BT Sport

Former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill on BT Sport: "Chelsea do need a win and tonight is a great opportunity for it. If they can win tonight and against Crystal Palace at the weekend it will help the situation a lot. I'm sure they'll be desperate to win tonight."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

Image source, BBC Sport

"It never rains, but it pours," said Chelsea boss Graham Potter before their last Premier League game - at home to Manchester City.

He was describing his team's injury list with Reece James (leg) the latest casualty, but less than an hour later was reflecting on more bad luck with both Raheem Sterling (muscle injury) and Christian Pulisic (knee) going off hurt inside the opening 30 minutes.

With goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (hand), defenders Ben Chilwell (hamstring) and Wesley Fofana (knee), midfielders N'Golo Kante (hamstring) and Rubén Loftus-Cheek (calf) and forward Armando Broja (cruciate ligament) also out of action, it's no wonder Chelsea have been busy in the January transfer window.

France central defender Benoit Badiashile, 21, Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana, 20, and Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, 18, have already joined from Monaco (£35m), Molde (£8m) and Vasco de Gama (£18m) respectively.

Chelsea then paid £9.7m to complete a loan move for Portugal winger Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid and he will be with the Blues until the end of the season.

BT Sport

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has been speaking to BT Sport on the pitch. He's covered a range of topics:

On Gianluca Vialli: "It has a been sad time for us, a huge loss. We can talk about his footballing ability but everyone says he was a fantastic human being and that is the most poignant thing."

On Joao Felix, and why he's starting: "It's a combination of a lot of things: his training, the quality he has and the team needs a little bit of lift in terms of the ability he has. He's a confident boy and he just wants to play. He's just got to be himself. He hasn't had that much time with the players, just about expressing himself."

On Lewis Hall: "A young player. He's got no fear. He's got a really good left foot and he's got good physicality. He's played in big games and has always acquitted himself really well."

On the recent poor form and the conversations they've been having: "Yesterday was a really positive day, I think Joao coming in helped. It isn't nice having a defeat like we did, we have to have those conversations and get through it. The guys are honest, we need to get three points. Sometimes it is just good to talk, there are always things you learn and find out. There are things that are positive and things that aren't that you need to fix. We all want to win, we need to work together. We're at Chelsea and we want to win.

"There is an honesty in the players. They understand they can do better. There is a desire to do better. The job now is to try and support them. Collectively we can do better and improve."

On what he's learnt about himself: "It is a challenge of course, but you don't get these jobs if you don't expect a challenge at some stage. You have to win but you have to deal with and expect tough moments. I have to support the players and act in a good way and support the players in the best way I can. Injuries are one of those things, you don't want to speak about it anymore because it can become an excuse. You only have to list the players we've got injured, it is a challenge but we have to do it. We have to perform and get the three points tonight, that is the challenge."

On tonight: "There are good players on the pitch. There is fight in the team, they want to play well and perform. We are suffering and we're suffering with the fans, but if you come through it you come through it stronger and can move forward."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

Image source, Getty Images

In the matchday programme there's a lovely tribute from Fulham club captain Tom Cairney to former Chelsea forward Gianluca Vialli, who sadly passed away last week, aged 58.

Cairney writes: "Everyone at Fulham Football Club was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Blues legend Gianluca Vialli, at the age of just 58.

"A remarkable player, who won countless honours with Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea, Gianluca also had an excellent managerial career.

"He became player-manager at Stamford Bridge in 1998 and guided the Blues to five major trophy successes. More recently, he worked as an assistant to Italy national team manager Roberto Mancini and the emotional embrace between the two after Italy won the delayed Uefa Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium will be one of the enduring images of the tournament.

"I've heard from so many people what a wonderful human being Gianluca was and our thoughts are very much with his family and friends at this time."

VN CA: When Felix himself is a question mark how can he be an answer to anything? Although, with their squad I fully expect them to finish top 4.

Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Joao Felix had a good World Cup. After his display against Ghana, Atletico boss Diego Simeone said he enjoyed the performance of his player, but added: "It is an ideal short tournament for him, not many games, where you see the beauty and pace, and fall in love with players like him".

Joao Felix felt it was a dig, and it was. "Portugal's way of playing is totally different to Atletico's," he said while in Doha.

Upon his return, he was not added to the squad in two Copa del Rey games because of tonsillitis. Eventually Chelsea accepted to pay 11 million euros for the loan as well as paying his wages for the rest of the season. The deal does not have an option-to-buy clause.

It is a risky decision by Joao Felix to join a team that is in a difficult situation. But Chelsea are the only top club who need a player like him and he can play regularly. Also manager Graham Potter likes and uses players like him, although it will not be easy to find him the ideal position in the variation of systems he utilises.

The doubt is also whether he can adapt quickly enough to the high tempo of the Premier League.

Read more on why Felix moved to Chelsea here

Image source, Getty Images

A priority for Chelsea is to find a way to get scoring more goals again, and they will be hoping Joao Felix will help with that.

They have hit just five goals in their last eight league matches, failing to score in half of those.

But maybe a London derby is the perfect tonic? They have won nine of their last 11 away London derbies in the Premier League.

Marco Silva says that he wants Carlos Vinicius to "be himself" and "play with confidence".

