BT Sport

Former England international Peter Crouch on BT Sport: "You look at Chelsea's team and think they should beat Fulham. But the sides are in different moments."

Former Chelsea winger Joe Cole on BT Sport: "I do fancy Chelsea tonight. I suspect Joao Felix will play loose and him and Kai Havertz have to stretch the game. I want to see interchange between them and Mason Mount. They looked really up for it in the warm-up and hopefully that continues."

BT Sport

Former Chelsea winger Joe Cole on BT Sport: "Joao Palhinha has been very, very impressive. The manager knows a lot of about him. He is a player who likes to win the ball back, he gets in good positions. He seems a good character.

"He'll break play up and allow the Pereira's, Willian's and Mitrovic's to go and do their work.

"He is one of those players who allows the team to punch above their weight. He is a really important player for this club."

Fulham

Fulham manager Marco Silva, talking to BT Sport: "We are on a fantastic run. Nothing has changed for us. Of course the confidence and mood is different, the players are smiling, but nothing has changed. We know in football we react the same way if you have good or bad runs: prepare for the next one and analyse."

On Carlos Vinicius: "We hope he can step up. It is a shame not to have Mitrovic. The way he got the fifth yellow card was a shame. For us to not have an important player is difficult for us to accept. It is another opportunity for Carlos. We hope we can perform well."

On Joao Felix: "Different. He only arrived in the last day or two. When you are a good player you don't need to too much time to adapt. It is Graham's decision but we are prepared for everything he can do."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

Can Joao Felix make an instant impact at Chelsea? It was not too long along, June 2019 in fact, when Atletico Madrid signed the then-19-year-old for 126m euros (£113m) from Benfica, which at the time was the fifth most expensive transfer in history.

Only Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele had moved for more money at the time of the deal.

Chelsea have only scored 20 times this season in the Premier League, with only five goals in their past nine games in all competitions. Graham Potter has gambled and thrown Joao Felix straight in to the starting 11 and will be hoping for a much-needed instant reward.

BT Sport

Former Chelsea winger Joe Cole on BT Sport: "They don't look like a team that is nervy. They will be though, the senior players in particular. They look right up for it, you can sense the energy. I can see a performance coming from Chelsea. They do look very sharp."

Former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill on BT Sport: "Chelsea will be slightly nervy because of the way that Fulham are playing and the fact they are away from home. It is an opportunity though, that is the good thing about football."

Gavin: I so want, despite everything telling me it won't happen, for Joao Felix to be phenomenal.

Image source, Getty Images

Another thing Joao Felix will be adjusting to is the weather here and it looks like he is taking no chances with gloves and a couple of layers on as he goes through his warm up.

Saying that, it is warmer in London this evening than it is in Madrid.

BT Sport

Former Chelsea winger Joe Cole on BT Sport: "Joao Felix's head will be a spin dryer. He's moved him and his family to another club and country.

"He didn't know if he would start but the manager has obviously been impressed in training. He'll give the players and fans a lift. There is no doubt he's got ability and he's an amazing player. He is a technician and he'll fit in lovely here. The question is will he fit in here? I think he will."

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport

Chelsea's decision to pay almost £10m plus sizable wages for the six-month loan of Joao Felix continues the club's confusing transfer policy under Boehly.

The Portuguese forward's move makes sense from a short-term view, given that Pulisic and Sterling are both out injured and Chelsea need a lift to get them back among the chasing pack for next season's Champions League places.

But it underlines the new ownership's willingness to pay inflated prices at a time when they are yet to clearly show how they will comply with financial fair play regulations. They are already on Uefa's watchlist. It also continues a policy of addressing areas of the pitch which are well stocked, while failing to boost positions of weakness.

Chelsea

Chelsea fan Ross Mooring: "The chants for Tuchel and Abramovich during last weekend's chastening FA Cup defeat at Manchester City underlined the unhappiness with current results for a club used to quick-fixing its on-field problems.

"They speak to frustration at Chelsea's performances, and that for the hundreds of millions spent on signings since Boehly and co took over, there are still glaring weaknesses in this squad.

"Potter's promising start has been forgotten, however a glut of injuries has left him with plenty of square pegs to fill multiple round holes in a patchwork first XI that has struggled to build chemistry.

"Will the exciting - on paper - loan signing of Joao Felix fix this? Chelsea certainly need forwards right now, but even if the Portuguese revives his career in a way that other recent Atletico signings have not, opinions are split on whether this would be a mere band-aid, with clubs like City and Arsenal currently way out of sight."

BT Sport

Former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill on BT Sport: "Tim Ream has been terrific. He was a huge part of what he did last season and he's carried it on this season.

"He is obviously looking after himself and that is credit to him. His performance levels have been very high this season.

"It is experience and you rely on that. You rely on the fact you can read the game."

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham boss Marco Silva's trust in his promotion-winning players is the driving force behind the Cottagers' impressive Premier League season, according to The Far Post podcast team.

The west London outfit have been a yo-yo side over recent years, but their brief spells in the top flight have tended to involve a squad overhaul in between campaigns.

Silva has resisted the temptation to tinker with his troops and Fulham fans are now dreaming of European qualification.

"I didn’t think Tim Ream was going to play much this year. I didn’t think Aleksandar Mitrovic was going to score as many goals as he has. But they have both done brilliantly," former Charlton Athletic defender Steve Brown said on the latest episode of The Far Post.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham are on some run of form - they are aiming to win four consecutive top-flight games for the first time since 1966, when they had a run of five.

They have taken nine points from their last four league matches - only three Premier League sides have earned more in that period.

The Athletic Chelsea reporter Liam Twomey on BBC Radio 5 Live: "There is no shortage of reasons why Chelsea are struggling that aren't named Graham Potter. This is an absolutely mad injury crisis, 10 senior players out injured and that was a reason they pulled the trigger on the Joao Felix deal.

"I think the owners are aware of that but they want to start seeing some progress and green shoots in the performances and that is what has been lacking recently. There is understanding from the owners but perhaps less from the fans who are still pining for Thomas Tuchel and feel he was mistreated."