Fulham and Chelsea face each other this Wednesday, January 7, 2026, in the 21st round of Premier League, at the Craven Cottage stadium, in Londres. The clash starts at 7:30 pm local time (4:30 pm Brasília time), broadcast live on Brasil on ESPN 4 and on the Disney+ platform. The lineups have been confirmed, and the young Brazilian Estêvão is listed as a starter in the Chelsea, occupying a position in the offensive sector.
Chelsea is in 5th place, with 31 points, while Fulham appears in 11th, with 28 points. Estêvão, revelation of the Blues squad, gains opportunity in the starting eleven after recent performances, bringing speed and dribbling to the visiting attack. Esse London classic highlights the presence of Brazilian talent on the field.
Peter Bankes referees the match, with a history of balanced refereeing.
Official lineups for the classic
Fulham enters with 3-4-2-1, with Bernd Leno in goal and a defense formed by Issa Diop, Joachim Andersen and Jorge Cuenca. Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson play on the sides, with Sander Berge and Tom Cairney centered in the middle. Harry Wilson and Emile Smith Rowe support Raúl Jiménez in front.
In Chelsea, the 4-2-3-1 formation has Filip Jørgensen on goal, defense with Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoît Badiashile and Malo Gusto. Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández anchor the middle, while Estêvão, Cole Palmer and The inclusion of Estêvão reflects tactical adjustments to explore the edges.
- Main goalkeepers: Leno (Fulham) x Jørgensen (Chelsea)
- Key midfield: Berge and Cairney (Fulham) x Caicedo and Fernández (Chelsea)
- Featured attack: Jiménez (Fulham) x Delap with support from Estêvão (Chelsea)
Highlight for Estêvão in the lineup
Estêvão becomes a starter at Chelsea, playing on the right wing and bringing explosiveness to the attack after quickly adapting to English football. The 18-year-old player, signed as a promise, demonstrates dribbling and finishing skills in recent games. Sua confirmed lineup increases the visitors’ offensive options against the Fulham defense.
Coach Calum McFarlane chooses the Brazilian to press high and explore quick transitions. Estêvão competes with names like Alejandro Garnacho on the bench, but the choice prioritizes his current form.
This tactical decision aims to balance the creative sector alongside Palmer and Neto.
Absences and options at the bank
Fulham records absences as Kenny Tete, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz, all out due to injury. Marco Silva counts on reserves like Adama Traoré, Harrison Reed and Saša Lukić for changes during the match. Essas casualties affect defensive and offensive depth.
For Chelsea, absences include Levi Colwill, Roméo Lavia and Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended). The bench offers reinforcements such as João Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Wesley Fofana, ready for impactful entries.
Such factors influence the development of the game in an intense derby.
Where to watch the match live
On Brasil, ESPN 4 broadcasts on pay TV, while Disney+ covers via streaming, with coverage beginning before kickoff. The platforms include tactical analysis and up-to-date statistics. Aplicativos specialists offer real-time scoreboards for parallel monitoring.
Globally, local rights air the clash, such as channels on Reino Unido. The broadcast makes it easy to follow Estêvão in action in the classic.
Featured players in the derby
Estêvão represents a threat through Chelsea, combining with Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto in offensive creations. Pelo Fulham, Harry Wilson and Raúl Jiménez look for spaces in counterattacks. Moisés Caicedo controls the visiting half, facing Berge.
Recent sequences show Chelsea looking for consistency in the upper table. Fulham takes advantage of the home advantage to score points.
Individual disputes on the wings should set the rhythm of the match.
Tactical context of the round
The 21st round begins the decisive phase of Premier League in 2026, with teams defining objectives. The crowded Craven Cottage favors the Fulham on local nights. The titular Estêvão adds an element of youth and unpredictability to the Chelsea.
Possession controls and aerial duels influence actions, based on previous patterns. Treinadores emphasize compression to neutralize transitions.
Head-to-head history
Chelsea maintains a recent advantage over Fulham, with victories in past duels. However, games on Craven Cottage have greater balance. Confrontos this season reinforces competitiveness between London rivals.
The derby tradition guarantees intensity, impacting intermediate positions in the classification.
