handy profit.

Palmer can have one shot on target or seven. He could casually touch the ball back to the Fulham goalkeeper, have a shot tipped over the bar for a corner, or score a 30-yard goal of the season contender. It all pays the same. 

One shot on target is enough to settle this bet at a winner and bank a return.

Tip: Cole Palmer 1+ shot on target @ 8/11 (bet365)

Bet explanation: Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer needs just one shot on target at Craven Cottage. Your bet is live for the entire time he’s on the field of play.

Fulham vs Chelsea betting odds

Fulham win @ 12/5 (bet365)

Draw @ 13/5 (bet365)

Chelsea win @ 19/20 (bet365)