Drogba starts, Anelka and Alex out

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka (back) and defender Alex (knee) failed to recover in time to play against Fulham but malaria-stricken Didier Drogba returned to the starting line-up.

Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou completed the attack while in defence, Jose Bosingwa was back in the side at right-back with Branislav Ivanovic moved to the heart of the defence.

Midfielder Michael Essien also returned following the toe injury that kept him out of the defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. Ramires dropped to the substitutes’ bench.

Fulham handed 19-year-old Matthew Briggs a place in the starting-up at left-back for his first start in the Barclays Premier League. Former Chelsea favourite Damien Duff returned to the left midfield role.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov, Kalou, Drogba, Malouda.

Subs: Turnbull, Ramires, Ferreira, Sturridge, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dempsey, Dembele.

Subs: Stockdale, Pantsil, Andrew Johnson, Gera, Eddie Johnson, Dikgacoi, Greening.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)