Chelsea suffered a 2-1 defeat to Fulham in a thrilling west London derby. Late goals from Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz overshadowed Cole Palmer’s brilliance. Defensive lapses and missed opportunities leave Chelsea trailing Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
Chelsea faced a crushing 2-1 defeat to Fulham in a dramatic Boxing Day clash at Stamford Bridge, further derailing their Premier League campaign. Rodrigo Muniz's injury-time strike sealed the Blues' fate, leaving them four points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
Chelsea started strong, with Cole Palmer showcasing his brilliance by scoring a stunning solo goal in the 16th minute. Fulham, however, responded with resilience. Calvin Bassey’s daring run and Marc Cucurella’s near-miss highlighted an intense first half, but Chelsea failed to capitalize.
Fulham's persistence paid off late in the second half. Harry Wilson's equalizer leveled the game, resulting from Alex Iwobi's creative play. In the dying moments, Fulham struck again on the counter. Sasa Lukic’s precise pass found Rodrigo Muniz, whose powerful finish secured a memorable win for the visitors.
Chelsea's defensive lapses and lack of clinical finishing proved costly. Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was impressed with the vital saves, but defensive errors and missed chances hindered Chelsea’s effort to regain control. Manager Enzo Maresca's decision to make minimal substitutions drew criticism from fans.
This defeat marks Chelsea's second consecutive failure against teams outside the traditional 'big six,' intensifying pressure on the squad to deliver in upcoming fixtures.
