Fulham vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Fulham vs Chelsea LIVEGettyXabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa will take tentative first steps into Premier League football this evening as Chelsea visit Fulham. It may prove a baptism of fire for one coach or the other, who both have a point to prove after enduring challenging spells with Real Madrid last season. Alonso makes the short trip across west London shouldering rather more pressure than his opposite number as he looks to deliver on another summer of heavy investment which has seen his side prematurely tipped as potential title challengers. A number of competitive debuts are expected, then, with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Pep Chavarria and Marco Palestra all hoping to play their first minutes in Chelsea colours.The expectations of Arbeloa’s Fulham are a bit lower, though it will be a tall order for the Spaniard to fill the shoes of Marco Silva. After an opening weekend full of upsets and surprises, he will be keen to add his name to the list with victory in the derby. Follow the match below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith at Craven Cottage.Fulham vs Chelsea latest newsWill Chelsea challenge for the Premier League title? Why this new dawn feels differentInto a brave new world head Chelsea, writes Standard Sport’s Dom Smith.At a club that buys players, sells players, loans players and changes head coach as often as they do, it can feel like the beginning of a new era almost every summer at Chelsea. And usually is. This year, more than any other during BlueCo’s ownership, it does feel as though we have arrived at the start of a new chapter.Xabi Alonso has benefitted from a full pre-season to take learnings from his players and plot out what might work over the course of this season, and what might not. His first competitive match in charge pits Chelsea against local foes Fulham, and pits Alonso against his long-time former Spain team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa and his successor in the Real Madrid dugout.Alonso — hired as manager, not head coach — is tasked with guiding Chelsea out from the darkness and into the light. Some are tipping them to even challenge Arsenal for the title this summer. No European football means only one match most weeks, while new signings having quietly impressed many neutrals, and Alonso’s managerial pedigree is clear after a his sensational stint at Bayer Leverkusen, despite a torrid time in Madrid.Latest match oddsStandard Sport predictionThis has been a weekend of surprise results, and Xabi Alonso will be keen to buck the trend set by Man United and Tottenham on Saturday.All signs suggest he will be able to do exactly that. Chelsea have had a broadly positive summer, on and off the pitch, and a strong start in a derby will mean the world as they look to build momentum into the new season.Facing a Fulham side which does not appear to have covered the departures of Marco Silva and Harry Wilson, we expect the Blues to take three points home.Fulham early team news: Two key players unavailableFulham will not be able to call upon either of Tom Cairney or Joachim Andersen here, with the former injured and latter suspended.Alvaro Arbeloa should hand debuts to three summer signings: Gonzalo Garcia, Cesar Palacios, and Shea Charles.Chelsea early team news: Multiple absentees alreadyChelsea may be without Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha tonight, with both men doubts to feature. Aaron Anselmino is expected to miss out.Wesley Fofana is suspended after being sent off in the final game of last season, away at Sunderland. Danny Welbeck and Morgan Rogers are among the various new Blues looking to debut at Craven Cottage.How to watch Fulham vs ChelseaTV channel: In the UK, Fulham vs Chelsea is being televised live tonight on Sky Sports. Coverage of Monday Night Football begins at 6:30pm BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off at 8pm.Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the game live on the Sky Sports or Sky Go app. Non-Sky subscribers can view the match via NOW TV.Live blog: You can follow all the action as it happens on Monday night with Standard Sport’s live blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Chelsea correspondent Dom Smith at Craven Cottage.Good eveningHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Fulham vs Chelsea in the Premier League!It is a new dawn for both clubs, with the Cottagers embarking on the post-Marco Silva era and Chelsea looking ahead to what they hope will be a bright new future under Xabi Alonso.One side will likely get off to a better start than the other - but who will fortune favour at Craven Cottage?All will be revealed! Stick with us for all the latest from kick-off, which is at 8pm BST.Getty