Football betting tips: MNF
2.5pts Chelsea to win at 19/20 (Ladbrokes, Coral)
1pt Morgan Rogers to score anytime at 11/4 (General)
1pt Rogers to provide 1+ assists at 5/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral)
The fixture computer occasionally throws up an absolute doozy.
Fulham and Chelsea start life under new managers by meeting in a west London derby. They just so happen to now be coached by the two men who filled the Bernabeu dugout last season.
Things didn't go to plan for Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid following his exceptional work in his maiden managerial role at Bayer Leverkusen but he now gets a fresh start at Stamford Bridge, and optimism abounds.
Alonso has been well backed, with Morgan Rogers the most high-profile arrival during what has been a summer of recalibration at Chelsea, with the club pivoting its transfer strategy in an attempt to make them immediately capable of challenging for major honours.
As for his successor - and former Madrid and Liverpool team-mate - in the Spanish capital, things look much trickier.
Alvaro Arbeloa has one season of management experience - half a campaign with Real Madrid 'B' and half with the main side - and must now fill the very large boots of Marco Silva.
He must do so with a much weaker Fulham team, or at the very least one in the midst of a significant transition.
Every new recruit is unproven, tasked with replacing known entities Sasa Lukic, Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez.
Silva's greatest strength was recreating the Cottagers whenever there were key departures, ultimately making them greater than the sum of their parts.
But even then it often took time to get his new team to gel, with Fulham failing to win any of their first three matches last season, and winning one of their opening four in each of the three seasons prior.
With a new manager in charge and after another summer rebuild it therefore makes sense to oppose them in the opening weeks.
Their task against CHELSEA is made even harder by the suspension of centre-back Joachim Anderson, and to a lesser degree the absence of club captain Tom Cairney through injury.
The Blues will be at near enough full strength, with only Wesley Fofana (banned) missing, making their 19/20 price TO WIN very much worth taking.
I'll also back ROGERS TO SCORE ANYTIME and for 1+ ASSISTS at 11/4 and 5/1 respectively, taking advantage of some early-season prices that I suspect will be long gone within a few weeks.
The England forward should thrive in Alonso's system following his £117m move from Aston Villa.
He provided 48 goal contributions in the Premier League and European competitions for Villa across the past two seasons.
Odds correct at 19:00 BST (21/8/26)
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