Carlo Ancelotti will take his Chelsea side to neighbours Fulham on Monday night at 20:00 hours (local time). The Blues are in need of a win after Tottenham moved up to fourth place in the table with a 2-1 victory away to Sunderland. Fernando Torres will to return to club duty after representing his country for an 83rd time in Spain’s 1-0 friendly win at home to Colombia. The west London derby will be Torres’ second appearance at Craven Cottage. Last season the striker was on the scoresheet for Liverpool as the Merseysiders fell to a 3-1 defeat.

Carlo Ancelotti confirmed ahead of the Premier League clash that new signing David Luiz will make his first start after coming off the bench against Liverpool last week.

Fulham will still be without Bobby Zamora. Although the striker scored for the reserves in midweek, it is unlikely he will be named in the Fulham squad to face Chelsea on Monday. But former Chelsea players Steve Sidwell, Damien Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsen could line up against the Stamford Bridge outfit.

After a mixed 2010, Fulham are unbeaten at home in 2011. The Cottagers’ fine recent form has seen the side climb up to 12th in the table with three wins in their last three home games.

Mark Hughes’ side have struggled in London derbies this campaign with just one point from their six derbies this season. Recent meetings also favour Chelsea. The Blues have lost just once in the last 28 league and cup games against their neighbours. Their last defeat at the hands of Fulham was back in March 2006, when Luis Boa Morte got the only goal.

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-0 win for Chelsea. The only goal of the game was scored by Essien on the half hour mark.