Chelsea predicted lineup vs Fulham - Premier League | OneFootball

Chelsea will seek to return to winning ways on Boxing Day when they welcome local rivals Fulham to Stamford Bridge.

A frustrating 0-0 draw with Everton allowed Liverpool to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table, and while manager Enzo Maresca may claim not to care about a title race, he will undoubtedly be keen to pick up three more points to help cement their place in the race for European football.

Here's how the boss could set up for this one.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1)

Chelsea will hope for a positive result / Molly Darlington - AMA/GettyImages

GK: Robert Sanchez - Sanchez was at his best to snatch a point against Everton and undoubtedly deserves the chance to replicate that performance.

RB: Malo Gusto - Expect Gusto to return to the right side of defence and take the place of the under-fire Axel Disasi.

CB: Tosin Adarabioyo - His unreal block to deny Iliman Ndiaye was Chelsea's highlight of the Everton game. The former Fulham man will hope to climb further up the pecking order with a similar showing here.

CB: Levi Colwill - With Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile out until 2025, Colwill will need to strike up a rapport with Tosin over the coming weeks.

LB: Marc Cucurella - Cucurella has served his one-match ban and will be a welcome addition back in Chelsea's defence.

DM: Enzo Fernandez - Fernandez's hot form may have hit a snag against Everton but he's been good enough recently to deserve the chance to put things right.

DM: Moises Caicedo - Will this finally be the game Caicedo does not get penalised for a perfectly clean challenge?

RM: Pedro Neto - The subject of a bizarre wave of criticism after the Everton game, Neto will expect to start again here after Noni Madueke's underwhelming cameo off the bench.

AM: Cole Palmer - Palmer was quiet against Everton and will have to be at his best to stop Fulham replicating the Toffees' defensive tactics.

LM: Jadon Sancho - Does Maresca trust either Joao Felix or Christopher Nkunku out wide? Sancho doesn't exactly deserve to be dropped but there are undoubtedly not many other options to rejig things after the Everton stalemate.

ST: Nicolas Jackson - Jackson could only watch on in horror as his close-range effort ricocheted back off the Everton post at the weekend. He'll be desperate to bounce back in style here.