Two former Real Madrid managers reunite on the banks of the Thames on Monday night as Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham welcome Xabi Alonso’s new-look Chelsea to Craven Cottage.

The pair were teammates at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Spain, but friendship will take a back seat when both begin new Premier League jobs in a west London derby.

Chelsea finished 10th and Fulham 11th last season, both on 52 points, but the mood around Stamford Bridge has changed significantly since Alonso arrived.

Chelsea have spent heavily again, with £117m signing Morgan Rogers joining Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro in a much stronger-looking attack. Alonso also has the advantage of no European football after last season’s disappointing league campaign.

Fulham are starting again after Marco Silva left for Benfica. Arbeloa has brought Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid, but replacing the goals lost with Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez will be one of his first challenges.

Fulham beat Chelsea 2-1 at Craven Cottage in January, so Alonso should not expect a gentle introduction. Chelsea still look the stronger side on paper and their extra attacking quality could prove decisive.

What are the best picks for Fulham vs Chelsea?

Chelsea to win

Alonso has inherited a talented squad and added Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Marco Palestra to a group that already contained Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro. There is still work to do, but Chelsea should be considerably more coherent than the side that stumbled through much of last season.

Fulham have lost two of their biggest sources of goals in Wilson and Jimenez, while Joachim Andersen is suspended for the opener. Arbeloa has recruited well, but asking several new players to settle immediately against Chelsea is a difficult first assignment.

Chelsea have won six of their last eight Premier League visits to Craven Cottage. Fulham have made this derby much more competitive recently, but Alonso has enough quality to start with three points.

Joao Pedro to score anytime

Joao Pedro enters the new season in outstanding form after scoring seven times during Chelsea’s pre-season campaign.

The Brazilian finished last season as Chelsea’s leading Premier League scorer with 15 goals and looks set to lead the line again under Alonso. With Palmer and Rogers operating around him, he should get plenty of service in dangerous areas.

Andersen’s suspension also leaves Fulham without their most experienced central defender. Pedro does not need many opportunities to make an impact and Chelsea should create enough for him to get on the scoresheet.

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Both teams to score

Fulham scored in both league meetings with Chelsea last season and Arbeloa wants his side to play with ambition. Garcia will be desperate to make an immediate impact, while Oscar Bobb and Josh King give Fulham enough creativity around him to cause problems.

Chelsea are also adapting to Alonso’s back-three system and will be without the suspended Wesley Fofana. Lacroix could make his competitive debut alongside Levi Colwill and Reece James, so there is enough change in the defensive unit to give Fulham encouragement.

Where can I watch Fulham vs Chelsea?

Fulham vs Chelsea kicks off at 8:00 PM BST on Monday, August 24 at Craven Cottage and will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.

What have the managers said?

Alvaro Arbeloa:

“I want a competitive team. I want a team that believes that we can beat anyone. I want a team that shows character, ambition, personality.”

Xabi Alonso:

“You have a plan, you have an idea, you have a style, but sometimes the game demands something different.”

What is Fulham’s predicted team?

Starting XI: Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Cuenca, Robinson; Iwobi, Berge; Bobb, King, Palacios; Garcia.

Injured: Tom Cairney.

Suspended: Joachim Andersen.

Arbeloa is expected to hand Premier League debuts to Garcia and Palacios, with Andersen’s suspension forcing a change in central defence.

What is Chelsea’s predicted team?

Starting XI: Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Lavia, Palestra; Palmer, Rogers; Joao Pedro.

Injured: Jordan Henderson, Emmanuel Emegha.

Doubt: Aaron Anselmino.

Suspended: Wesley Fofana.

Rogers is expected to make his competitive Chelsea debut behind Joao Pedro, while Alonso must decide whether Romeo Lavia or Enzo Fernandez partners Caicedo in midfield.

Score prediction: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea

Fulham should make this uncomfortable, particularly with the derby atmosphere, but Chelsea have more match-winners and considerably greater depth.

A narrow away win looks the most likely outcome, with Joao Pedro a strong candidate to get among the goals.

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