Chelsea's Essien: We must not drop points to our deadly rivals - United, Arsenal and Liverpool

Chelsea are six points off the top but have a growing list of injury problems and suspensions and four players due to leave for the African Nations Cup next week.

Grant's mailbag from fans has been full of reminders that the club dropped two points at home at Christmas to Fulham last season and Essien knows a repeat would be a big blow to their ambitions.

He said: "Fulham is a game where we can't slip up. They have been in a difficult situation and they have got a new manager so it will be tough but we have the players, no problem.

"Last season we were a bit unlucky but this time we are managing to win our matches. We are still in the title race and it is more open now.

Anything can happen and we have to keep believing we can do it." Chelsea's latest setback occurred in training before Saturday's 2-1 win against Newcastle when Florent Malouda suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which has kept him out for nearly two months.

He faces another "few weeks" on the sidelines and is joined by Didier Drogba, who is also unlikely to play for Grant's side soon. Chelsea had hoped the striker would be fit this week after his knee operation before heading off for international duty with the Ivory Coast for up to five weeks, but that is highly unlikely.

Grant said: "I don't think he will be available to us. If he is injured he will not go to the African Nations but I don't think he will be injured. We are getting him fit for the cup." Drogba's impending absence has prompted Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck to urge FIFA to stop the "craziness" of the African Nations Cup.

Drogba, Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou will be missing and Buck wants the tournament to be moved to the end of the season.

He said: "It is a difficult time of the season and we will need all of our players to help.

"We can only hope that FIFA will stop some of this craziness in the years ahead so that club football is not continually interrupted and disrupted for international events when a better thought out calendar could solve these anomalies."

Petr Cech's hip problem and Andriy Shevchenko's calf may rule them out of the Fulham clash and Chelsea still have Ricardo Carvalho suspended.

Grant wants to sign Bolton's Nicolas Anelka as soon as possible.

The Israeli was disappointed again with his side's finishing against Newcastle when Essien's opener was equalised by Nicky Butt before Kalou's late winner.