Serbia-international Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has scored 11 goals in the Premier League, is suspended for tonight's game, giving Vinicius a chance to shine.

"He [Mitrovic] will get some rest, but [Carlos] Vinicius will get as many moments as we can get him because he is one of our main options to start as a striker," Silva said.

"It is a great chance for him but to also give Mitrovic a bit of a break. But he is still training well and these things are good signs for us.

"Hopefully he will be back playing his best for us in the next few games, but for now the main solution is Vinicius."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

Image source, BBC Sport

What a season it has been so far for Fulham after winning promotion from the Championship in 2021-22 and they will end the day in the top six in the Premier League if they avoid defeat.

Depending on who wins the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, a top-seven finish could be enough to secure a return to European competition, something Fulham haven't experienced since 2011.

Back in 2011 Fulham got lucky and qualified via a good disciplinary record and entered the Europa League at the first qualifying stage. They played 14 matches before they conceded a last-gasp equaliser in their final group game to miss out on the knockout stages.

But in 2009-10 it was much more fun as they reached the Europa League final, beating Juventus on the way, before losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid.

For Chelsea, European qualification is the minimum expected each season, but they are currently 10 points below fourth (the last Champions League spot) and 10 points above the relegation zone.

Indeed, they have only not been playing in Europe in one of the past 26 seasons, although they did go on to become English champions in that 2016-17 campaign.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

Image source, .

Marco Silva makes six changes from the Fulham side that began the 2-0 win at Hull in the FA Cup with starts for Bernd Leno, Kenny Tete, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Joao Palhinha and Willian.

With Aleksandar Mitrovic suspended, Carlos Vinicius starts up front.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson, De Cordova-Reid, Palhinha, Reed, Pereira, Willian, Vinicius.

Subs: Rodak, Kuzawa, Wilson, Cairney, Chalobah, Solomon, James, Harris, Diop.

Image source, .

Chelsea hand an instant debut to Portugal forward Joao Felix after he joined on a loan until the end of the season from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday for a £9.7m fee.

That's one of four changes from the 11 that began the 4-0 loss to Manchester City on Sunday with Thiago Silva, Denis Zakaria and Cesar Azpilicueta all starting. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has recovered from a back injury and is among the substitutes.

Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga, Hall, Koulibaly, Silva, Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Kovacic, Zakaria, Mount, Havertz, Felix.

Subs: Bettinelli, Badiashile, Cucurella, Jorginho, Gallagher, Ziyech, Chukwuemeka, Aubameyang, Datro Fofana.

Image source, Getty Images

But while things aren't particularly peachy at Chelsea at the moment, it is all going well for London rivals Fulham.

Marco Silva's side are three places and three points above Chelsea, having been promoted from the Championship last season.

Fulham are five points off fifth place but they are not thinking about European football just yet, captain Tom Cairney said before facing Chelsea.

"We're above them in the table right now, but it doesn't mean a lot," Cairney told Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"They've got a lot of strength in depth. They can turn it on at any point. It's going to be a tough, tough match at the Cottage."

Image source, Getty Images

Could Joao Felix be the answer to Chelsea's problems? The Blues completed the loan signing of the forward from Atletico Madrid for a fee of 11 million euros (£9.7m) earlier this week.

"He's a quality player," said Graham Potter.

"He will make a difference in the final third of the pitch and I'm looking forward to working with him.

"He's young, but still has lots of good experience and it's given us all a bit of a lift."

Will he make his debut tonight? We will find out in a few minutes.

OK, things haven't been going too well for Chelsea under Graham Potter but would it be too soon to make a managerial change?

He's not had a pre-season with the club and is trying to implement his style of football. It took time to work at Brighton, should he get that time also at the Blues?

Let us know your thoughts via #bbcfootball or text in on 81111 (UK only) or you can WhatsApp us on 03301231826.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

Image source, Getty Images

This could have been Graham Potter's first match in charge of Chelsea - will it prove to be his last?

Potter became Blues manager on 8 September, replacing the sacked Thomas Tuchel, with Fulham away two days' later his first scheduled game before it was postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

After a steady start, Chelsea have struggled recently, with only two wins (and five goals) in their past nine matches and sit a disappointing 10th in the Premier League, three points and three places below today's hosts.

Potter has called his role 'probably the hardest job in football’ and added: "We have to stick together because clearly we are suffering as a football club.

“We're going through some pain, it's difficult at the moment. I understand the frustration. You try to remember you're capable and how you got here. Two months ago I was considered to be a top coach."

Potter believes he has the full support of the club's board, but the fans' patience is wearing thin, with some singing Tuchel's name during the 4-0 FA Cup thrashing by Manchester City on Sunday.

Will a fierce away west London derby be the turning point for Chelsea or will Potter be under even more pressure at 10pm tonight?

Image source, Getty Images

In the life of a football manager, things can change very quickly.

Back in September, Graham Potter's stock was at its highest. After working wonders at Brighton he was named Chelsea boss on a five-year deal.

Fast forward just four months and Potter is under pressure. With the Blues 10th and out of domestic cup competitions, he can ill afford too many more slipups, starting tonight with a trip to London rivals Fulham.