EPL Wednesday: Benitez Eyes First Win As Chelsea Host Fulham+Tonight’s Fixtures

Rafael Benitez goes into his second home game as Chelsea manager still adamant that he can win over the Blues fans who greeted him with such vitriol on his debut.

Benitez will again face the home crowd at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in a derby with Fulham, having been roundly booed by supporters as he took charge for the first time in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City.

“I understand the feelings of the fans and I know how they feel because of my time at Liverpool and the rivalry,” Benitez said. “I want to prove to them that I am here for the right reasons, I am here to win and if I can do it they will be pleased.”

Chelsea will be without captain John Terry as well as midfielder Frank Lampard and striker Daniel Sturridge after all three failed to recover from injury.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, second-place Manchester City will aim to keep the pressure on crosstown rival Manchester United when they travel to Wigan. City will have their captain Vincent Kompany available despite speculation that he might be rested after playing the full 90 minutes against Chelsea on Sunday, having picked up a knee injury against Real Madrid in the Champions League last week.

City first-team coach David Platt said it shouldn’t be a problem.

“It’s not a case of it being too much at all. Vinnie would have still been feeling the effects of the injury that he picked up last Wednesday in the game, but he got through the game and got through it very well,” Platt said. “There were no after effects, he iced it straight afterwards as a precaution. We don’t really have any concerns for him tomorrow night.”

Leaders Manchester United welcome West Ham to Old Trafford with England striker Wayne Rooney insisting that his tea must tighten up its defense if it is to remain at the Premier League summit. United have kept just one clean sheet all season, against Wigan at Old Trafford in September.

“Clean sheets are the foundation we try and achieve because we have plenty of players who can score goals and win games,” Rooney said. “As a team we are playing some good stuff at times but we are having to grind out results as well. ”

In other key matches Wednesday, Arsenal will have England winger Theo Walcott back from injury for the trip to Everton, Tottenham welcome Liverpool to White Hart Lane, Southampton host Norwich, Newcastle make the trip to Stoke with French midfielder Yohann Cabaye ruled out until February with a groin problem, and third-place West Bromwich Albion go to Swansea.

Fixtures and time:

Stoke City v. Newcastle United – 8:45 PM

Southampton v. Norwich City – 8:45 PM

Chelsea v. Fulham – 8:45 PM

Swansea City v. West Bromwich Albion – 8:45 PM

Tottenham Hotspur v. Liverpool – 8:45 PM

Everton v. Arsenal – 8:45 PM

Wigan Athletic v. Manchester City – 9:00 PM

Manchester United v. West Ham United – 9:00 PM