Fulham hoping Champions League exertions – and boss dismissal – boost prospects of overdue derby win over Chelsea

Fulham will be hoping that Chelsea’s midweek Champions League exertions are a factor as the two west London clubs collide at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Last weekend’s 3-1 loss at Tottenham failed to take much, if any, of the shine off an impressive start to the campaign for Marco Silva’s men.

And Chelsea come into the contest with three straight away losses, the latest coming on Tuesday night at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb which saw Thomas Tuchel sacked.

A positive result would be a huge shot of confidence for Fulham, whose record against their local rivals is an abject one. They have lost the last seven meetings, four without scoring. And they are winless in the last 21 fixtures. Luis Boa Morte, Silva’s assistant, scored when the Whites inflicted a 1-0 defeat in March 2006.

Fulham have scored in all but one of their top-flight matches this season, with Mitrovic a key man behind that statistic.

The Serbian international is bidding to extend his scoring streak to five successive Premier League matches.

Mitrovic has had the most shots this season (27) and his 15 efforts on target is joint top with Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland.

As a measure of contrast, no other Fulham player has managed more than three shots on target since the campaign started.

The Whites also have a player at the top of another stat – summer signing Joao Palhinha (pictured top) making the most tackles (30).

Fulham right-back Marlon Fossey has joined Belgian Pro League side Standard Liege on a permanent deal.

The 23-year-old Californian spent last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers.

Fossey made his senior debut for the Whites in their EFL Cup humbling at Crawley Town.