Chelsea will be bidding to set a new Premier League record when they face Fulham on Friday evening.
All eyes will be on the Blues after they went on an unprecedented spending spree during the January transfer window, signing eight players for the present and future.
However, after a 13-day break, Graham Potter's side return to action sitting in 10th place in the Premier League standings, 10 points adrift of the Champions League places.
That scenario leaves Chelsea in a position where they can ill-afford to suffer defeat against their West London rivals and opponents who occupy seventh spot in the table.
Should Chelsea overcome the Cottagers at Stamford Bridge, it would catapult them into sixth place, albeit having played more matches than the majority of the teams around them.
A win would also see Chelsea become the first club in Premier League history to reach 150 victories in London derbies.
© Reuters
Nevertheless, Chelsea have not necessarily performed to their best in such fixtures during 2022-23, losing to their upcoming opponents in the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage as recently as January 12.
Arsenal edged out Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in November, while Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford have held Chelsea to a share of the spoils.
Each of Chelsea's three triumphs in London derbies this season have come by one-goal margins, two of which being versus Crystal Palace and the other being posted over West Ham United in controversial circumstances.
Chelsea are also carrying a 42-year unbeaten home record against Fulham into Friday's contest, a streak which will be extended to 18 matches if they avoid defeat.
Meanwhile, Fulham are bidding to record their first-ever league double over their neighbours, having failed to do so in 37 previous seasons where they have competed in the same division.
Darren Plant
