Chelsea were held to a surprising goalless draw by Everton last weekend. It was the first time Enzo Maresca's side had failed to score in the Premier League this season.
But the Blues' overall form has been impressive. Before the draw with Everton, they had won five consecutive Premier League games, the longest such run by a team this season. Chelsea are now unbeaten in 12 games, just four points behind Liverpool in the table.
A run of five games against Fulham, Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Wolves will give Chelsea the chance to catch Liverpool in the new year.
With 35 points, it is the lowest tally of any second-placed team at Christmas since 2010, showing how competitive the Premier League is becoming.
On the other side, Fulham were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom-placed Southampton at Craven Cottage last week, with Marco Silva's side still two points adrift of the European places.
In 34 Premier League meetings with Chelsea, Fulham have won just two, a rate of just 6%. The Blues are also unbeaten in 19 games against the Cottagers at Stamford Bridge, dating back to 1979.
Silva has also had a poor record against Chelsea in his time in charge of Fulham, Watford and Everton, winning just two of his 10 games. Beating the Blues will continue to be a challenge for Fulham in this London derby.
Score prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham
